[Report] Bravely Went to School... "Mom Can't Tear Herself Away"

Today Marks Step 2 School Reopening
First Day for 1st Grade Elementary Students Who Missed Entrance Ceremony

COVID-19 Crisis Worsened by Mysterious Pediatric Syndrome

Over 450 Schools Postpone Reopening
Parents' Anxiety Intensifies

On the 27th, when in-person classes began for 2nd-year high school, 3rd-year middle school, 1st and 2nd-grade elementary school students, and kindergarteners at over 2,300 schools nationwide, Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, conducted temperature checks for 1st and 2nd-grade students attending school at Seryun Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kim Hyun-min kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporters Hyunju Lee and Jeongyun Lee] "Wearing my mask well, and I'll meet you here after class with mom. Fighting!"

Byun Gagyeong (40), a parent watching her child’s first day of school without an elementary school entrance ceremony, said, "My child usually sleeps in, but today, knowing it was the first day of school, woke up very early." Her voice carried both hope and worry, relieved that school was finally starting despite fears it might be postponed again. The confusion stems from the unclear trend of the COVID-19 outbreak and the recent emergence of the so-called 'children’s mysterious illness,' which has heightened anxiety.

On the morning of the 27th, when the reopening of schools for grades 1 and 2, grade 9, and grade 11 began, in front of Seryun Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seoul, most children arrived with their guardians, but some were seen heading to school alone or in pairs with friends. On this day, Seryun Elementary allowed all first and second graders to attend, but starting tomorrow, attendance will be split by odd and even grades on Mondays and Thursdays, and Tuesdays and Fridays.

Most children carried an additional bag besides their school backpack. The auxiliary bag contained personal hygiene items such as hand sanitizer and tissues, as well as water bottles and utensils, which seemed a bit heavy for first graders.

On the 27th, when in-person classes began for 2nd-year high school, 3rd-year middle school, 1st and 2nd-grade elementary school students, and kindergarteners at over 2,300 schools nationwide, 2.37 million students attended school. At Seryun Elementary School in Songpa-gu, Seoul, 1st and 2nd-grade students are arriving at school. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

"Oh, there’s Minseo. Minseo, wait!" Students were excitedly calling out their friends’ names on their way to school. The clear voices of second graders saying, "I don’t want to wear a mask. It’s more comfortable not wearing one," leaked out from behind their masks. Kang Minseo, a first grader at Wolgok Elementary School in Seoul, said, "Today is my first day at school. I’m happy to be going."

Parents worried whether their children could keep wearing masks throughout the day. They expressed concerns such as, "The weather will soon get hotter, so will they be able to wear masks during the entire class? Will they maintain social distance when going to the restroom during breaks?" Jo Hyunju (46), who has a kindergarten-aged child, said, "I worry about the children, but since there is a lot of contact with teachers, I wonder if the teachers should all be tested as well." Jin Minji (37), a parent at Wolgok Elementary, said, "My child was so excited that they woke up at 6 a.m. asking to go to school, but I can’t help but worry. I packed extra masks and hand sanitizer. I’m not sure if they will use them well."

On this day, about 2.37 million students nationwide were scheduled to attend school, including second-year high schoolers, ninth graders, first and second graders, and kindergarteners, but not all attended. Some schools split attendance days by alternating weeks or days, or combined remote learning due to infection concerns. It is estimated that over 450 schools nationwide adjusted their attendance schedules. Jo Heeyeon, Superintendent of Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who visited the site that day, said, "Despite the tension in quarantine efforts, we must maintain the dual-track system of in-person and remote learning and create a new path through this."