As the number of school-age children continues to decline, the transition of single-gender schools in Seoul to coeducation is accelerating. Eight middle and high schools, including Muhak High School and Seongsim Middle and High School, have been confirmed to transition to coeducation in 2027 and 2028. However, strong opposition from alumni of these long-established institutions suggests a challenging road ahead for the transition.
On July 30, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced that it has finalized the list of eight schools approved for coeducation out of 11 that applied for the 2027-2028 academic year. This transition is being pursued to maintain appropriate school sizes in light of declining student numbers and to alleviate issues related to long commutes for students in certain areas and gender imbalances.
In May, the Seoul Education Office reviewed various factors for the 11 schools (five middle schools and six high schools) that applied, including student placement conditions, the necessity of coeducation, school operation committee deliberations, and facility conditions.
As a result, the coeducation transition for eight schools was deemed 'appropriate.' The schools transitioning in the 2027 academic year include Jeongwon Middle School, Seongsim Middle School, Sinjeong Middle School, Muhak High School, Seoul Sinjeong High School (specialized high school), Hanyang Middle School, and Hanyang Science and Technology High School (specialized high school). The only school transitioning in 2028 is Seongsim High School.
In contrast, three schools, including Hwikyung Middle and High School and Songgok High School, were not approved this time due to the need for collaboration with nearby schools and placement conditions, and they have been classified for 'long-term review.' The education office plans to reconsider the coeducation transition for these schools based on future changes in conditions.
The Seoul Education Office is also preparing support measures to ensure that the eight schools transitioning to coeducation can smoothly start the new academic year. They will provide differentiated facility improvement funds for restrooms, health rooms, and changing rooms to ensure that both male and female students can live comfortably.
Additionally, to assist school members in adapting and to ensure stable guidance, a 'transition support fund' totaling 300 million won (approximately $224,000) will be allocated over three years to each school (240 million won for operational costs and 60 million won for personnel costs). The education office will also actively support the timely completion of various administrative procedures necessary before the transition, such as name changes and ordinance amendments.
Seoul Education Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik expressed hope that the confirmation of coeducation will improve students' commuting conditions and create a more demand-driven educational environment. He stated, 'We will continue to proactively respond to changes in the school-age population to enhance the competitiveness of education in Seoul and ensure students' right to learn.'
However, underlying these plans from the education office is a painful conflict. In particular, the alumni association of Muhak High School, which was established in 1940 and has a tradition of 86 years, is strongly opposed to the transition.
The school administration emphasizes that the transition to coeducation is an 'inevitable choice' to ensure smooth educational operations, such as the high school credit system, due to a continuous decline in student numbers, which may require further reductions in class sizes next year. In fact, the number of students at Muhak High School has dropped by 22.1%, from 521 in 2023 to 406 in 2026.
However, the alumni association and some current students are strongly opposing the transition, arguing that it is a unilateral move that undermines the identity of the school with 86 years of tradition without sufficient public discourse.
The alumni have formed an emergency response committee against the coeducation transition and are continuing large-scale protests and signature campaigns in front of the education office and within the community. Despite heavy rain and heat, the alumni have taken to the streets multiple times, demanding a meeting with Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik and urging the withdrawal of the transition.
* This article has been translated by AI.
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