Shinan-gun, 6 Students Transfer and Enroll at Heuksancho Hongdo Branch School Facing Closure Crisis

Since Last Year, Three Generations Moving In as Part of the Small School Revival Project

The School Bell Rings "Ding Ding Ding," Signaling a New Beginning

Shinan-gun, Jeollanam-do (Governor Park Woo-ryang) announced on the 5th that an entrance ceremony was held on the 4th at Heuksan Elementary School Hongdo Branch School, attended by about 50 related personnel including Min Bang-gi, the head of Shinan Office of Education.

Heuksan Elementary School Hongdo Branch School, facing a crisis of closure due to a decrease in the number of students caused by low birth rates and population outflow, was able to hold the entrance ceremony starting in 2023 through the Small School Revitalization Project, with 6 students spanning 3 generations (9 people including parents) transferring and enrolling.

On the 4th, at the entrance ceremony of Heuksan Elementary School Hongdo Branch, the bell donation unveiling ceremony of Hongdo Elementary School from 1949 was held.
[Photo by Sinan-gun]

At the entrance ceremony, bell collector Park Heung-do (from Muan, Jeollanam-do) donated a bell engraved with the phrase “All 8th Graduates of Hongdo Branch School” since the opening of Hongdo Elementary School in 1949, saying, “I am very pleased to donate this school bell with the hope that it will deliver a message of a new beginning and hope to the students of Hongdo Branch School every day.”

Residents of Hongdo Village who attended the entrance ceremony said, “Just seeing our children attending school gives us strength,” and “If young people leave one by one and even the school disappears, what hope would there be in a rural village?” They gave congratulatory and welcoming applause to the new students.

The residents of Hongdo Village gathered their goodwill and sponsored items worth about 2 million won per household, including 3 blankets, 3 electric pressure rice cookers, 3 vacuum cleaners (also for wet mopping), and 3 microwaves, as well as items worth about 1 million won from the Heuksan-myeon Residents’ Autonomy Committee.

Governor Park Woo-ryang said, “In Shinan-gun, 29 small schools with fewer than 60 students account for 70.2% of all schools. To overcome this, local governments, the Shinan Office of Education, schools, and the local community must actively participate and continue steady efforts to revitalize small schools.” He encouraged, “I hope that the new students of Hongdo Branch School will fully realize their potential and move toward their dreams while enjoying the beautiful natural environment of Hongdo, a natural monument.”