A small elementary school in Boreong City, South Chungcheong Province, South Korea, welcomed a new student on March 25 with a 3 million won ($2,200) scholarship to combat the threat of closure.
Jo Dan, 7, who recently moved to Wonsan, joined the only other first grader at Gwangmyeong Elementary School. “I’m happy to have a friend to study with,” said his classmate, Go Yoo-rim.
Gwangmyeong Elementary, founded in 1937, is the only school in Wonsan, a rural island with a population of just over 1,000. Despite being connected to the mainland by an undersea tunnel, the school faces declining enrollment and is at risk of closing. It currently has only 15 students across all grades.
To prevent the closure, local alumni and residents raised 30 million won to establish a scholarship program, offering 3 million won per new student. The school has also introduced specialized English-language programs and recruited native-speaking instructors for virtual lessons. Banners promoting these benefits have encouraged families like Go’s and Jo’s to move to the area.
“An elementary school’s closure means young families will no longer settle in the area,” said Song Bong-seok, the school’s principal. “For residents, saving the school is critical to the future of the community.”
Gwangmyeong Elementary’s situation reflects a wider trend in South Korea, where rural schools are struggling as birth rates decline. The number of children entering elementary school in 2025 is expected to be 356,258, a 21.8% decrease from a decade ago. This year, 49 schools will close, up from 33 last year.
In Jangseong County, South Jeolla Province, Buki Elementary faced a similar crisis after reporting no incoming students for 2024. To reverse the trend, the school raised 10 million won for scholarships and introduced after-school programs and free inline skates. These efforts attracted five new students.
“It’s not a huge sum, but parents have used the funds for speech therapy or even overseas trips for their children,” said Min Mun-soon, Buki Elementary’s principal.
In Seocheon County, South Chungcheong Province, Han San Elementary offered 3.3 million won per new student this year, funded by alumni, local charities, and churches.
Some schools are also offering unique extracurricular activities. In Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province, Bukil Elementary provides free horseback riding lessons to its 33 students, while Gujeong Elementary in Jincheon has built a golf practice facility.
Despite these efforts, some schools are still unable to attract students. Gungseo Elementary in Okcheon County, North Chungcheong Province, offered 500,000 won per new student but received no enrollments this year, the first time in its 100-year history. Similarly, Gamul Elementary in Goesan County, North Chungcheong Province, introduced a 1 million won scholarship but had only one new student.
Education experts say consolidating small schools may be the only viable solution. “Older students in grades five and six benefit from larger schools with more peers,” said Kim Hun-ho, a professor at Kongju National University.
