Severe Shortage of General High Schools in Gwangju Suwan District... Long-Distance Commutes Persist

Myeongjin High School's Switch to Coeducation Fails to Ease Distrust
Overcrowding Worsens at Suwan, Jangdeok, Seongdeok, and Bomun High Schools
City Office of Education: "A New High School Will Bring Relief"

"I wanted to send my child to a nearby school, but in the end, they have to commute to another district. It takes two hours round trip."

This is the complaint of a parent living in the Suwan district of Gwangju. Although the area has grown into a new city with a population of 80,000, there are ongoing complaints about the persistent shortage of general high schools.

Front view of Gwangju Myeongjin High School.

According to the Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education and Asia Economy's coverage on August 27, major general high schools such as Suwan, Jangdeok, Seongdeok, and Bomun High Schools continue to experience overcrowded classes, with around 30 students per class. In contrast, Myeongjin High School has recently faced the risk of closure due to a lack of new students. For the 2022 academic year, only 51 students applied for 285 available spots; in 2023, 41 students applied for 220 spots; and last year, only 24 students applied for 224 spots. This deepening distrust among parents stemmed from a 2020 incident in which the former chairman of the school foundation was found to have demanded money in exchange for hiring teachers.

Starting this year, Myeongjin High School has been converted to a coeducational school. The number of new students has increased significantly to 158. A local academy operator in Suwan-dong commented, "It is positive that the number of applicants has increased as male students have been assigned," but added, "It's hard to say the school's image has improved overnight."

The city office of education also determined that the switch to coeducation would not immediately restore trust. At the time, the transition review committee concluded that the change was reasonable in terms of student placement, school facilities, and curriculum management. However, the committee also expressed regret, stating that "the foundation's willingness to change has not been specifically confirmed." During the approval process, the office of education emphasized, "For the school to gain the trust of the local community, the foundation needs to seek self-rescue measures, engage in promotion, and make active efforts to communicate with local residents."

Gwangju Metropolitan Office of Education building.

Opinions at the school level remain divided. One teacher, who requested anonymity, said, "It is difficult to create a good classroom atmosphere due to students' low basic academic skills, and issues with student guidance are recurring. It's hard to say the school atmosphere has fundamentally changed." Another teacher noted, "Still, it is true that school activities have become more vibrant as the number of new students has increased."

Parents' reactions are also mixed. One parent from the Suwan district said, "The more interested families tend to avoid Myeongjin High School." In fact, of the 24 students who were scheduled to enroll last year, five transferred to other schools just before the start of the semester. On the other hand, a parent whose child was assigned to Myeongjin High School this year said, "The biggest advantage is that my child doesn't have to go far. I am watching to see how the school changes."

The city office of education has announced plans to disperse demand in the short term through the conversion of Myeongjin High School and, in the mid- to long-term, to establish a new high school tentatively named Gwangsan High School with 18 classes on the site of the closed Hanam Elementary School in Gwangsan District by 2027, aiming to reduce long-distance assignments. An official from the office of education explained, "We need to find a balance between the demand for nearby school assignments and the problem of overcrowded classes. The opening of a new high school will provide some relief."