Janghoon High School Applies for Conversion from Autonomous Private High School to General High School... 10th Case in Seoul

Application for Designation Cancellation After 11 Years Since Conversion to Autonomous Private High School in 2011
Conversion Desired Due to Difficulty Recruiting New Students and Financial Burden
First Autonomous Private High School Conversion Application Under New Government

Janghoon High School, located in Yeongdeungpo-gu, Seoul, has applied to convert from an autonomous private high school to a general high school. This is the 10th case in Seoul and the first conversion application since the launch of the Yoon Suk-yeol administration.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced on the 21st that Janghoon High School submitted a request to cancel its autonomous private high school designation on the 29th of last month, and the cancellation process is currently underway. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to apply for the Ministry of Education's consent once the Autonomous School Designation and Operation Committee review and hearing procedures are completed.

Janghoon High School converted to an autonomous private high school in 2011 but will relinquish its status after 11 years. If the autonomous private high school designation is canceled, from 2023, the school will receive student assignments in the same manner as general high schools during new student recruitment. So far, nine schools in Seoul have converted to autonomous private high schools, and last year, three schools including Dongseong High School, Sungmoon High School, and Hangaram High School applied for conversion.

Janghoon High School applied for cancellation of its autonomous private high school designation due to difficulties in recruiting new students caused by a declining school-age population and free high school education, which increased financial burdens. The upcoming implementation of the high school credit system in 2025 also influenced the decision, as it is difficult to differentiate the curriculum between autonomous private and general high schools. By converting to a general high school, Janghoon High School aims to improve the school environment, respond to the operational environment of the high school credit system, and seek a developmental direction such as stable school management by relinquishing its autonomous private high school status.

This application for conversion is attracting attention as the first case since the new government took office, raising questions about potential changes in the Ministry of Education's policies. The final step in the general high school conversion application is the Ministry of Education's consent. Soon-ae Park, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education, indirectly hinted at policy changes shortly after taking office by stating, "We will create a school education system that respects diversity and autonomy. We will open various educational opportunities so that everyone can receive the education they want according to their talents and aptitudes." The Yoon Suk-yeol administration did not include any policies to change autonomous private high schools, international high schools, or foreign language high schools, nor did it include postponement of the high school credit system implementation in its national agenda.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to support Janghoon High School's stable conversion to a general high school by providing 2.5 billion KRW in conversion support funds over two years, which can be used for tuition reduction, staff salaries, and school operation expenses. They will also form and operate a 'General High School Conversion Council' involving the school, parents, and the education office to minimize side effects that may occur when operating both general and autonomous private high school curricula simultaneously.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "We respect the school's choice to respond to rapid changes in the educational environment, and when the government promotes high school system policies, we hope that the trend and changes of the times will be reflected, aiming for personalized education through diversification of curricula within schools rather than diversification of school types that lead to high school hierarchy."