"Are Apples Bored?"... 1.46 Million Adults at First Grade Literacy Level

Adult Literacy Survey Conducted Every 3 Years for Adults
3.3% of Adults Experience Difficulties in Reading, Writing, and Arithmetic

It was found that 1.46 million adults in South Korea have literacy skills equivalent to the first grade of elementary school. On the 28th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the '4th Adult Literacy Survey.' The Adult Literacy Survey is conducted every three years by the Ministry of Education targeting adults aged 18 and over nationwide. This year's survey was conducted through household visit interviews from September 1 to November 6 of last year.

It was found that 1.46 million adults in our country have literacy skills equivalent to the first grade of elementary school. On the 28th, the Ministry of Education announced the results of the "4th Adult Literacy Survey."
[Photo by Asia Economy DB]

According to the survey results released by the Ministry of Education, 3.3% (1.46 million) of South Korean adults were identified as 'illiterate' adults who have difficulty with basic reading, writing, and arithmetic. Illiterate adults at literacy level 1 correspond to those who need learning at the first to second grade elementary school level. Adults at level 2, who need learning at the third to sixth grade elementary school level, accounted for 5.2% (2.31 million), and those at level 3, who need learning at the first to third grade middle school level, were 3.58 million (8.1%). Adults with literacy skills sufficient for daily life, at level 4 or higher, which corresponds to middle school education level, accounted for 83.4% (36.88 million).

The proportion of illiterate adults decreased by 1.2 percentage points compared to the previous survey, the 3rd survey (2020), and the proportion of level 4 or higher increased by 3.6 percentage points. Also, the converted score of the Adult Literacy Survey was 87.6 out of 100 points, an increase of 2.5 points compared to the previous survey. The proportion of illiterate adults was found to be higher with increasing age, lower monthly household income, and lower educational attainment. Illiterate adults aged 60 and over accounted for 10.1%, higher than those under 60 (0.2%). Also, illiterate adults with a monthly household income of less than 1 million won accounted for 36.2%, relatively higher than those with 5 million won or more (0.8%). Illiterate adults with less than middle school education also accounted for 37.7%, higher than those with middle school education or higher (0.2%).

13th Adult Literacy Education Poetry and Painting Contest Dream of Writing Award Winning Work
Photo by Ministry of Education

In addition, the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for Lifelong Education annually declare September as Literacy Month in South Korea to commemorate 'International Literacy Day (September 8),' established by UNESCO. In celebration, starting on the 29th, events such as the '2024 Literacy Education Academic Conference' and the '13th Adult Literacy Education Poetry and Painting Exhibition' will be held. On this day, the '2024 Literacy Education Academic Conference' will be held under the theme 'Exploring the Future of Literacy Education in a Changing Era.' At the conference, the results of the Adult Literacy Survey conducted four times since 2014 will be analyzed, and experts in literacy education will discuss the future direction of literacy education.

Also, the '13th Adult Literacy Education Poetry and Painting Exhibition' will showcase award-winning works in poetry and postcard writing by adult literacy learners. Under the theme 'Literacy, the Whole World Approaches,' 18,937 people participated in this exhibition. A total of 115 winners were selected. The award-winning works can be viewed at Literacy Month event venues held across the country and in the online exhibition hall on the National Literacy Education Center website.

Choi Chang-ik, Director of Lifelong and Vocational Education Policy at the Ministry of Education, stated, "Since 2006, through the ‘Adult Literacy Education Support Project,’ we have supported the literacy improvement of about 700,000 adults who have difficulty with reading, writing, and arithmetic." He added, "In addition to basic reading, writing, and arithmetic, we will continue to do our best to support literacy education in various fields such as digital, daily life, and finance so that illiterate adults can communicate smoothly with the world."