Lee Ju-ho, Burden of Crushing Private Education Expenses "Deeply Responsible"... Measures to Reduce Costs Planned with Metropolitan and Provincial Offices of Education

Meeting with Provincial and City Superintendents on the 14th
"Incentives for Education Offices Excelling in Reducing Private Education"

Regarding the nearly 30 trillion won spent on private education for elementary, middle, and high school students last year, Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, stated, "I deeply feel responsible." The Ministry of Education plans to consistently pursue education reform tasks and reduce private education by expanding financial support to outstanding education offices that successfully alleviate private education.

On the 14th, Deputy Prime Minister Lee said at a meeting with nationwide provincial and city superintendents of education held at the Government Seoul Office, "The results of the '2024 Elementary, Middle, and High School Private Education Expenses' survey announced yesterday did not meet the expectations and standards of the public."

The government announced on the 13th that the total private education expenses for elementary, middle, and high school students reached 29.2 trillion won, marking a record high for the fourth consecutive year. The participation rate in private education also reached 80%, the highest level since the survey began.

The Ministry of Education has decided to consistently implement education reform tasks such as expanding Neulbom Schools and introducing AI digital textbooks to reduce private education.

Lee Ju-ho, Deputy Prime Minister for Social Affairs and Minister of Education, attended the video conference with metropolitan and provincial superintendents of education held at the Government Seoul Office in Jongno-gu, Seoul on the 14th, and made remarks regarding the survey on private education expenses for elementary and secondary schools. 2025.3.14 Photo by Jo Yong-jun

In particular, the government has identified that Neulbom Schools have some effect in reducing private education in eup and myeon areas. The private education participation rate for first graders in elementary schools in eup and myeon areas was recorded at 75.2%, a decrease of 9.1 percentage points compared to the previous year. It is analyzed that Neulbom Schools, which have been implemented for first graders since last year, had some influence. The Ministry of Education plans to expand the support for Neulbom Schools to second graders in elementary school this year and provide a more diversified program.

Additionally, the Ministry plans to expand EBS content and strengthen customized support according to academic achievement levels. Through AI textbooks, which will be fully introduced this year, the plan is to enable learning tailored to each student's level and pace. Support will be provided through the high school credit system so that students can take various subjects suited to their career paths and aptitudes regardless of regional or school conditions, and information provision related to the 2028 college entrance system reform will also be expanded.

As a new policy to reduce private education, the Ministry announced plans to operate a 'Self-Directed Learning Support Center.' This center will support middle and high school students in small local cities or areas with poor learning environments outside of school to study independently.

Deputy Prime Minister Lee also sought cooperation from provincial and city superintendents of education to reduce private education. He said, "Along with national-level efforts, efforts to reduce private education tailored to local circumstances at the level of provincial and city education offices must be carried out simultaneously," and added, "Please prepare private education reduction measures based on data on increases and decreases in private education expenses by region and local conditions." He also stated, "We will expand incentives such as financial support for education offices that excel in reducing private education."