South Korea has a problem with fewer children being born. Because of this, many elementary schools do not have enough students. In Gangwon Province, 20 schools had no first-grade students this year. Another 21 schools had only one new student.
Across the country, 210 elementary schools had zero new students in 2026. This number was much smaller five years ago. Even some schools in big cities like Seoul now have no first graders.
South Korea’s birth rate is very low. In 2023 it was only 0.72, and it slowly increased to 0.8 in 2025. Because there are fewer children, many schools may close in the future.
Audio Session
Low Birth Rate Leads to Empty Classrooms in South Korea
Class A
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Difficult Words
- birth rate – the number of babies born in a country each year
- province – a large area of a country, similar to a region
- elementary school – a school for young children (usually ages 6–11)
- student enrollment – the number of students who join or register for a school
- increase – to become bigger or higher in number
- close (a school) – when a school stops operating and students cannot study there anymore
Additional Info
- What problem does South Korea have?
- How many schools had zero first-grade students in Gangwon Province?
- What was South Korea’s birth rate in 2023?
- Why might some schools close in the future?
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