Inside South Korea s empty classrooms and efforts to reimagine them

SEOUL - On a weekday afternoon at around 1.30pm, an eerie silence blankets the schoolyard of what was once Hwayang Elementary School in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul.

Where children’s laughter once filled the air, now only the rustling of trees in the spring breeze and occasional birdsong break the stillness.

The human presence has shifted dramatically. Elderly residents with canes now walk the empty grounds for afternoon exercise. Near the school gate, what was once a playground filled with swings, seesaws and slides has transformed into a parking lot for neighbourhood residents.

Hwayang Elementary closed its doors in February 2024, as South Korea’s persistently low birth rates in the past decade resulted in a shortage of students. Having remained vacant for over a year, the school’s outdoor area is now a popular exercise spot for nearby residents.

Ryu Myung-jin, 73, is among the school’s new frequent visitors.

“Since it’s a school, there are a lot of trees. I usually come here after lunch to walk around for exercise,” she said, adding she lives just five minutes away. “The benches and wide stairs make it easy to find a place to sit.”

Near the entrance, the empty janitor’s office displayed a rusted sign for visitors on its exterior, apparently from the days when the school was still open. The parking lot was filled with cars and trucks, and several people were smoking in one corner.

Since 2015, Seoul has seen a total of nine schools close their doors due to a shortage of students.

Hwayang Elementary, which opened in 1983 with 18 classes, saw its student population steadily decline, shrinking from 420 students in 2008, to 183 in 2013, to 151 in 2018.

By 2023, the number had dropped to just 84, with only 7 new first graders, according to Gwangjin-gu Office.