Gyeongnam Office of Education Announces Open Recruitment for Transformation Projects of 63 Closed Schools

Gyeongnam Office of Education is launching a public recruitment project to utilize 63 unused closed schools in the province.

On the 22nd, the Office of Education announced that it will promote a project to utilize unused closed school properties under the theme "Local Community, Drawing the Future Together."

According to the Office of Education, as of this month, there are 586 closed schools owned by the office, of which 366 schools have been sold, 59 are used internally, 92 are leased, and 69 remain unused.

The Office of Education issued a public recruitment for 63 of the 69 unused closed schools, excluding 6 schools that are planned for sale or are under consideration for internal use.

Gyeongnam Office of Education.
Photo by Lee Seryeong

This project will be carried out in a way that the local village community takes charge of operation, local governments provide necessary finances and personnel, and the Gyeongnam Office of Education supports basic facilities such as free leasing.

To participate in the recruitment, more than 50% of residents within the school district at the time of closure must form a village community in the form of a cooperative or village association and plan to use the closed school for purposes that help resident welfare facilities or regional economic revitalization, such as local tourism projects, health and healing projects, or income-increasing projects.

After consultation with local governments, a detailed business plan including specific projects and stable and sustainable resource securing plans such as facilities and personnel must be submitted to the relevant city or county education support office by June 24.

Based on the business plans, the Office of Education plans to select two schools by the end of August through on-site inspections, considering the operating entity, suitability and concreteness of the project, scale of support from the city or county, and mutual growth effects.

Kim Hwansu, Director of Finance, said, "This recruitment project urgently requires active participation from local residents and proactive support from local governments," adding, "Closed schools selected for the project are expected to be transformed into local attractions such as tourism projects, greatly contributing to regional economic revitalization."