78 Seoul Schools Flooded... School Opening Delayed, Remote Classes for 2 Weeks

One Middle School Delays Opening, Two Middle and High Schools Conduct Remote Classes
Student Education Center and Dongjak-Gwanak Education Support Office Also Affected

On the 9th, when record-breaking heavy rain fell, a landslide occurred on a hillside near Sillim Middle School in Gwanak-gu, Seoul. Officials are clearing soil and trees that spilled onto Sillim-ro and repairing the road. Photo by Hyunmin Kim kimhyun81@

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] Ahead of the new school term, a total of 78 schools and educational institutions in Seoul have been reported to suffer damage due to heavy rain.

On the 16th, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education compiled the damage caused by the heavy rain, reporting that damage occurred at 78 institutions. Among them, one middle school postponed the start of the term from the 16th to the 19th, and two middle and high schools decided to conduct remote classes for two weeks.

The Student Education Center under the main office experienced power outages and water supply disruptions due to landslides, flooding from heavy rain, ground collapse, and soil runoff. At the Dongjak-Gwanak Education Support Office, the ceiling of the school violence review room collapsed and leaks occurred.

Due to continuous heavy rain over several days, schools suffered damage such as ceiling leaks, flooding in classrooms and cafeterias, elevator malfunctions and flooding, ground subsidence near main gates, and wall leaks.

The number of damaged schools by Education Support Office is as follows: ▲ Dongjak-Gwanak Support Office 36 schools ▲ Gangnam-Seocho Support Office 19 schools ▲ Nambu Support Office 12 schools ▲ Gangdong-Songpa Support Office 4 schools ▲ Gangseo-Yangcheon Support Office 3 schools ▲ Dongbu and Bukbu Support Offices 1 school each.

The Education Office decided to provide budget support to damaged schools regardless of whether they are public or private, to prevent disruption to educational activities ahead of the new term. For repairs that can be handled internally, schools will first execute the work and then apply for budget support from the Education Office. In cases where the budget scale is large, the Education Office plans to provide rapid technical support along with available budget support such as contingency funds.

Additionally, students from households affected by flooding will be supported with packages including textbooks and school supplies to ensure normal school life. Essential items such as textbooks for attending school will be initially funded by the school budget, with plans for additional support later through school operation funds.

The Metropolitan Office of Education has instructed the establishment of safety measures to prevent secondary collapses or electric shocks. Furthermore, an urgent and detailed full inspection will be conducted at 192 locations, including schools affected by damage to vulnerable retaining walls, and a supplementary budget of 600 million KRW has been allocated to develop fundamental countermeasures.

Cho Hee-yeon, Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, said, "I extend my condolences to the schools, students, and families affected by the heavy rain damage, and we will do our best to restore normal educational activities as quickly as possible."