South Korean schools face rising costs from aging heating and cooling units

Approximately 12.3% of heating and cooling units in South Korean elementary, middle, and high schools are outdated, having been in use for more than 12 years. Data submitted to the National Assembly Education Committee reveals that out of 644,756 units nationwide, 79,166 are considered aged.

Regional data shows that Daejeon has the highest proportion of aged units at 24.2%, followed by Incheon at 20.5%. Other regions including Seoul, Gwangju, Busan, and Gyeonggi also report aging equipment. Despite the need for replacements, the number of new installations has been declining since 2023.

Representative Han Byeong-do noted that the continued use of inefficient, aged equipment is increasing financial burdens due to rising electricity costs. On average, electricity expenses per school rose by 29.4% between 2022 and 2025. Han urged the Ministry of Education to establish specific annual replacement targets and plans to transition to high-efficiency devices to protect both educational budgets and student learning environments.