[Extinction] ⑦Closed Schools May Become 'Broken Windows'... Communication and Swift Decision-Making Are Key

Experts Focus on the Potential of Closed Schools
"Need to Ease Public Interest Criteria in the Special Act on Closed Schools"
"Utilization of Closed Schools Faces Limits Without Resolving Population Issues"

Editor's Note"It takes a whole village to raise a child." This is a well-known Nigerian proverb. However, the sentence also makes sense if you reverse its structure: To sustain a village, children are needed. This is the reality facing villages across Korea today. Villages that do not raise children are paying a price. As people stop coming, these places become neglected, outdated, dark, and fall into silence. We aim to directly examine the impact that abandoned, closed schools have on their communities.

Experts in education, architecture, and social welfare have warned that the problem of closed schools left unused and neglected could accelerate the disappearance of local communities. While it may be difficult to prevent the increase in closed schools due to the decline in the school-age population, they advised that not only national institutions such as central government ministries, local governments, and local education offices, but also the local community itself, must work together to find ways to utilize closed schools and resolve the issue of neglect. Only then can we prevent the side effects that lead to urban blight.

The fundamental reason why the number of closed schools inevitably increases is the decline in the school-age population (ages 6 to 21). According to Statistics Korea, the school-age population this year is about 6,978,000, a decrease of 169,000 compared to the previous year. The school-age population has been declining every year since it peaked at 14,400,000 in 1980. If this trend continues, by 2035 the school-age population will fall to about 4,820,000, dropping below 5,000,000. If the complicated interests surrounding closed school sites remain unresolved and no way to utilize them is found, the number of abandoned closed schools will only increase. Already, as of March last year, 367 unused closed schools have been left neglected for an average of about 20 years.

The playground of Hwayang Elementary School, which was closed in 2023, is partially being used as a parking lot and community space. 2025.04.16 Photo by Dongju Yoon

Yang Jungho, professor of education at Sungkyunkwan University, expressed concern that closed schools act as "broken windows" in the local community. The broken windows theory suggests that if a broken window is left unattended, crime begins to spread from that point, meaning that the more minor disorder is ignored, the more urban blight can spread throughout the area.

Professor Yang said, "It has already been academically verified that abandoned closed schools can sap the vitality of local communities," adding, "A bigger problem is that once a closed school is neglected, it is highly likely to remain neglected." Park Namgi, professor at Gwangju National University of Education, also pointed out that neglecting closed schools soon leads to ruins. He emphasized, "If there is no institution to manage and supervise the closed school buildings, various facilities are at risk of being stolen," and "the longer a closed school is left neglected, the higher the demolition costs become."

"Unused closed schools remain neglected"... Utilization plans must be prepared in advance

The clock at Seongsu Technical High School, which was closed in 2024, has stopped... 2025.04.16 Photo by Dongju Yoon

Experts agree that the focus should be on the potential of closed school sites and that the range of possible uses should be expanded. They argue that the potential to have a positive impact on the local community should not be confined within the framework of various regulations and restrictions.

Kim Kwanghyun, emeritus professor of architecture at Seoul National University, said, "Unexpected organizations such as incorporated associations or clubs may want to use closed school sites. The problem is that people simply do not know where these sites are," adding, "If the public interest criteria required by the special law to promote the use of closed school property are relaxed, opportunities for utilization will open up." Jung Jaehun, professor of social welfare at Seoul Women's University and head of the Gyeongbuk Happiness Foundation, also explained, "During the wildfires in Sancheong-gun and Hadong-gun, Gyeongnam, last March, temporary housing for evacuees was set up on a closed school playground," citing this as an example of how the local community came up with creative ideas in a crisis situation.

Communication and prompt decision-making were cited as key conditions for solving the closed school problem. The time that closed schools are left neglected must be reduced through communication between government ministries. Professor Park said, "Closed schools do not appear suddenly. Signs can be detected at least five years in advance," adding, "The local community, school alumni, local governments, and local education offices should discuss utilization plans in advance." He also said, "Local governments want to actively use closed school sites, but since ownership belongs to local education offices, conflicts and lack of communication between administrative agencies can arise. If central ministries such as the Ministry of Education take the lead in establishing countermeasures together with local governments or local education offices, it will be easier to respond."

There was also a point raised that unless the population issue is resolved, it will be difficult to fundamentally overcome the limitations of utilizing closed schools. Professor Jung said, "Dealing with closed schools alone will not solve the problem. Various issues surrounding the population must be considered," adding, "There is no need to focus policies only on the youth population. If policies are introduced that can attract all age groups, the population and closed school problems will naturally be resolved." Professor Kim Kwanghyun of Seoul National University also said, "If the state intervenes in the closed school issue, only regulations will increase," adding, "If the population and demand in the local community increase according to the logic of the market economy, the closed school problem will also be solved."

He also called for efforts at the local level. He argued that local residents should not just passively respond to proposals made by local governments, foundations, or companies, but should actively promote attracting the facilities they want. Professor Kim said, "The responsibility for the neglect of closed schools does not lie solely with the state. The local community must also recognize the seriousness of the issue and take active steps," adding, "Local residents need to propose concrete plans for the use of closed schools or publicize the advantages of closed school sites to the outside world."