Small towns are feeling the heavy impact of low birth rates
Source: JTBC via Nate
Only one student enrolled for first grade at a Kangwon elementary school this year. The school has implemented a policy where class years with less than three students are merged with the next year.
1. [+1,287, -6] Aigoo, aigoo, I feel so sad for him and yet so proud.. Listen to your teachers and grow up healthy and happy~
2. [+1,179, -13] That makes him valedictorian of his class....
3. [+1,004, -11] You're #1 no matter what you do!
4. [+43, -0] This is not a laughing matter. This is a clear example of the problems with low birth rates ad the concentration of our population in big cities...
5. [+38, -2] Why is this making me tear up?
6. [+27, -0] I feel bad yet proud of him!! My son enrolled today as well and despite being from Incheon, there were only 50-some students in the first grade. Considering that there are only 300 students in the entire school, the impact of our low birth rates is certainly hitting home. Our town used to have three children's clinics but one has shut down... This generation is responsible for our future so it's sad to see what's happening.
7. [+25, -0] Sigh... elementary schools all over Seoul are being closed and shut down~ I feel bad for these kids. I see more people walking dogs than pushing baby strollers these days... it's just how our times are changing.
8. [+22, -1] The future feels so dark
9. [+18, -0] Grow up happy and strong. You would think his parents would transfer to another town but it's amazing that they're sticking it out ㅎㅎ congrats on your enrollment~~ ^^
10. [+15, -0] Not sure whether to laugh or cry ㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎㅎ
11. [+13, -0] This is so bad... who's going to want to move to the suburbs anymore...
12. [+11, -1] Our country really is slowly disappearing ㅜㅠ
13. [+9, -1] In 40 years, I suspect 50% of our country will be mixed
- Some county districts are already reporting 10 out of 20 as mixed-ethnicity families
14. [+8, -0] It's not just elementary schools disappearing, so are pre-schools and nurseries
15. [+7, -1] This scares me more than feeling bittersweet... Is our country really okay...
16. [+6, -0] I'm sure this will become a permanent headline in the next years... and in some years, we will be seeing zero enrollments...
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