School pressure in Korea starts from... kindergarten

(CLO) In a luxurious room in Gangnam district, Seoul, children as young as 4 years old are diligently writing 5-paragraph English essays within 15 minutes.

This is not a scene from a university, but an entrance exam for elite kindergartens in Daechi-dong - an area known as the " education capital" of South Korea.

Korean children participate in outdoor activities. Photo: Seoul Metropolitan Government

"In our journey to becoming a developed country, Koreans have lived a life of fierce competition. And this is most clearly reflected in our education system," explains Professor Choi Myung-hee, an expert in early childhood education with decades of experience.

The pressure is coming from “helicopter parents”—those born in the 1960s and 1970s who witnessed South Korea’s meteoric rise and now translate their anxiety into a desire for their children to succeed at all costs. They are willing to pay 815 billion won ($558 million) a year for private education for children under 6.

The final destination of this race is the infamous Suneung, an eight-hour college entrance exam that determines the future of millions of students. In 2024, South Korean families spent 29.2 trillion won ($20 billion) on private education, or 676,000 won ($460) per month for a child in affluent families.

The consequences of this system are heartbreaking. In 2023, South Korea recorded 214 student suicides, a record high among OECD countries. “Our society has become so focused on academic achievement that it has neglected children’s emotional development,” warns Professor Choi.

Cao Phong (according to SCMP, Yonhap)

Source: https://www.congluan.vn/pressure-on-schools-in-han-quoc-bat-dau-ngay-tu-mau-giao-post341659.html