Chairperson Choi Hojung of Seoul Metropolitan Council Visits Seojin School: "There Should Be No Discrimination in Education"

Listening to On-Site Voices Ahead of the Establishment of Seongjin School in Seongdong-gu

On July 31, Choi Hojung, Chairperson of the Seoul Metropolitan Council, visited Seojin School, a special education school for students with disabilities located in Gangseo-gu, to listen to voices on site. This visit took place ahead of the upcoming decision on the establishment of Seongjin School, a public special education school in Seongdong-gu, which is scheduled to be discussed at the provisional council session next month.

A commemorative photo with education office officials and school officials. In the center, Chairperson Hojeong Choi of the Seoul Metropolitan Council. Provided by Seoul Metropolitan Council.

Seojin School, which opened in 2020 on the site of the former Gongjin Elementary School, is a special education school for students with disabilities. It currently has a total of 193 students enrolled across 2 kindergarten classes, 15 elementary school classes, 6 middle school classes, 7 high school classes, and 4 vocational classes. On this day, Chairperson Choi held a meeting with the head of the Special Education Division at the Office of Education, supervisors, and school staff, and toured the school facilities, including after-school care classrooms operated during vacation.

Chairperson Choi stated, "Currently, there are only 11 public special education schools in Seoul, which is insufficient compared to the number of students eligible for special education. As a result, many students are unable to receive education, which is a basic human right." He also pointed out, "Even when we try to build new schools, we face many objections in reality."

He continued, "Seojin School also went through many twists and turns before opening, but seeing the site in person, I am proud to see that the school is well integrated with the local community and the children are receiving education in a bright environment." He emphasized, "The Seoul Metropolitan Council will continue to expand related infrastructure so that no one is discriminated against in education, and will take the lead in establishing the foundation and spreading consensus for lifelong education."

Meanwhile, before visiting Seojin School, Chairperson Choi also attended the opening ceremony of the Gayang Branch of Gangseo Library, located near Seojin School, and delivered congratulatory remarks. The Gayang Branch of Gangseo Library was built as a convenience facility promised to residents in conjunction with the establishment of Seojin School.