"Log In to the Subject You Want"... Seoul Online School Supports the High School Credit System

Seoul Online School Opens on July 10:
Supporting Infrastructure for the High School Credit System
"Interactive, Not Pre-Recorded" Classes for Subjects Difficult to Offer at Individual Schools
1,962 Students Participating—More Than Double Last Year’s Enrollment

"Superintendent, what do you believe are the uniquely human abilities that schools must continue to nurture, even in the era of AI?"

"That's a wonderful question. I believe it is important for students to think for themselves and find solutions through discussions with friends, rather than relying excessively on AI."

On the morning of July 9, at the Seoul Online School content production studio in Seongdong-gu, Seoul, eleven third-year students from Muhak Girls' High School were attending a "Chinese Culture" class offered by Seoul Online School via remote connection. That day, the students showered Geun-sik Jeong, the Superintendent of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, who made a surprise appearance for the school's opening ceremony, with a variety of questions. It was nothing like the typical "pre-recorded online lecture." Although the students were connected from different locations, their active questioning and discussions were just as lively as in-person classes. The expressions and looks in the students' eyes on the large monitor were even clearer than in a traditional classroom.

When asked by a student to describe the online school in three words, Superintendent Jeong replied, "Interactive and Real-Time." He explained, "While broadcasting high schools rely on pre-recorded lectures, Seoul Online School offers real-time classes where students and teachers can ask and answer questions. This is the school's greatest feature."

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Seoul Online School was established to provide real-time remote classes for subjects that are difficult to offer at students' home schools in preparation for the implementation of the high school credit system in 2025. Last year, the school temporarily used the 3rd and 4th floors of the old Deoksu High School annex, but after completing renovations this year, it officially opened its doors on this day.

If a school requests the establishment of a particular subject within its curriculum, Seoul Online School provides a "customized curriculum" for students from that school only. When the online school opens a subject as part of a joint curriculum among schools, it becomes an "open curriculum," allowing students from multiple schools to enroll. Customized courses are offered during regular school hours, while open courses are held after school or on weekends. This year, 24 schools (83 courses) are participating in customized programs, and 144 schools (24 courses) in open programs, with a total of 1,962 students (1,563 customized, 399 open), more than double last year's 957 students.

The idea for the online school arose from practical concerns about the high school credit system. The system allows students to select the courses they want, but in reality, schools often cannot offer all requested courses due to a lack of students or difficulty securing teachers.

Eun-mi Kim, Vice Principal of Seoul Online School, said, "It is difficult for each school to secure new teachers or offer courses with only a few students, so the online school can serve as an alternative. If each school requests a course for their challenging subjects, it could be very helpful."

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Online classes are not limited to one-way knowledge delivery. As seen in Superintendent Jeong's class with the Muhak Girls' High School students, the basic format is "real-time, interactive." Depending on the subject matter, teaching style, and evaluation methods, in-person classes are sometimes combined as well.

In the "XR (Extended Reality) Studio," classes utilizing AI-based 3D modeling are also conducted. For students, this means that while the teacher explains the lesson, extended reality visuals unfold in the background, increasing immersion and comprehension.

Another advantage is that each class has only 5 to 15 students, allowing for more in-depth lessons. Hyun-dong Kim, a mathematics teacher, said, "If my microphone is off at the start of class, the students immediately notify me in the chat, saying, 'Teacher, we can't hear you.' This shows their high level of engagement. Since these students have chosen the class themselves, about 70 to 80 percent are genuinely committed."

Students' decisions to enroll in the online school also reflect practical concerns about the high school credit system. In traditional schools, both achievement and ranking grades are calculated, so students tend to choose subjects where they can earn higher grades rather than those aligned with their interests or career plans. In contrast, the online school, operated as a joint curriculum, records only 3 to 5 levels of achievement (A–E) without calculating ranking grades. A school official noted, "Some students take this evaluation method into account when applying for courses."

The biggest question for students and parents is whether choosing the online school is advantageous or disadvantageous for college admissions. The official said, "According to several university admissions officers we consulted, students who take courses through the online school are highly valued for their willingness to 'take on a challenge' for their career paths."

Curriculum of Seoul Online School. Seoul Online School

Superintendent Jeong commented, "Depending on how robustly the online school is operated, assessments of the high school credit system could change. By offering advanced and specialized courses that are difficult for individual schools to provide, the online school will play a key role in expanding students' options."

Seoul Online School plans to accept course requests from each school until the end of August and finalize the 2027 customized curriculum schedule by the end of the year after reaching agreements.

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