[June 10, KOREA WAVE]Arrived at Sangok Elementary School in Sangok-ri, Gunbuk-myeon, after driving 16km north on a mountain road from Geumsan-eup, Geumsan-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, South Korea. A “mini elementary school” with a total of 32 students. There are six kindergarten students, five first graders, four second graders, five third graders, two fourth graders, seven fifth graders, and three sixth graders.

After approval for the establishment of Kamiya Simple School on April 20, 1937, it was upgraded to Kamiya Public National School on March 31, 1942. Kamiya Elementary School is an elementary school with a rich history and tradition, celebrating its 88th anniversary on April 20th.

In the late 2000s, Kamiya Elementary School was at risk of closing due to a decline in the number of students.

However, in 2010, Geumsan County revitalized Sangok-ri, Buk-myeon, as the “Atopy Natural Healing Village.” In the same year, the Chungcheongnam-do Office of Education designated Kamegok Elementary School as an “Atopy-Safe School in Nature,” and in 2015, it was renovated into an atopic-specific school with loess features.

Since then, Kamigok Elementary School has been known as the “Atopy Safe School” in South Korea, and has been saved from the crisis of closure, playing a role as a “population protector” in Geumsan County, which is on the verge of collapsing in population by 50,000.

◇Class starts at 9:20am

Twenty-one (65.6%) of the 32 students suffered from atopic dermatitis. The students are living apart from their parents and grandparents in order to cure their atopic dermatitis.

The distance from Natural Healing Hope Village to the school is only about 200 meters, so there is no need to worry about traffic accidents for children on their way to and from school. Kamiya Elementary School operates a school bus for children who live far away.

The village is a clean area where children can play to their heart’s content throughout the year, making it popular with parents. School lunches will be served with environmentally friendly menus such as antibiotic-free Korean beef bulgogi (grilled meat), environmentally friendly glutinous rice, and environmentally friendly brown rice.

Classes at Kamiya Elementary School begin at 9:20 a.m. This is in consideration of children who suffer from atopic dermatitis and have trouble sleeping and come to school late. Although the number of students is small, instead of having multiple classes in which students of different grades are taught in the same classroom, they are taught individually using smart pads. There are also supplementary lessons after school.

Therefore, parents’ satisfaction with their children’s school life is extremely high.

Second-year student Lee Joo-ah (8) said, “I don’t have many friends in the same class, but I enjoy school life because the teachers are kind and provide environment-friendly menus.”

Parent Yoo Eun-young said, “My two children suffered from atopic dermatitis, and I tried attending schools in various places, including the Philippines, but there was no place that could take care of my children as well as Kamiya Elementary School.” The distance from the village to the school is short, and the teachers’ care for the children is also exceptional, making it even more trustworthy.”

Principal Kwon Jae-young said, “Not only do we provide custom-made school lunches to the children, but we also provide one-on-one classes, so the students’ academic ability is no worse than in the city.”

(c)news1/KOREA WAVE/AFPBB News