Ulsan to Fully Reopen Schools for 2nd Semester... Partial or Full Implementation Even if Level 4 is Reached

Superintendent No Ok-hee Visits Gangdong Elementary School to Review Academic Operations and Quarantine Status

On the 23rd, Superintendent No Ok-hee visited Gangdong Elementary School in Ulsan.

[Asia Economy Yeongnam Reporting Headquarters Reporter Hong Jeonghwan] Elementary schools in Ulsan began full in-person attendance in earnest starting from the 23rd.

Beginning with six elementary schools on the 23rd, 40 schools will open this week, and most elementary schools will open by September 1. Most high schools opened last week, and most middle schools will also open with full in-person attendance this week.

In Ulsan, full in-person attendance is the principle up to social distancing level 3, but schools with more than 1,000 students decide on full attendance based on parents' opinions. Currently, all schools that have started the second semester attendance in Ulsan are conducting full in-person attendance.

The Ulsan Metropolitan Office of Education previously set a policy for full in-person attendance up to social distancing level 3 for elementary, middle, and high schools to recover educational deficits. However, schools with more than 1,000 students can have attendance rates of at least three-quarters for grades 3 to 6 in elementary schools, and at least two-thirds for middle and high schools, depending on conditions.

Even at level 4, elementary grades 3 to 6 can attend at half capacity or less, middle schools at two-thirds or less, and high schools can have either two-thirds capacity or full attendance.

Under social distancing level 4, small-scale schools with 400 or fewer students, rural schools, and special schools (classes) can have full in-person attendance. Kindergartens and elementary grades 1 to 2, which have high demand for in-person classes, are excluded from school density limits and can attend fully. Small group instruction for students needing care or basic academic support, as well as newly arrived students, are also excluded from density limits.

Meanwhile, on the 23rd, Ulsan Superintendent of Education No Okhee visited Gangdong Elementary School in Buk-gu, Ulsan, to encourage students and staff and to check on academic operations and quarantine status.

Gangdong Elementary, which opened on this day, has 58 classes with 1,479 students. Since it has more than 1,000 students, after gathering opinions from parents, staff, and the educational community, the majority supported expanding attendance, so full in-person attendance is implemented.