"Limitations of Korean Education Are Excessive Entrance Exam Competition... Excessive Private Education Costs and Academic Elitism"

Negative Outlook Prevails for High School Education
Future Impact Factors Pointed Out Including Low Birthrate and Aging Society

More than 4 out of 10 citizens identified excessive private education expenses due to intense entrance exam competition and academic elitism as the biggest limitations of Korean education.

At the Jongno Academy headquarters in Yangcheon-gu, Seoul, repeat students are taking the June mock exam for the 2024 College Scholastic Ability Test. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

On the afternoon of the 12th, the National Education Commission held its 28th meeting at the Government Seoul Office to review the results of the "Public Perception Survey on Education Issues." This survey was conducted by the Korea Educational Development Institute (KEDI), designated as the National Education Development Research Center, from February 12 to 26, targeting 5,000 adults.

When asked about the two main limitations facing Korean education, respondents ranked "excessive academic elitism" (41.3%) and "expansion of the private education market and excessive private education expenses due to overheated college entrance competition" (41.2%) as first and second priorities. "Worsening educational disparities between regions and income levels" was also pointed out as a problem.

As achievements of Korean education, respondents cited "guaranteeing compulsory education to provide equal educational opportunities" and "enhancing national competitiveness through quantitative expansion and popularization of education."

Regarding future education outlooks, positive expectations were predominant for early childhood, elementary, and lifelong education, whereas more people had negative expectations for high school education. Factors influencing future education included "the full onset of low birthrate and aging society" and "concentration in the metropolitan area and the risk of regional extinction."

At the meeting, the National Education Commission finalized the plan for establishing and revising the national curriculum to reflect ▲ changes in curriculum terminology following the enactment of the Basic National Heritage Act ▲ revisions to some terms in the vocational high school specialized subject curriculum. To ensure these changes are well implemented in schools, a revised curriculum plan will be prepared by August.