Exclusive: Seoul Education Office Moves, Annex to House Teacher Unions

Relocation of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education is undergoing a significant transformation as it prepares to move from its long-standing location in the Jongno District to a new building in Hwarang-dong, Yongsan District. This relocation marks the end of an era for the office, which has been based in the Jongno District for 45 years. The current site will be repurposed to accommodate union offices, including those of the Korean Teachers and Education Workers Union (KTU).

According to the official announcement by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education on the 8th, the relocation is scheduled to be completed by the 21st, with an opening ceremony planned for the first day of next month. The new building in Hwarang-dong is a six-story structure with three basement levels, constructed at a cost of 176.7 billion Korean won. It was built on the site that became vacant after Sudo Girls’ High School relocated to Dongjak District.

Historical Background of the Education Office

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has had several locations throughout its history. From 1968 to 1977, it was located on Seosomun-ro, then moved to Yeouido from 1977 to 1981. Since 1981, it has been situated in the Jongno District. The current office, connected to Gyeonghee Palace, previously housed Seoul High School. The school relocated to Seocho District in 1980 under the government’s Gangnam development policy, which allowed the education office to take over the space.

Future Plans for the Former Office Site

Plans are already in place for the future use of the former office site. According to the “Plan for Utilizing the Jongno District Office Following the Relocation to the New Building,” submitted by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to Seoul City Council member Hwang Chul-gyu of the People Power Party, the main building of the existing office will be relocated to the Central Education Support Office currently in Hyojedong, Jongno District. A new ‘AI Education Center’ will also be established at the site.

The annex building, which houses various facilities, will be used as office space for 11 unions, including teachers and non-regular school workers. These unions have previously operated outside the education office. For example, the Seoul branch of the KTU and the Korean Teachers’ Union (KTU) were using classrooms at Hwayang Elementary School in Gwangjin District, which closed in 2023. Other unions, such as the Seoul Teachers’ Union and the Seoul branch of the National Union of Non-Regular School Workers, have been using general buildings with financial support from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education for monthly rent and deposits.

Controversy Over Union Offices

The presence of union offices in public spaces sparked controversy when it was revealed that the Seoul branch of the KTU had utilized an office with a deposit of 1.5 billion Korean won and a monthly rent of approximately 1.6 million won, both supported by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. In response, the Seoul City Council passed an ordinance in 2023 requiring the education superintendent to prioritize using vacant public properties, such as closed schools, for union offices and limiting office space to a maximum of 100 square meters when renting private buildings.

Following this, the Seoul branch of the KTU moved its office to the site of the closed Hwayang Elementary School, and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education recovered the 1.5 billion won deposit. However, then-Seoul Superintendent of Education Cho Hee-yeon filed a lawsuit to invalidate the ordinance, arguing that restricting such matters through an ordinance rather than legislation violated the Constitution. The controversy was finally resolved in January when the Supreme Court ruled that the ordinance did not violate the Constitution.

Financial Implications of the Relocation

A representative from the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education stated, “After disposing of items in the current annex building and completing internal repairs, the unions will move in next year,” adding, “Relocating the union offices will save approximately 1.15 billion won in deposits and 103 million won annually in rent.”

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