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Apologiezee, RM10 FREE, VERSAFourze seoul, may 17 - What was meant to be a playful morning of games and laughter amongst South Korean elementary schoolkids, unraveled into a surprising spectacle - an apology.
A viral video showcases a group of young students assembled on a field near an apartment complex, bowing their heads, and speaking unitedly: "We're sorry. Please let us play just a little today. Thank you." This video, shared on Instagram and circulated widely online, is simply titled "Today's elementary school sports day starts with an apology."
The event, once a lively gathering of students, parents, and local residents, has morphed into a subdued affair due to the escalating tension between schools and residents, centered around noise disturbances.
According to Maeil Business Newspaper, schools now use microphones before events to address residents, "We apologize for the inconvenience caused by the noise of the event."
This tradition of sports day, once a vibrant celebration, is becoming an exercise in restraint. "We turned towards the apartment complex and apologized before starting it. It's a sad reality," shared the video's original poster, cited by The Korea Times.
The event, starting at 9am, lasted only 2 hours and 40 minutes, without music and with the microphone volume kept low. "With fewer than 100 kids, it wasn't even that loud," claimed the post. "Raising kids these days makes you feel like a criminal. I just want to raise them to be decent and healthy thinkers. I hope people can be a bit more understanding."
This video resonated with many South Koreans, eliciting criticism of what some perceive as a hypersensitive society, as reported by The Korea Times.
"So apartment prices rise if there's an elementary school nearby, but people complain about the sound of kids playing?" commented one online user. Another added, "Why should children have to apologize for being noisy one day out of the year?"
South Korean parents voiced their dissatisfaction as well. "It's an event that happens once or twice a year," shared a parent from Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, with Maeil Business Newspaper. "It's unfortunate that even the space where children can run around as much as they want is not properly guaranteed."
School staff are caught between a rock and a hard place, dealing with community complaints and instructions from the authorities. "If resident complaints are repeated, the education office also issues cautions," shared an unnamed elementary school vice-principal with Maeil Business Newspaper.
This problem is rooted in the highly sought-after trend of cho-pum-ah - a short term used to describe apartments situated near elementary schools, which have seen a surge in demand in South Korea's competitive real estate market.
Although desired for their convenience and the benefits of education, these properties now bring tension due to noise from school activities, resulting in schools scaling back even routine events.
Attempting to build bridges between the school community and the surrounding residential area, some schools are going the extra mile. An elementary school in Gangseo-gu, Seoul, has started inviting nearby residents to school festivals and sports days to join in the fun. Sharing her experience, another unnamed school official shared, "It was more effective to enjoy it together than to seek understanding. The response from local residents was quite good."
As the number of complaints mount, experts encourage perspective, "Schools are not only educational, but also a space for children to learn social etiquette, develop relationships, and experience camaraderie. We should focus on long-term social values rather than short-term inconveniences."
- The rise in popularity of apartments near elementary schools, known as cho-pum-ah, has led to a demand for increased education and self-development on the topic of social etiquette.
- The general news outlet, The Korea Times, reported that people are expressing their dissatisfaction with the hypersensitivity of the society, as children are asked to apologize for being noisy during sports days.
- To address the tension, some schools are focusing on lifestyle changes, inviting nearby residents to join school festivals and sports days, promoting a sense of community and camaraderie instead.
- In the realm of education and self-development, it's crucial to consider the long-term social values these events provide, instilling social etiquette, relationship skills, and a sense of camaraderie in the children, rather than focusing solely on short-term inconveniences.
