Interior ministry selects seven projects to revitalize closed schools

The interior ministry said Monday it has selected seven projects to transform closed schools into regional vitality hubs, marking the first joint initiative with the education ministry to repurpose vacant educational facilities. The two ministries will provide support for the chosen ventures.

Five of the selected projects involve properties owned by provincial education offices, while the remaining two are situated on land held by local governments. The approved plans include diverse models tailored to regional characteristics, ranging from loess experience facilities and AI-based digital education centers to ecological healing gardens, children's indoor playgrounds, an ESG education center with eco-camping grounds, an AI cloud system for archiving closed school records, and a park golf course.

Kim Min-jae, vice minister of the interior ministry, described the effort as a meaningful attempt to view closed schools not merely as idle assets but as future growth resources for their communities. He added that he expects the sites to become key hubs driving regional development based on solid cooperation between local governments and education offices.

Choi Eun-ok, vice minister of the education ministry, noted the significance of creating a collaboration model where both entities jointly discover new uses for these spaces to improve local education and living conditions. She pledged continued support to ensure closed schools can be reborn as new community assets utilized by both students and residents.