A classroom in a Seoul elementary school is empty. /Courtesy of News1

The Ministry of Education released a report on the 10th stating that the total number of teachers will be reduced by 2,232 for the 2025 academic year.

This reduction in the number of teachers will take effect from March 1. Earlier, the government conducted a legislative notice regarding the 'regulations on the number of state officials placed in local education administrative agencies and public schools', which focused on the reduction of teachers from January 31 to February 5.

Specifically, 1,289 elementary school teachers and 1,700 secondary school teachers will be reduced. This reflects the temporary appointment of 500 elementary teachers to support basic academic skills for vulnerable populations such as low-income families, as well as the support for teacher placement due to the establishment and closure of schools, which involves 1,307 elementary and secondary teachers (624 elementary, 683 secondary).

This reduction in the number of teachers is a measure considering the continuously declining school-age population. According to the Ministry of Education's estimates, the number of elementary, middle, and high school students will decrease from 5,021,845 this year to 3,835,632 by 2031.

However, the number of kindergarten teachers will be frozen. Additionally, special education teachers will be increased by 520. Non-regular teachers, including 62 health teachers, 50 nutrition teachers, 42 librarian teachers, and 83 professional counseling teachers, will also increase by 237.

A Ministry of Education official noted, 'We will work to ensure that an appropriate number of teachers is secured to reflect diverse educational demands.'