Key facts
- Residents in Seoul's Gangseo-gu district are opposing the construction of a permanent campus for Yeomyung School, which serves North Korean defectors.
- The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education plans to renovate the former Seoul Yeomgang Elementary School for the school.
- Opposition groups cite concerns over lack of consultation, potential impact on property values, and safety.
- Yeomyung School's principal, Cho Myung-sook, knelt before residents during a town hall meeting to plead for acceptance of the students.
- The school's current lease expires in February 2027.
- Hyundai Motor Group provided 6 billion won ($4.3 million) for facility renovations.
Residents in Seoul's Gangseo-gu district are protesting the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's plan to build a permanent campus for Yeomyung School, an alternative high school for North Korean defectors. The dispute has intensified, with the school's principal, Cho Myung-sook, kneeling before residents during a town hall meeting to plead for them to "embrace the children."
The education office plans to renovate the former Seoul Yeomgang Elementary School, which closed in 2020, to accommodate Yeomyung School and the city’s Early Childhood Education and Promotion Center. Yeomyung School, established in 2004, has faced previous opposition to its relocations, including a failed attempt to move to Eunpyeong-gu in 2019. It relocated to its current Gangseo-gu location in 2023, with its lease set to expire in February 2027.
Opposition groups, formed by nearby residents, have criticized the education office for a perceived lack of consultation and rushed administration. They have also expressed concerns about placing the defector school adjacent to facilities for young children, fearing it could impact neighborhood safety and property values. Some residents have posted messages on forums calling for local government intervention.
Hyundai Motor Group has supported the renovation efforts with a 6 billion won ($4.3 million) contribution, and the Unification Ministry has pledged administrative and financial support for the school's operation. The education office has stated that measures are being taken to shield students from the ongoing dispute.