Sinan County’s surprise offer to prevent local school's closure draws attention from parents - 코리아타임스

An aerial view of the elementary school located on Hong Island in Sinan County, South Jeolla Province / Courtesy of Sinan County

By Jun Ji-hye

Sinan County in South Jeolla Province has been grabbing the attention of parents after its recent announcement that it will provide jobs offering more than 3 million won ($2,200) a month in addition to free accommodation to those willing to move to one of its small islands with their children.

The county announced the plan on Oct. 16, aiming to save the elementary school located on Hong Island, which is at risk of closing down due to an insufficient number of students.

Inviting parents who are raising elementary school-aged children, the county promised to provide jobs offering 3.2 million won a month, free accommodation that will include more than two bedrooms and an annual allowance of 400,000 won per child.

“This allowance, which is offered only in Sinan to children under the age of 18, comes from profits of solar power generation here,” an official from the county office said. “The amount will increase to 800,000 won next year.”

Since the announcement was made, phone calls from parents across the country, including those living in Donghae of Gangwon Province, have flooded in regarding the unique offer, the office said, adding that a broadcaster’s YouTube video that delivered the news about this policy has generated more than 1.5 million views.

The elementary school on the island, which opened in 1949, is facing possible closure, as the school currently has only three sixth graders who will graduate next year.

The county office plans to hold a briefing session soon to offer information regarding school facilities and accommodation to those willing to move to the island.

The county office official said 12 families will be invited to the session, which will also include opportunities to talk to local residents about what life is like on the island.

“We will then select four families on a trial basis and offer accommodation with favorable settlement conditions,” the official said.

The program will give priority to families with more elementary school-age children. If families have equal conditions, the office will give priority to those with younger children.

Park Woo-ryang, governor of Sinan County, said that a region can survive only when a local school survives, vowing to do its best to save this small elementary school.

“As we confirmed an explosion of interest in the policy to attract students to the elementary school on Hong Island, we will continue to come up with similar policies to save other schools that face similar situations.”

Hong Island, with a population of 500, is called the “jewel of the southwestern sea,” as the entire island is designated as a natural reserve.

The island is situated 107 kilometers west of Mokpo, the most densely populated city in South Jeolla Province, and takes 2 hours and 40 minutes by fast ferry.

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