Core Insights - The South Korean Ministry of Education reported that the number of first-grade students nationwide will fall below 300,000 in March, marking a historical low [1] - The number of first-grade students is projected to be approximately 298,000, a decrease of about 15.5% from 353,000 in 2024 [1] - The Ministry revised its previous forecast, which anticipated that the number of first-grade students would not drop below 300,000 until 2027, based on changes in registered population and enrollment rates [1] Enrollment Trends - The number of first-grade students was around 710,000 in 1999 and has been declining steadily, dropping to approximately 468,000 in 2009 [1] - Over the past decade, the number fluctuated around 400,000 until a sharp decline to 353,000 in 2024 and further to 324,000 in 2025 [1] - By 2031, the number of new students is expected to decrease to 220,000, representing a 32% decline compared to the anticipated enrollment for this year [1] Regional Impact - It is projected that by 2031, most of the 17 metropolitan areas in South Korea will see their first-grade student numbers fall below 10,000 [1] - The Ministry anticipates that the total number of students in elementary, middle, and high schools will drop below 5 million by the 2026 academic year [1] - Following this trend, the total number of students in primary and secondary education is expected to fall below 4 million before 2031 [1]

Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article highlights a significant decline in the number of children in kindergartens and primary schools in China, driven by a continuous decrease in the newborn population [2][4][7] - As of 2024, the number of children in kindergartens is reported at 35.84 million, a decrease of 5.09 million from the end of 2023, indicating a yearly reduction of over 5 million [5][8] - The number of primary school students in 2024 is reported at 105.84 million, which is 2.52 million fewer than in 2023, marking a continuation of the trend from the kindergarten level [9][10][14] Group 2 - The article discusses a wave of closures in kindergartens and primary schools, with the number of kindergartens decreasing from 28.92 million in 2022 to 25.33 million in 2024, a reduction of 2.11 million [17][18] - The number of primary schools has also been declining, with 136,300 schools reported in 2024, down by 7,200 from the previous year [22] - The closures are attributed to both the declining birth rate and the ongoing urbanization process, which has historically led to the merging and shutting down of rural schools [20][24] Group 3 - The article notes that the decline in the newborn population began in 2017, with a significant drop in births recorded in 2021, leading to a projected continued decrease in school-age children in the coming years [26][29] - The marriage rate has also hit a 45-year low, with only 6.11 million marriages registered in 2024, further indicating a downward trend in the birth rate [30][37] - The implications of these demographic changes are expected to extend beyond early education, affecting middle schools, high schools, and universities in the future [38][39] Group 4 - The article outlines the broader impacts of population decline, including increased pressure on the pension system, with the proportion of the population aged 60 and above rising to 22% in 2024 [46][47] - It highlights the urban-rural reshuffling, with rural populations decreasing significantly and many small towns facing potential disappearance due to declining numbers [56][61] - The education sector is also experiencing changes, with a surplus of teachers as the number of students declines, leading to potential reforms in hiring practices [66][70] Group 5 - The real estate market is under pressure due to declining population numbers, with over half of the cities in China experiencing population decreases, particularly in third and fourth-tier cities [75][76] - The article warns that the ongoing demographic trends will lead to a significant transformation in the housing market, with many cities facing a "Hegangization" effect, where property values drop significantly [78][80] - The overall demographic changes are framed as a complex societal issue that will influence various sectors, including economy, employment, and education [82][84]