A Large Number of Law School Students in the Seoul Metropolitan Area and Private Universities Earn Over 10 Million Won Monthly

40% of 10 People Surveyed Are High-Income
Private Universities Have Higher High-Income Ratio Than National Universities

Among law school students, 4 out of 10 are from high-income households, according to a recent survey.

On February 18, 2020, participants are shouting slogans at the "2nd National Law School Students' General Rally" held in front of the Changseong-dong Annex of the Government Seoul Office Building.

On the 19th, Seo Dong-yong, a member of the Democratic Party of Korea, released the results of an analysis titled "Status of Income Quintiles of Law School Students in Korea Scholarship Foundation 2022-2023."

The survey found that 44.0% (2,784 students) of law school students nationwide across 25 law schools this year belonged to the high-income group, classified in income brackets 9 to 10 by the Korea Scholarship Foundation, or did not apply for scholarships.

The 9th income quintile corresponds to a monthly recognized income of approximately 10.8 million KRW, and the 10th quintile exceeds about 16.2 million KRW as of this year. The monthly recognized income is calculated by converting income and assets into an income equivalent.

Additionally, the proportion of high-income law school students was higher in metropolitan universities compared to regional universities, and higher in private universities compared to national universities.

This year, the average annual tuition for law schools was 14.22 million KRW, which is 5.42 million KRW more expensive than general graduate schools. The tuition fees by university are as follows: ▲Korea University (19.5 million KRW) ▲Yonsei University (19.45 million KRW) ▲Sungkyunkwan University (18.61 million KRW) ▲Hanyang University (17.11 million KRW) ▲Kyung Hee University (16.98 million KRW) ▲Ajou University (16.96 million KRW) ▲Chung-Ang University (16.45 million KRW) ▲Ewha Womans University (16.31 million KRW) ▲Inha University (16.28 million KRW) ▲Yeungnam University (16.08 million KRW) ▲Wonkwang University (16.00 million KRW) ▲Dong-A University (15.90 million KRW) ▲Sogang University (15.75 million KRW) ▲Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (15.39 million KRW) ▲Konkuk University (15.22 million KRW) ▲Seoul National University (13.30 million KRW) ▲Chonnam National University (10.49 million KRW) ▲Jeju National University (10.44 million KRW) ▲Chonbuk National University (10.41 million KRW) ▲Kyungpook National University (10.34 million KRW) ▲Kangwon National University (10.05 million KRW) ▲University of Seoul (10.04 million KRW) ▲Pusan National University (9.91 million KRW) ▲Chungbuk National University (9.82 million KRW) ▲Chungnam National University (9.65 million KRW).

Law school students borrowed an average of 6.93 million KRW per year in student loans, which is 2.23 million KRW more than general university students. The average tuition increase rate for law schools in 2023 ranged from 1.5% to 4%, with an average increase of 2.5%.

Seoul National University Law School Library.
Photo by Seoul National University Law School

This year, the proportion of high-income students in metropolitan area law schools was 28.9%, which is 13.8 percentage points higher than the 15.1% in regional universities. Private law schools had a high-income proportion of 25.6%, while national law schools had 18.4%.

A law school student A from a regional C law school said, "The expensive tuition is burdensome," adding, "It is difficult to work part-time or tutor due to lack of time. I hope the environment can be improved so that I can focus solely on studying."

Another law school student B from K law school speculated on the survey results, saying, "Law schools attract people of various ages. Some people enter law school after working at large corporations and nearing retirement. Perhaps those individuals raised the average."

Representative Seo stated, "A healthy rule of law requires legal professionals from diverse backgrounds," and emphasized, "We need to lower the expensive tuition fees of law schools, increase the rate of national scholarship disbursement, and normalize law school education that currently relies on private education."