A new study conducted by a national research institute has demonstrated that the closure of small elementary schools in rural areas significantly accelerates population decline. This research, provided by the Korean Educational Development Institute, reveals that while urban and town areas may mitigate the effects of school closures through proactive policies, rural areas face a heightened risk of population extinction following school closures. A report revealed that within two years of a school’s closure, an average of 259 residents left, and after three years, the number increased to 410.

The study utilized educational statistics and micro integrated data from the Korea Education Development Institute and the National Statistical Office to analyze the impacts on administrative populations following school closures. In contrast to rural areas, closures in towns and urban districts showed minimal population decline—especially in areas with robust employment opportunities, where school closures did not necessarily correlate with population loss. In these locations, strategic educational restructuring, such as the consolidation or relocation of schools, could attract new residents instead of driving them away.

Researchers emphasized that while policies and community initiatives can offset population loss in town and urban areas, rural regions are particularly vulnerable to sustained declines—suggesting a careful approach to school consolidation is essential to prevent community extinction. Future strategies for rural schools must prioritize minimizing the closure of small institutions to safeguard against long-term demographic changes.