131 Out of 546 Rural Study-Abroad Students in 15 Gangwon Cities and Counties Choose Yangyang County
Distinctive Education, Including Surfing, Golf, and Orchestra at Small Schools, Enhanced by Natural Surroundings
As the enthusiasm for rural study-abroad programs in Gangwon Special Self-Governing Province continues to grow, Yangyang County has ranked first for the second consecutive year in attracting rural student transfers within the province.
According to the results of the rural student recruitment for the first semester of 2026 among 15 cities and counties in Gangwon Province, Yangyang County attracted 65 out of a total of 266 students (24.4%). Last year, Yangyang County also ranked first by attracting 86 out of 289 students (29.7%) among 12 cities and counties in Gangwon Province, marking the highest number of rural student admissions in the province for the second consecutive year.
Currently, out of 817 elementary school students in Yangyang County, there are a total of 131 rural study-abroad students, including 65 newly enrolled this year, accounting for about 16% of all elementary students. It is evaluated that the rural study-abroad program has established itself as a key pillar supporting local elementary education and as a new growth engine invigorating the local economy.
Yangyang County's popularity among parents nationwide is attributed to its natural environment and differentiated educational content. The unique setting where mountains and the sea coexist, along with a clean living environment free from fine dust, are considered optimal conditions for children's emotional stability and healthy growth.
In particular, specialized arts and physical education programs such as surfing, golf, and orchestra, which are centered around small schools, are a unique competitive advantage of Yangyang County. Tailored curricula that nurture each student's talents and aptitudes meet parents' educational expectations and reinforce the image of “small but strong schools.”
As the number of rural study-abroad students increases, small schools that were struggling due to declining student numbers are now able to maintain stable classes and offer more diverse curricula. Unlike individual student transfers, rural elementary study-abroad programs feature family unit stays. These family relocations have a positive ripple effect on the local economy and community life.
An official from Yangyang County stated, “We will continue to improve housing and educational environments so that study-abroad families can settle here long-term. By supporting specialized programs for small schools and strengthening the connection with middle school curricula, we will further solidify Yangyang’s brand as ‘the best city for rural study-abroad programs.’”
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