Seoul: A total of 49 elementary, middle, and high schools across South Korea's 17 cities and provinces will be closed this year as the school-age population continues to decline.

According to Anadolu Agency, government data shows that the number of schools closing due to a lack of students has increased rapidly in recent years, rising from 22 in 2023 to 33 in 2024. A significant 88% of the schools scheduled to close by the end of this year are located in rural areas, as indicated by data from the Education Ministry.

In the capital city of Seoul, there are no schools facing closure. However, Gyeonggi Province, the most populous region surrounding Seoul, has six schools slated for closure. South Jeolla Province, the southernmost region, reported the highest number with 10 schools facing closure, followed by South Chungcheong Province with nine, North Jeolla Province with eight, and Gangwon Province with seven.

Out of the 49 schools set for closure, 38 are elementary schools, indicating that they constitute the majority of closures, while eight are middle schools and three are high schools. The data further highlighted that elementary schools in rural areas are particularly struggling due to a lack of new enrollments.