Wolgok Elementary: From 2,400 to 80 Students
Bibong Elementary: 62 Students in 40 Years of History
The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Kang Eunhee) announced on July 8 that it will proceed with the integration of certain elementary schools in the Daegu area in response to changes in local conditions caused by the declining school-age population and to establish a sustainable educational environment.
The schools to be integrated are Daegu Bibong Elementary School (Bisan-dong, Seo-gu, with 62 students) and Daegu Wolgok Elementary School (Sangin-dong, Dalseo-gu, with 80 students). Each school will be integrated into Daegu Bisan Elementary School (hereafter referred to as Bisan Elementary) and Daegu Wolchon Elementary School (hereafter referred to as Wolchon Elementary), respectively, effective March 1, 2026.
This integration was finalized after a majority of parents expressed support through parent information sessions held in April and a series of parent votes conducted in May and June.
Bibong Elementary was established in 1986, and Wolgok Elementary in 1993. In particular, as of 1994, Wolgok Elementary was a large school with 48 classes and 2,434 students. However, due to the sharp decline in the school-age population, the total number of students is expected to fall below 100 in the 2025 academic year, leading to a trend toward smaller school sizes.
The Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education plans to provide a variety of customized support for the psychological and academic adaptation of current students at the schools to be integrated. For the integrated schools, Bisan Elementary and Wolchon Elementary, the office will promote stable integration through facility investments and support for educational programs.
To this end, by September, the office will gather feedback from parents of the schools to be closed and the integrated schools, establish a "Financial Support Plan for Integrated Schools," and reflect it in next year's budget.
Kim Youngsun, principal of Wolgok Elementary, which will send its students to Wolchon Elementary, stated, "Because our school has had a small number of students, many quality after-school programs have been discontinued. Although it is unfortunate that the school is being integrated due to the rapid decline in the school-age population, I believe our students will grow well and make many new friends at Wolchon Elementary."
Kim Eunyoung, principal of Bisan Elementary, which will receive students from Bibong Elementary, said, "Bibong Elementary and Bisan Elementary share the same living and cultural area among local residents, so I expect students to adapt quickly and stably. We will operate various programs to help Bibong Elementary students adjust to their new school and do our utmost to ensure there are no shortcomings in both education and daily life."
A parent from Wolgok Elementary commented, "I expect that my child will have more opportunities to meet and interact with a variety of friends at a larger school. My child will also be able to enjoy playing soccer, which was difficult due to a lack of friends, and will adapt well."
Lee Eunsook, Director of School Operations at the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, stated, "Bibong Elementary and Wolgok Elementary have long embraced local children with warmth. Although these changes may feel unfamiliar and cause concern, I believe this integration will be a starting point that offers our children a wider world and richer learning opportunities. We will prioritize students' adaptation and integration, and do our best to ensure our children grow up happily and healthily in their new environment."
Meanwhile, the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education plans to sequentially carry out necessary administrative procedures, such as administrative notices and legislative notices for ordinance amendments, by December of this year.
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