40% of schools are ‘buildings older than 30 years’… Lee Gwang-jae “We need to improve through national investment”

Proposal to use future response funds to modernize school infrastructure

(Seoul = Yonhap News) Reporter Oh Gyu-jin = It was found that 4 out of 10 school buildings are old school buildings that were built more than 30 years ago.

According to data submitted by the Ministry of Education on the 7th and released by Rep. Lee Gwang-jae of the Democratic Party of Korea, chairman of the National Assembly Budget and Accounts Special Committee, out of a total of 33,751 buildings for teachers in kindergartens (excluding private ones) and elementary, middle, high schools, and special schools nationwide, 13,206 buildings, or about 39.1%, were built more than 30 years ago.

Gyeonggi-do (1,768) had the largest number of teachers with more than 30 years of construction, followed by Seoul (1,697), Jeonnam (1,263), Jeonbuk (1,170), Gyeongbuk (1,117), and Gyeongnam (1,111).

On the other hand, budget allocation and execution for the improvement of the educational environment were organized in stages each year according to tax revenue.

The current budget for improving the educational environment is KRW 7.9821 trillion in 2021, KRW 9.5749 trillion in 2022, KRW 12.2173 trillion in 2023, KRW 11.5169 trillion in 2024, and KRW 8.7687 trillion last year, showing a structure in which tax revenues are high in years and then decrease when there is a deficit.

In terms of execution amount, 2023 (8.2474 trillion won) increased by about 28.9% compared to the previous year (6.3956 trillion won), but last year (7.102 trillion won) decreased by about 21.6% compared to 2024 (9.0534 trillion won).

In relation to this, the Ministry of Education explained to Representative Lee, "For projects necessary for student health and safety, the budget is given to city and provincial offices of education based on the actual cost, but for air conditioners, toilets, replacement of desks and chairs, waterproofing of the roof, replacement of windows, etc., the amount of grants varies depending on the degree of deterioration."

Rep. Lee argued that the Future Response Fund should be actively used to improve school infrastructure.

He said, "National investment must be made in replacing old school facilities and classrooms. It is time to set a roadmap for school modernization. Let's spend money on things that can be felt on the ground, such as replacing old restrooms, cafeterias, and desks and chairs that do not fit the body shape."