Neglected Closed Schools Become Cat Protection Centers, Astronomical Museums... 7 Best Practices Selected

Tongyeong’s Public Cat Protection and Adoption Center Wins Prime Minister’s Award

Closed schools left unused amid regional depopulation and a declining school-age population are being transformed into regional hubs that bring new vitality, including animal protection centers, astronomical science museums, and ecological and cultural spaces.

The public cat protection and adoption center run by the Tongyeong Office of Education. Ministry of the Interior and Safety.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety and the Ministry of Education announced on November 8 that they had held the “2026 Best Practices Competition for the Use of Closed Schools” and selected seven outstanding projects that had been transformed into spaces tailored to local needs.

A total of 62 projects from across the country were submitted to the competition, which was organized to encourage local governments and education offices to participate in the use of closed schools and to identify models for interagency collaboration. The final rankings were determined through an initial written review and online public evaluation, followed by a second-round presentation review and on-site voting.

The “Public Cat Protection and Adoption Center” run by the Tongyeong Office of Education in Gyeongsangnam-do won the Prime Minister’s Award, the top prize.

Created by renovating the Yongho Branch of Hansan Elementary School, the facility was developed based on a proposal from residents. The office of education, local government, and private-sector experts joined forces to turn it into a regional hub connecting animal protection, ecological education, and island tourism. It received high marks for providing systematic support for cat adoptions while attracting visitors and fostering community ties.

Six projects received Excellence Awards.

The Ministry of the Interior and Safety Minister’s Awards went to Ganghwa Astronomical Science Center in Ganghwa, Incheon; Honeybee Land in Goesan, Chungcheongbuk-do; and Pops World Dajagu Halmi-ne in Danyang, Chungcheongbuk-do. The Ministry of Education Minister’s Awards went to a complex combining a special education school, library, and eco-school in Seoul; Imsil Ecological Nuri in Imsil, Jeollabuk-do; and Kongdak Kongdak, a Korean paper experience center specializing in paper mulberry in Buan, Jeollabuk-do.

The government will provide incentives to the seven selected local governments and education offices using special allocation tax grants and special grants. It plans to promote the models nationwide through a collection of best practices and a results-sharing event, tailoring the use of closed schools to local needs.

Vice Minister of the Interior and Safety Kim Min-jae said, “Closed schools are valuable assets that can become new engines of regional growth, rather than simply unused spaces. I hope these outstanding examples will spread nationwide and help communities overcome the crisis of regional depopulation.”

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