Is the Gangnam 8 School District a Thing of the Past? ... Middle School Students Flocking to Gyeonggi-do

[Asia Economy Reporter Kim Daehyun] It has been revealed that over the past 10 years, more middle school students have moved out of the Seoul area than have moved in.

On the 29th, Jongno Academy analyzed the net inflow status of middle school students over the past 10 years using the Korea Education Development Institute's Education Statistics Service, finding that from 2013 to 2022, middle school students have been a net outflow in the Seoul area every year. The net outflow size increased from 2,497 students in the previous five years (2013?2017) to 2,845 students in the recent five years (2018?2022).

Seoul Gangnam-gu Daechi-dong Academy District Photo by Yonhap News

In the so-called "Gangnam 8 School Districts," which refers to Gangnam and Seocho districts in Seoul, there were more middle school students moving in than moving out, but the scale of net inflow has been shrinking recently.

The net inflow of middle school students in Gangnam District shrank from 1,516 students in 2013?2017 to 922 students in 2018?2022. During the same period, Seocho District's net inflow decreased from 478 to 99 students.

Despite the decline in the school-age population, the net inflow of middle school students to the Gyeonggi area has surged. From 2018 to 2022, 3,243 middle school students moved into the Gyeonggi area as a net inflow, nearly four times the 877 students in 2013?2017.

Elementary school students also showed a net outflow in the Seoul area and a net inflow in the Gyeonggi area. In Seoul, elementary students had a net outflow of 16,948 students in the five years after 2013 and 16,713 students in the five years after 2018. In contrast, the Gyeonggi area saw an increase in net inflow from 444 students in the five years after 2013 to 14,856 students in the five years after 2018.

Jongno Academy analyzed, "The rise in real estate prices has created entry barriers, and the perception that if students do not rank within the top 20?30% academically in the (Gangnam 8 School Districts), there is practically no difference from general areas seems to have also influenced this."

They added, "The notion that the Gangnam 8 School Districts are prestigious school districts may become a thing of the past," and forecasted, "The prestigious school districts could change significantly within the next 10 years." This implies the possibility of new prestigious school districts forming, centered around the Gyeonggi area where net inflow has increased.