Despite Declining School-Age Population, Government to Expand New Teacher Hiring Next Year Over Previous Plan

About 100 More Elementary Teachers and 1,200 More Secondary Teachers to Be Hired Than Originally Planned

The government has decided to increase the number of new teachers to be hired for the 2027 academic year compared to its previous plan. This move appears to be focused on securing more faculty in response to the stabilization of the high school credit system, which was introduced last year, and the expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) education.

On June 25, the Ministry of Education announced its 'Mid- to Long-Term (2027–2030) Plan for Supply and Demand of Elementary and Secondary School Teachers,' stating that the number of new teachers to be hired next year will be between 2,700 and 2,900 for elementary schools, and between 4,700 and 5,100 for middle and high schools.

Ministry of Education

This figure represents an increase compared to the previous mid- to long-term (2024–2027) teacher supply and demand plan announced by the Ministry of Education three years ago.

At that time, the Ministry of Education had announced that for the 2027 academic year, it would hire around 2,600 to 2,900 elementary school teachers and approximately 3,500 to 4,000 middle and high school teachers. The new plan increases the number of elementary school hires by about 100 and middle and high school hires by approximately 1,200 compared to the previous plan.

A Ministry of Education official explained, "The biggest factor behind the significant increase in the number of middle and high school teacher hires for the 2027 academic year is the high school credit system," adding, "We also comprehensively considered the need to guarantee basic academic ability and to foster AI talent."

According to the Ministry of Education, the number of new elementary school teachers to be hired will be approximately 2,600 to 2,900 in 2028, about 2,500 to 2,800 in 2029, and about 2,500 to 2,800 in 2030. For middle and high school teachers, the number will be around 4,200 to 4,600 in 2028, about 3,500 to 3,900 in 2029, and about 3,300 to 3,700 in 2030.

The annual number of new hires may fluctuate depending on staffing operations, such as the number of retirements and leaves of absence among teachers by provincial and metropolitan education offices, as well as local circumstances.

The final announcement of the number of new hires for the 2027 academic year will be made in September.

Minister of Education Choi Gyojin stated, "Teacher supply and demand should be determined not only by the decline in student numbers, but also by sufficiently considering various educational demands and changes in the environment needed to foster future talent," adding, "Based on this mid- to long-term teacher supply and demand direction, we will actively support the creation of quality educational conditions that can underpin balanced regional growth and the cultivation of national talent."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.