University Tuition Fees Rising One After Another... Korea University, Frozen for 15 Years, Also Considering a 5.5% Increase

Movements to Raise Tuition Fees Centered on Major Private Universities
Korea University Proposes 5.49% Increase for Undergraduate Tuition

Amid ongoing movements to raise tuition fees mainly among major private universities, Korea University is also considering a plan to increase tuition fees.

On the morning of the 8th, a poster urging the withdrawal of the tuition fee increase, written by a current student, was posted at the main gate of Yonsei University in Seodaemun-gu, Seoul. Photo by Yonhap News

According to university sources on the 10th, Korea University presented a proposal to increase tuition fees for domestic undergraduate students and special/professional graduate schools by the legal limit of 5.49% at the first Tuition Deliberation Committee (Deungsimwi) meeting held that day. The university also proposed raising tuition fees for international undergraduate students by 10% considering the exchange rate increase, while freezing tuition fees for general graduate schools.

Korea University and the Student Council plan to discuss whether to raise tuition fees through additional Deungsimwi meetings on the 17th and 23rd. Korea University has frozen tuition fees for 15 years since 2010.

Recently, universities have been struggling with tuition fee increases due to financial difficulties. Previously, Sogang University and Kookmin University decided to raise tuition fees. Yonsei University, Kyung Hee University, Hanyang University, Sungkyunkwan University, and Ewha Womans University are also reportedly considering tuition fee increases this year.

Under the current Higher Education Act, universities can raise tuition fees within 1.5 times the average consumer price inflation rate of the previous three years. However, if tuition fees are increased, universities may lose eligibility for the National Scholarship Type II (University-linked Support Type) or be excluded from government financial support, so major universities have maintained a policy of freezing tuition fees until now.