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Islands of Korea, Islands of the World “Just seeing the children walk to school gives us strength,” said one Hongdo Abou t KIDI
Islanders, too, have played a heartfelt role—welcoming new families with gifts
like blankets and home appliances to help them settle in. The children beamed
with joy, saying, “After moving here, our house has a yard!” and “It’s amazing—
we get to see the ocean every day.”

Island resident.
“If the young leave and the school disappears, what hope is there for a village
like ours?” he added.

Wonsando Island, Boryeong, Chungcheongnam-do

Vol.03 “A Congratulatory Gift for New Students”

A banner reading “Admission Comes with a Gift!” was recently hung on Wonsando Island in Boryeong. It
was put up by the Gwangmyeong Elementary School Consolidation Prevention Task Force, together with
the joint alumni association of Gwangmyeong Elementary, Wonsan Elementary, Hyoja Elementary, and
Woni Middle School.
Students of Hongdo Branch rehearse for the upcoming school arts festival
The message on the banner is clear: We’re looking for new and transfer students—and those who enroll at
Gwangmyeong Elementary School will receive a congratulatory monetary gift.
At present, Gwangmyeong Elementary is the only remaining school on Wonsando Island. The entire
student body numbers just 16. Of these, 6 are in the 6th grade—the largest class—and 4 are in the 5th.
Grades 1 through 4 combined have just 6 students.

Interestingly, the number of teachers and staff is also 16—exactly equal to the number of students.
According to guidelines from the Chungnam Office of Education, if this imbalance continues for two
consecutive years, the school may be downgraded from a main campus to a branch school.
To prevent this, the alumni association has taken action. Though they graduated from different schools,
the alumni have joined forces to save Wonsando’s last standing school.

Their strategy? Offer real incentives. Students from outside the region who move to Wonsando and enroll
or transfer to Gwangmyeong Elementary receive KRW 3 million per student. The alumni also help cover
transportation costs for students commuting from Daecheon City.

Thanks to their efforts, four students were brought in this year—one new student and three transfers.
But concerns remain. The six 6th graders will graduate this year. If no new students enroll next year, the
school’s total enrollment could drop to just 10.
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