South Korean schools face educational gaps due to lack of gymnasiums

A total of 439 elementary, middle, and high schools across South Korea lack gymnasiums, according to data analyzed by Representative Ko Min-jung of the National Assembly Education Committee. This deficiency affects approximately 3.7% of the nation's 12,000 schools, creating significant disparities in physical education quality due to weather conditions such as heavy rain, heatwaves, and fine dust.

Regional causes for the lack of facilities vary significantly. In Seoul, 28 out of 85 schools without gymnasiums cited limited land area as the primary obstacle. Conversely, in rural provinces like Gyeongbuk, Jeonbuk, and Jeonnam, the vast majority of schools without facilities—such as 57 out of 65 in Gyeongbuk—cited small school sizes as the main reason for the absence of indoor sports spaces.

Representative Ko has called for tailored solutions to bridge this educational gap. She suggested that urban areas should focus on utilizing existing facilities and linking with nearby public sports centers, while rural areas with small-scale schools require the construction of customized multipurpose indoor sports spaces.