1. Education in South Korea
Private and public school: - receive funding from government
Comparatively high results
Brought Korean’s economic development
It’s rigid
Hierarchical structure  lowering innovation
Intensely competitive  high suicide rate
History
Pre-division period ( -1945) : public and private schools
20th century (1948- ) : Philosophy of Education  Democratic Education
By Korean government More self-governing
Based on US army government Re-educating teachers
in Korea Lowering functional illiteracy
(adult)
Restoration of Korean Language

2. Student activism
Choson Dynasty - Secondary schools – Intense factional
struggle
Colony - Independence movement
Modern - new generation of militants Minjung ideology
Primary School
- 6 years
Start at 8 year-old
Gungmin hakgyo  Chodeung Hakgyo
(Hwangguk Sinmin hakgyo)
Prohibit a corporal punishment (2011)
One teacher teaches all subjects

3. Secondary School
- 98% of Korean students finish high school
69% of these teaches are male
Middle school
- uniforms and haircuts are enforced
One day : 7 subjects
Before start the class 30 min (self study, class administration
After regular class, additional 8th class
After schooling tutoring agencies (Hakwon) :95%
In 2008, began every odd Saturday class
In 2012, no more class on Saturday but still…
Competitive entrance exam abolished in 1968
Noncompetitive qualifying exam
(high score  high quality schools in a common district,
Other score  one of five geographical districts)
lottery system, single sex education

4. High school
- no mandatory
5:30 am go to school
6 pm finish regular class
7-10pm self-study at school
10-12mn private tutorial study institutes
12mn -2am private library self study
No holiday, birthday, vacations until finish the CAT
(National College Scholastic Aptitude Test)
To enter Top University (SKY)

5. Vocational high school
- 5 fields programs such as agriculture,
technology/engineering, commerce/business,
maritime/fishery, home economic
Has decreased the no. of students
In 2007, vocational high school  Professional high school
Facilitated  can Entry College and universities
Tertiary education
: From ancient times
Higher institutions – Confucianism, literature, and martial arts
Lower institutions – vocational, medicine and astronomy
: Today
Private Public
University % Vocational Univ % %
Industrial Univ % %

6. Entrance requirement
Su-si : early decision plans for college
Jeong-si : regular admissions
College Scholastic Aptitude Test (Su-neung) + students’ grade book
Test given in high school (twice a year) : important in determining
college
Much of the family’s social life concern their student’s education
Examinations are very serious times of the year and the change the
whole pattern of society
Examination hell : joyless
Grim
Cause of suicides (53.4%-ever consider it)
That’s why many corruptions are in entrance university processing