Local governments look to international schools amid declining population

gettyimagesbank

Local governments have set their sights on establishing international schools as a strategy to counter the challenges caused by low birthrates in the nation as people are being drawn to bigger metropolitan areas, such as Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.

North Jeolla Province recently unveiled its plan to create an international school with a focus on K-pop, with both Korean and foreign students eligible to enroll. This initiative was unveiled following the North Jeolla province's transition from a province to a special self-governing state last month.

The province gained the status of a special self-governing province in January and the provincial office rebranded it as Jeonbuk State in English.

According to a local government official, the school will be the first foreign education institution to cater to both domestic and international students.

While the current Elementary and Secondary Education Act restricts admissions to international schools to foreign nationals or domestic students who have lived abroad for more than three years, the state office has enacted an ordinance allowing domestic students with no overseas experience to enroll.

The potential site for the international school will be located in an area called Saemangeum, where the 25th World Scout Jamboree took place last August. The plan is to transform Saemangeum into a global site through K-pop and international education.

In addition to the K-pop school, Jeonbuk State has formalized plans for an international taekwondo high school. Muju County, renowned for its taekwondo heritage, plans to convert Mupung High School into a specialized taekwondo institution, which is set to open in 2026 with 120 students, including 20 international students.

Similarly, the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education is also planning to establish an international high school focused on K-pop, aiming to launch in March 2028. The city government plans to recruit students nationwide, including those from international backgrounds.

Furthermore, Busan is set to host a branch of the Royal Russell School, sponsored by the British royal family. This institution will offer comprehensive courses starting from elementary school to high school. The school is slated to be established in Gangseo District, according to the city government.

Despite these initiatives, some remain skeptical about the practical impact of attracting international schools in mitigating local population decline.

Professor Seol Dong-hoon from the Department of Sociology at Jeonbuk National University argues that foreign students attending international schools are unlikely to settle in rural areas.

"Since international schools cater to elementary, middle and high school students, their potential contribution to regional development is unlikely to be notably significant," he said.

International students attending universities are relatively active in the region, contributing through activities such as paying rent and making local purchases.

"Unlike university students, young international students enrolled in international schools tend to utilize on-campus facilities and predominantly reside in dormitories," Seol said.