Let’s take advantage of the closed school
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(Gwangju = Yonhap News) Reporter Yeo Woon-chang = Educational authorities and local government projects that utilize the buildings and sites of Gwangju city schools and educational institutions that have closed due to a decrease in the number of students are serving as a focal point for the local community.
According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education’s management status of disused properties such as closed schools and idle properties on the 12th, as of the end of October 2024, there are a total of 7 closed schools in the district, including 5 elementary schools (including branch schools) and 2 middle schools, and 2 idle properties.
The closed schools include Bonryang Elementary School Seongdong Branch, which closed in 1993; Samdonam Elementary School (school closure year 1998); Pyeongdong Seo Elementary School (1998); Bonryang Middle School (1999); Daechondong Elementary School (2002); Jiwon Middle School (2009); Hanam Elementary School (2009), etc.
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These abandoned school sites and buildings are being used in a variety of ways, including for self-use and rental projects.
The Seondong branch school in Gwangsan-gu is operated as a nature experience farm hosted by the Western Office of Education.
This 14,000㎡ weekend farm site is still popular as it provides experiential programs for city residents and students.
Pyeongdong Seocho has a multi-purpose artificial turf field and is being used as a hockey rink and player facilities, while Bonryang Middle School is being used as a resident participation platform, woodworking class, and track and field throwing training center for disabled students.
In the case of the support center located in Sotae-dong, Dong-gu, it continues to play a role in various fields, such as a learning center for local public officials, an institution dedicated to students who are victims of school violence, a weekly broadcasting and communication class, a lifelong education project, and informatization education for the disabled.
Samdonam Elementary School, Daechondong Elementary School, and the former Hanam Elementary School strengthened their connection with the local community even after their closure through Saenal School, an alternative education institution, and the district office cultural experience facility.
The land and buildings of the former Gwangju Science High School in Juwol-dong, Nam-gu, which remained as an idle site after relocation in 2010, are now home to Bitgoeul School, Software Experience Education Center, Gwangju Education Policy Research Center, and alternative education consignment institutions.
Gwangju City’s Bitgoeul National Safety Experience Center is being operated on the site of the education complex in Ochi-dong, Buk-gu, and the Gwangju Artificial Intelligence (AI) Education Center is also scheduled to open in January 2026.
In this way, as empty buildings and land are actively utilized due to school closures or relocations, nearby communities are welcoming them, saying that they are increasing their utilization value compared to those left as ‘schools without students’.
While applying, Jeong In-seok (55), a self-employed person nearby, said, “I was worried that if the school closed, everything would go bankrupt, but the surrounding area is full of energy with many more people coming and going than if the school was left with no students.” He added, “More diverse businesses and “I wish we could hold events more often,” he said.
The city office of education is also actively taking advantage of disused assets, which are highly popular with the local community, but the closure process has been almost halted since 2010 due to opposition from some residents and alumni, making it difficult to manage schools where students are disappearing.
An official from the city office of education said, “We are trying to use the closure of a school as a new growth engine for the community.” He added, “If a school without students is left as is, it may disappear altogether in a situation where it is difficult to do anything, so we are actively changing the existing perception of school closure.” “We need to take advantage of this,” he said.
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2024/11/12 10:30 Sent
