Two elementary schools in Seoul will likely be merged due to their declining enrollment, affected by Korea’s low birth rate.

It will be the first time for Seoul-based elementary schools to be merged

The merger between the two neighboring schools in southeastern Seoul, Daecheong and Younghee elementary school, has been discussed since 2009 as the number of Daecheong students has shrunk to half the average elementary school size. It now has 230 students and 13 classes. An average elementary school in Seoul has 30 to 40 classes.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has recently formed a policy advisory committee to determine the merger of two schools in August.

“The merger will be carried out after the committee decides to do so,” an official of the education office said.

If two schools are to merge, Daecheong will be absorbed by Younghee.

But the merging process faces a bumpy road as parents, school alumni, residents may disagree with the amalgamation of two schools.

The regional education office plans to analyze problems expected in the process to help smooth the amalgamation process.

South Korea has one of the lowest fertility rates in the world at 1.22 children per woman in 2010 while the average rate of the OECD countries is 1.74. The rate has dropped since 1998 and is now lower than Japan’s rate of 1.39 children per woman.

By Lee Woo-young  (wylee@heraldcorp.com)