School on Remote Island Faces Closure as Student Enrollments Drop to Zero
Solutions Agreed Upon by Shinan County and Residents
Hongdo, Heuksan-myeon, Shinan-gun, located 107km away from Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, demands a lengthy 2 hours and 40 minutes of travel via fast boat. With its entire stretch declared a natural conservation area (Natural Monument No. 170), Hongdo is home to approximately 500 residents.
Established in 1949, the only educational institution present on Hongdo is the Hongdo branch of Heuksan Elementary School. Due to declining student numbers, the school took on the status of a branch in 1990. However, after 74 years of rich history, the Hongdo Branch School now faces the imminent threat of closure. Upon the graduation of its three remaining sixth-form students this year, the island will have no students left.
In a collective effort to avert the closure of the island’s sole educational facility, the inhabitants of Shinan-gun and Hongdo have jointly formulated support measures. On the 17th of this month, Shinan-gun officially declared, “We are committed to providing accommodation and employment opportunities for students and their families transferring to the Hongdo Branch School.”
To prevent the closure of the Hongdo Branch School, either new enrollments or student transfers from other grades are essential. In instances where schools have neither fresh nor existing students, they undergo a three-year closure process, culminating in permanent closure if no students materialize.
Presently, no children residing on Hongdo are eligible for enrollment at the Hongdo Branch School. Consequently, Shinan County and its inhabitants intend to convert vacant houses across the island into residences exclusively offered to families with elementary school-aged children eligible to attend the branch school.
Moreover, parents will be provided with employment opportunities. It has been agreed upon by county and island residents to extend job opportunities earning a minimum of 3.2 million won per month. Hongdo, primarily reliant on its tourism industry, presents various job openings in restaurants and similar establishments.
Additionally, students transferring to the Hongdo Branch School will also benefit from the ‘Sunshine Child Allowance’ provided by Shinan-gun for individuals under 18 years old. The county disburses child allowances using profits generated from solar power plants installed on the island. As of this year, the annual child allowance amounts to 400,000 won, which will increase to 800,000 won next year.
Expressing his concerns, Shinan County Mayor Park Woo-ryang emphasized the importance of the school’s survival for the region. He affirmed, “The viability of our locality is intricately linked to the survival of this educational institution. Together with the residents of the Hongdo area, we will spare no effort in ensuring the preservation of this invaluable small school.”
School at risk of closure with 0 students enrolled next year
Shinan County and residents agree on support measures
Hongdo, Heuksan-myeon, Shinan-gun, 107km away from Mokpo, Jeollanam-do, takes about 2 hours and 40 minutes by fast boat. About 500 people live on Hongdo, a remote island where the whole island is a natural conservation area (Natural Monument No. 170).
The only school in Hongdo is the Hongdo branch of Heuksan Elementary School, which opened in 1949. It was originally Hongdo Elementary School, but as the number of students decreased, it became a branch school in 1990. However, Hongdo Branch School, with 74 years of history, in danger of closing. When three sixth form students graduate this year, there will be no students left on the island.
In order to prevent the closure of the island’s only school, residents of Shinan-gun and Hongdo decided to provide homes and jobs for students and families transferring to the school. Shinan-gun announced on the 17th, “We are providing homes and jobs for students and their families who transfer to Hongdo Branch School.”
In order to prevent Hongdo Branch from closing, new students must register next year or students from other degrees must transfer. In the case of schools with no new or existing students, the school will be closed for three years, and if there are still no students, the school will be closed.
Currently, there is no child in Hongdo who can enroll in the Hongdo Branch School. Shinan County and its residents plan to remodel empty houses on the island and provide them for free to families with elementary school children who can attend the Hongdo Branch School.
Parents also get jobs. It is said that the residents of the county and the island have agreed to provide jobs paying at least 3.2 million won per month. In Hongdo, where most residents work in the tourism industry, there are jobs in restaurants and other places.
If you transfer to the Hongdo Branch School, you will also receive the ‘Sunshine Child Allowance’ that Shinan-gun provides for young people under the age of 18. Shinan-gun pays child allowances with profits from solar power plants installed on the island. The annual child allowance, which is 400,000 won this year, will increase to 800,000 won next year.
Shinan County Mayor Park Woo-ryang said, “The region can only survive when the school survives.” “We will do our best to save the small school together with the residents of the Hongdo area,” he said.
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