[Extinction] ⑪ 21st Presidential Election 'Closed School' Pledges: Democratic Party "Annantalo" vs People Power Party "Youth Housing"

Major Parties Propose "Increased Budget Allocation" for Closed Schools
Democratic Labor Party Pledges to Abolish Support for School Consolidation
Some Criticize as "Repetition of Past Pledges"

The candidates for the 21st presidential election have pledged to repurpose the increasing number of closed school sites as educational and cultural spaces to prevent regional extinction, or as residential spaces for young people. The two major parties have both expressed their intention to actively allocate budget resources for the utilization of closed schools. However, some experts have pointed out that the proposed solutions for closed schools are merely a repetition of existing policies or campaign pledges.

Lee Jae Myung, the presidential candidate of the Democratic Party of Korea, arrived at a campaign rally held at Gwanaksan Eutteum Park in Gwanak-gu, Seoul on the 29th and greeted the citizens. 2025.5.29 Photo by Kim Hyun Min

The Democratic Party of Korea stated in its manifesto that it would establish cultural and artistic spaces in unused local facilities, referring to this initiative as the "Korean version of Annantalo." Annantalo is an arts education institution for children and adolescents in Helsinki, Finland, which was created by repurposing a closed elementary school building. This is seen as a reflection of the achievements of candidate Lee Jae Myung during his tenure as mayor of Seongnam, which he has incorporated into his presidential campaign pledges. In 2017, the city of Seongnam decided to repurpose Yeongseong Girls' Middle School, inspired by Annantalo, into "Dreaming Art Center," an arts education institution for children and adolescents. Since its opening in 2020, Dreaming Art Center has provided approximately 820 arts education programs to about 100,000 participants.

The Democratic Party also pledged to establish a regionally tailored school system. The plan is to expand integrated kindergarten, elementary, middle, and high school models in areas at risk of extinction and to restructure the school system through financial support. In other words, the party aims to create regional hubs by consolidating several dispersed schools into one location. Additionally, the party pledged to expand rural, mountain, and fishing village study abroad programs to ensure the sustainability of local school operations and educational diversity.

Kim Moonsoo, the presidential candidate of the People Power Party, is delivering a public appeal at the People Power Party Central Office in Yeouido, Seoul on the 30th. 2025.5.30 Photo by Kim Hyunmin

The People Power Party's pledges regarding closed schools focus on supplying residential spaces. In its manifesto, the party announced plans to expand dormitory-style youth housing by utilizing closed schools, commercial buildings, and lodging facilities in Seoul. As of now, six schools have been closed in Seoul, with a total area of 85,057 square meters. In Incheon, the party pledged to address parking shortages in old downtown areas by utilizing unused spaces such as those owned by public institutions.

In the cultural sector, the party also pledged to convert unused spaces, including closed schools, into cultural and sports complexes. Although not directly related to closed schools, the party also promised to establish rural hub-type joint education centers, introduce joint learning programs in cooperation with nearby schools, provide digital education, and implement a teacher rotation system.

A common feature of the closed school-related pledges from both major party candidates is the allocation of budget resources. The Democratic Party pledged to extend the sunset period and expand the scale of the Local Extinction Response Fund, which is provided by the Ministry of the Interior and Safety to local governments. For example, in Goseong-gun, South Gyeongsang Province, Sam San Middle School, which had been closed, was converted into a youth arts space last year using the Local Extinction Response Fund. However, the Democratic Party also plans to clarify the use of the fund by improving its evaluation system and promoting central government consulting.

The People Power Party also pledged to increase the national subsidy rates for regions with declining populations. The Yoon Suk Yeol administration raised the national subsidy rate for comprehensive support projects in depopulated areas by 5 percentage points in 2023 to support local governments, and the party plans to use the same approach for repurposing closed schools and similar facilities. In addition, the party pledged to expand the size of the Special Account for Balanced Development and local autonomy account budgets, while reorganizing subsidy projects that do not align with the purpose of balanced development and strengthening accounting transparency.

The Justice Party pledged to prevent school closures altogether by abolishing support for school consolidation and closure. Currently, city and provincial education offices provide financial support to schools undergoing consolidation, and the party aims to stop this practice. The party also pledged to expand the "Donggeurami Small School" program, a consignment-type alternative school that allows students to remain affiliated with their original school while attending classes at various educational institutions. The Reform Party did not announce any separate pledges regarding closed schools.

However, there are criticisms that these pledges are not sufficient to prevent school closures or regional extinction. Yang Jeongho, a professor of education at Sungkyunkwan University, harshly criticized the pledges, stating, "Ultimately, these are just repetitions of past policies or pledges. There is nothing truly new." He added, "At this point, what is needed is support at a level that could be considered a bombshell."