49 Schools to Be Closed in South Korea Due to Decreasing Population

According to The Korea Herald, the effects of the declining school-age population in South Korea continue. The Ministry of Education announced that 49 schools in different regions will be closed due to insufficient number of students to continue education. It was stated that the majority of these schools, including primary schools, middle schools, and high schools, are located in rural areas. The number of schools closed in the country was 22 in 2023 and increased to 33 in 2024. South Korea was classified as an 'aging society' in 2017 as people aged 65 and over made up 14% of the population. With a birth rate of 0.72 in 2023, South Korea is among the countries with the lowest birth rates, with socioeconomic reasons leading to a decline in birth rates.