Seoul's Elementary Student Numbers Rise for First Time in 10 Years... Why Are They Concentrated in Just Six Districts?

Student Inflow Concentrated in Education Districts Such as Gangdong and Gangnam
Chungcheong Records Net Inflow for Third Consecutive Year
Daegu and North Gyeongsang Also See Increases

Last year, for the first time in a decade, Seoul saw a net inflow of elementary school students. However, the influx was concentrated in so-called education-preferred areas such as Gangdong, Gangnam, Yangcheon, and Seocho.

On July 19, Yonhap News cited analysis by Jongro Academy of transfer data from 6,280 elementary schools nationwide, reporting that the net inflow of elementary students in Seoul last year was 834. Net inflow is calculated by subtracting the number of students leaving from those entering.

Since 2016, Seoul had recorded a net outflow of elementary students every year. In 2018, the net outflow reached 5,412, and the decrease continued in subsequent years. However, the outflow size gradually diminished to 1,633 in 2022, 740 in 2023, and 188 in 2024, shifting to a net inflow for the first time last year.

Teachers and students are conducting an open class at an elementary school in Gangnam-gu, Seoul. The photo is not directly related to the article content. Photo by Yonhap News.

The student inflow was concentrated in only a few districts, with just 6 out of Seoul's 25 districts recording a net inflow. Gangdong District had the largest with 1,752 students, followed by Gangnam District with 1,331, Yangcheon District with 848, Seocho District with 795, Nowon District with 193, and Songpa District with 163.

Jongro Academy analyzed that this result reflects continued preferences of students and parents for so-called educational special districts. The remaining 19 districts, except for these six, all recorded a net outflow.

In contrast, the Gyeonggi region saw a net outflow of 1,339 students last year, representing the largest decrease in the past decade. Gyeonggi Province had recorded net inflows of 475 in 2023 and 213 in 2024, but shifted to a net outflow last year.

Outside the capital region, the Chungcheong region showed a marked increase. There was a net inflow of 400 students there last year, with Chungcheong recording net inflows for three consecutive years since 2023. Daegu and North Gyeongsang also recorded a net inflow of 32 students last year, reversing a longstanding trend of outflow.

By contrast, Busan-Ulsan-Gyeongnam saw a net outflow of 566, Honam 193, Gangwon 105, and Jeju 34, respectively. However, some regions saw a reduction in the scale of net outflow compared to previous years.

Jongro Academy analyzed that the increase in students in the Chungcheong region may be due to expansion of regional talent selection for medical schools and discussions about introducing a local physician system.

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