Preparations were underway on Tuesday for the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education to move to its new headquarters in Huam-dong, Yongsan-gu, Seoul, starting Friday.
According to the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the relocation will be carried out in phases over a week to minimize disruption to its operations.
Workers were seen busily packing on Tuesday ahead of the move.
The Seoul education office oversees nearly 50,000 teachers, educational administrators and school staff members across the city, with nearly 800 stationed at its headquarters. It has operated from its current site next to Gyeonghuigung Palace in Jongno-gu since 1981, but aging facilities and persistent space shortages have gradually increased the need for relocation.
Jeong Geun-sik, Seoul's education superintendent, said the relocation marks more than just a physical move, calling it "a starting point for transforming Seoul’s education administration system into a future-oriented model.”
“We will ensure that policies move faster, support for schools becomes more comprehensive, and communication grows closer with the public."
Officials explained the new headquarters will open portions of its spaceto the public, such as the auditorium, conference room, and studio.
The work areas will operate under a smart office system, including a flexible seating arrangement. The first-floor lobby has been developed as a plaza-style area connected to Yongsan Park, nearby green spaces in the Huam-dong special planning district, and local neighborhood paths. An atrium structure extending from the first basement level to the fourth floor enhances openness throughout the building, they said.
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