Around 500 elementary schools in Seoul welcome new students

First-graders attend a prep session at an elementary school in Hwagok-dong, western Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyunSEOUL, January 7 (AJP) - Some 566 public elementary schools in Seoul are holding two-day prep sessions this week to welcome new students.

According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, there are 51,265 first-graders this year, down about five percent from last year, as the young population continues to shrink due to the country's ultra-low birthrates.

These sessions are an annual event aimed at preparing students for their upcoming school life. This year, they are being held from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m. on Tuesday and Wednesday to accommodate working parents who might not be able to take time off.
 A first-grader attends a prep session at an elementary school in Hwagok-dong, western Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyunA first-grader attends a prep session at an elementary school in Hwagok-dong, western Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyunFirst-graders attend a prep session at an elementary school in Hwagok-dong, western Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyunFirst-graders attend a prep session at an elementary school in Hwagok-dong, western Seoul on Jan. 6, 2026. AJP Yoo Na-hyun
Yoo Na-hyun Reporter shooting@ajupress.com