"Namhansan Elementary School opened in 1912 and was on the verge of closure in 2000 due to a decline in the number of students.Under the leadership of the headmaster, however, all school personnel, local residents, and alumni have since 2001 strived to make a new school focusing on the direct needs of the students."

Namhansan Elementary School creatively overhauled its curriculum within the framework of mainstream education as a public school. It now offers educational programs that respect students’ individuality and self-development processes, breaking away from customary practices characterized by excessive competition.

Hands-on education is the hallmark of the school's educational programs. To effectively implement its curriculum focused on practical experience, the school introduced the 80-minute block system. This new academic scheduling allows teachers to deviate from traditional teaching approaches involving simply transferring knowledge to, instead, offering a broad range of student-oriented school work. It also enhanced self-directed learning capability to help students set learning plans for themselves and carry them out, while allowing for teaching and learning at the appropriate pace for each student.

The school offers specialized educational programs such as Saturday Hands-on Education and Summer/Winter Camp by making the most of its characteristics as a small school. Teachers display their professionalism in continuing to develop and refine the school curriculum. In the meantime, the story of Namhansan Elementary School's rescue from closure has spread across the country.

Namhansan Elementary School believes the power behind its continued pursuit of new education lies in the autonomous passion for education of the principal agents of education. A healthy community paved the way for the new school community and proved instrumental in changing the school based on the strong and sound confidence of the educational personnel.

As a case of successful school management based on trust of parents and students in public education, Namhansan Elementary School continues to receive numerous visitors from elementary, middle, and high schools; offices of education; and local governments from all over the country. It was also designated as a good countryside school by the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology and a model of innovative school by local educational authorities, breaking new ground for public education.