"Excessive Support of 43 Million KRW Annually for One Child's Tuition of Tourism Corporation Resident Staff"

5-Year Overseas Employee Children Tuition Support of 7.3 Billion Won
Average Education Support per Child $16,840
Assemblyman Lee Ki-hyun "Need to Improve Regulations Without Upper Limit"

The Korea Tourism Organization has been criticized for providing up to 43 million won per child in tuition support to overseas employees, which has been deemed excessive.

Korea Tourism Organization Headquarters

According to data submitted by the Korea Tourism Organization to Lee Ki-heon, a member of the National Assembly’s Culture, Sports and Tourism Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, the tuition fees supported for children of overseas employees from 2020 until last September amounted to $5,404,080. Converted at the exchange rate of 1,350 won as of the 11th, this totals approximately 7.3 billion won.

The average support amount per child for overseas employees was ▲ $9,987 (13.48 million won) in 2021 ▲ $13,763 (18.58 million won) in 2022 ▲ $16,840 (22.73 million won) last year, showing an increasing trend each year.

In particular, last year’s support amount was higher than the average education cost per child ($14,720) paid by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to employees working at overseas embassies.

Annual average support amount per child of overseas Korean Tourism Organization employees from 2021 to 2023. [Table provided by Representative Lee Kiheon’s office]

The case with the highest annual tuition support per child was a 2022 Beijing branch employee who received $31,915 (43 million won).

The Korea Tourism Organization supports kindergarten tuition for children accompanying overseas employees up to $300 per month, and elementary, middle, and high school tuition up to $600 per month, according to its internal regulation, the "Guidelines for Payment of Overseas Employee Children’s Education Expenses."

However, if prior approval is obtained from the president, even if the elementary, middle, and high school tuition exceeds $600 per month, up to 65% of the excess amount can be paid. There is no limit on how much of the excess amount can be supported.

Assemblyman Lee Ki-heon stated, "The Korea Tourism Organization’s annual support of tens of millions of won for overseas employees’ children’s tuition, which matches the annual salary of some professional workers, does not meet the public’s expectations," and added, "There is a need to clearly establish limits on excess amounts and improve the regulation that effectively has no upper limit."