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| / Captured from Daum Roadview |
By Chyung Eun-ju
Imagine telling friends and family that you are going to "Feces Elementary School."
For 55 years, students and graduates of Daebyun Elementary School in Gijang-gu, Busan, have had to refer to the word when mentioning their school. ("Daebyun" means "feces" in Korean)
Because of its name, the school has been a laughing stock, while some students currently enrolled felt hurt seeing their school referred to as "poop school."
But on Thursday the school announced it will change the name.
Students and alumni have gathered over 4,000 signatures since April in a campaign to change the name. A school committee will decide on a new name from three alternatives. Following the committee's deliberation, the school will submit an official request to the Haeundae Office of Education.
The school will be legally entitled to use the new name from March 2018 after an audit by the Busan City Board of Education's school name selection committee and the Busan City Council's revision of relevant regulations.
Founded in 1963, the school was named after a village called Daebyun-ri in the city area where the school is. The village's name was shortened from that of the nearby Daedonggobyunpo Port.
The school has 76 students.
