More Schools Needed in Gangdong District Due to Growing Population
Meeting Held with Hyunseok Cho, Superintendent of Gangdong Songpa Office of Education
On July 22, Soohee Lee, Mayor of Gangdong District, announced that she held a meeting with Hyunseok Cho, Superintendent of the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education, at the Gangdong District Office, where they discussed ways to promote mutual exchange and cooperation for the development of education in Gangdong District, as well as key issues related to the establishment of new schools in the area.
This meeting was attended by the Superintendent of the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education, as well as directors and heads of education-related departments from both organizations. It served as an opportunity to exchange a variety of opinions arising from the field. The participants agreed on the importance of establishing a close cooperative system between institutions to effectively respond to increasingly complex educational demands, and they pledged to continue ongoing communication and cooperation for the advancement of education in Gangdong District.
Soohee Lee, Mayor of Gangdong District (right), and Hyunseok Cho, Superintendent of Gangdong Songpa Office of Education (left), are posing for a commemorative photo. Provided by Gangdong District.
While the number of schools in other areas of Seoul is decreasing due to a declining school-age population, Gangdong District faces a shortage of schools because its population continues to grow as a result of active reconstruction and redevelopment projects.
On this day, Mayor Soohee Lee requested active support and attention from the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education to ensure that the schools currently scheduled to open in March 2029 are established without any setbacks. At present, Gangdong District is preparing for the opening of three schools: "Seoul Gangsol Elementary School Ganghyeon Campus" (tentative name) in the Godeok Gangil 3 District, "Dunchondong Middle School Urban Campus" (tentative name) within the Olympic Park Foreon complex, and "Seoul Gangyul Elementary School" (tentative name) in the Godeok Gangil 2 District.
Mayor Soohee Lee has consistently emphasized the need for new schools by meeting directly with the President of Seoul Housing and Communities Corporation (SH Corporation), the Mayor of Seoul, the Minister of Education, and the Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, urging the establishment of new schools. As a result, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced plans to establish three new schools. These schools passed the office's internal financial investment review this year and are proceeding as scheduled to meet their respective opening timelines.
In addition, Mayor Lee requested that support for school buses, in accordance with the "Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education Student Commuting Support Ordinance," continue to be provided to ensure a safe commuting environment for students in the Godeok Gangil 3 District who will attend Seoul Gangsol Elementary School until the school's opening in 2029. She also asked for cooperation from the Gangdong Songpa Office of Education to ensure that the installation of modular classrooms at Seoul Gangbit Elementary School in the Godeok Gangil 2 District, aimed at alleviating overcrowded classes, is completed without delay by March of next year.
Furthermore, she requested that measures be put in place to allow local residents to use school facilities, provided that such use does not interfere with students' educational activities or facility management.
Mayor Soohee Lee stated, "I am grateful that the establishment schedule for the three schools set to open in March 2029 has been progressing smoothly so far," and added, "We will actively support the implementation of the detailed design and construction schedules to ensure they proceed as planned."
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