Busan Metropolitan Office of Education to Conduct Preliminary Enrollment for New Elementary Students

Preliminary Enrollment at 295 Public Elementary Schools from January 2 to 7
In-Person Attendance Required to Strengthen Verification of Children's Safety

The Busan Metropolitan Office of Education (Superintendent Kim Seokjun) will conduct the preliminary enrollment for new elementary school students for the 2026 academic year at 295 public elementary schools in the Busan area from January 2 to January 7, 2026.

The eligible students for the 2026 elementary school enrollment are children born between January 1 and December 31, 2019, totaling 18,031 as of October 30, 2025. This represents a slight decrease compared to the previous year's 19,875 eligible students.

Children who have already started school through early admission are excluded, while children who postponed their enrollment in the previous year due to deferred admission are included.

This preliminary enrollment will primarily be conducted in person to more thoroughly verify the whereabouts and safety of eligible children. Additionally, to enhance convenience for parents and guardians, preliminary enrollment sessions will also be held in the evenings and on weekends, depending on each school's circumstances.

Guardians of eligible children must review the information provided in the enrollment notice and the details specific to each school, and participate in the preliminary enrollment with their child, bringing the enrollment notice. If they are unable to attend due to unavoidable reasons, they must contact the school in advance before the preliminary enrollment date.

In particular, if a child is unable to attend school due to unavoidable reasons such as illness or developmental issues, the guardian may apply for exemption or deferral of compulsory education at the intended school.

The Office of Education plans to closely verify the whereabouts and safety of any children who do not attend the preliminary enrollment without prior notice, in cooperation with local governments through phone calls and home visits. If necessary, the office will also take proactive measures, such as requesting an investigation from the relevant police station.

Superintendent Kim Seokjun stated, "Preliminary enrollment for elementary school is the first step for children entering compulsory education, so I hope both children and parents will visit the school in person to check the admission process and necessary information," adding, "The Office of Education will do its utmost to ensure the safety and protection of eligible children during the preliminary enrollment period, in close cooperation with relevant agencies."