▲ A classroom at Ilsung Women's Middle and High School where class is in full swing at 10 a.m.
"I desperately want to graduate from school safely."
A student surnamed Ko, 65, who attends Ilsung Women's Middle and High School with dreams of going to high school and university despite her advanced age, wiped away tears, saying she was devastated to hear the news of the school's upcoming closure.
Ko commutes four hours round-trip from Uijeongbu, Gyeonggi Province, to Ilsung Women's Middle and High School in Mapo-gu, Seoul.
Before entering the school in March last year, she was so eager to learn that she even dreamed of carrying a school bag on her back and going to school.
Having dropped out of middle school due to family circumstances in the past, she had lived for over 50 years with a deep-seated regret over her lack of education.
Then, inspired by the story of a late learner in their 80s on a TV talk show, she gathered the courage and finally realized her dream of entering the school last year.
However, upon hearing the recent news that the school is in the process of closing down, she fell into deep despair once again.
Since opening in 1953, Ilsung Women's Middle and High School has served as a reliable educational institution for 74 years, offering middle and high school curricula to adult learners who missed out on educational opportunities due to poverty, war, or social circumstances.
However, following the passing of its founder and principal, Lee Seon-jae—often referred to as "Korea's Pestalozzi"—on May 10, the school is now slated for closure in February 2028.
Under the revised Lifelong Education Act, the school must transition its founding entity into a legal corporation to maintain its status as an accredited lifelong education facility. However, unable to afford the massive costs required to install facilities such as playgrounds and practice rooms, the school has ultimately entered the process of closing down.
In fact, there are other schools that have closed due to the same issue.
Seongji Middle and High School, a lifelong education facility in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, closed in February 2024, three years after the death of its founder.
At the time, students and staff demanded the school remain open, but operations ceased as it failed to transition into a corporation.
Ilsung Women's Middle and High School has also decided not to recruit new students for next year in preparation for the closure.
While the school typically prepares to recruit the following year's freshmen starting in May of each year, it has halted recruitment this time.
This is because there is no guarantee that students entering next year would be able to successfully complete the entire middle and high school curriculum before the school closes.
The school administration expressed concern that if the closure becomes a reality, the infringement on current students' right to learn will be inevitable.
Currently, a total of 950 students are enrolled at Ilsung Women's Middle and High School, including 466 in the middle school program and 484 in the high school program.
Cho (59), the head of academic affairs at Ilsung Women's Middle and High School, said, "There are only about seven to eight accredited lifelong education facilities in Seoul, and most of them prioritize their own students, leaving little room for outside students. Currently, there are 235 first-year middle school students, but other schools can accommodate at most around 80."
Students were also unable to hide their bewilderment at the news of the closure.
Lim (65), a second-year middle school student, lamented, "I entered this school with the intention of graduating from high school as well; I never imagined it would close. I am so happy studying Chinese characters and other subjects here, and I feel devastated at the thought that my learning might be cut short."
Moon (66), a second-year high school student, also said, "I couldn't study properly because I was running a business, but I discovered the joy of learning by attending school. I was deeply shocked and brought to tears when I heard about the closure from the teachers."
"I hope people realize that there are so many who want to learn even if they missed their chance," Moon pleaded. "I wish the school could continue to provide learning opportunities to many people in the future."
Ilsung Women's Middle and High School is consulting with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and other authorities to overcome the structural limitations of the current system, where the entire school community—rather than just a corporation—faces an existential crisis upon the death of its founder.
The school is requesting the establishment of a legal basis to set up lifelong education facilities through designation by the superintendent of education, as well as the creation of special regulations that would allow superintendents to protect students and staff at facilities facing closure.
Furthermore, on June 11, the school filed a petition on the National Assembly's e-petition platform, calling for a revision of the law to provide support for students' advancement and transfer so their education is not interrupted during closures or changes in operating entities, and to guarantee the employment succession of faculty and staff.
A teacher surnamed Cheon, who drafted the petition, said, "This is an issue that affects not only the students' right to learn but also the livelihoods of the faculty and staff. Since the students trust and attend this school like family, I hope we can find a way to keep the school running through public interest."
Regarding this, an official from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education explained, "We are discussing various operational plans. For now, we are reviewing extending operations until current students graduate."
The official added, "We are also researching ways to keep the school open, but there are legal conflicts, and since the school facilities are private property, there are many factors we must consider."
(Photo: Yonhap News)
※ Please note: This article was translated by AI and may contain errors.