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 at 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 nation, 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 being felt by “helicopter parents” – the generation 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) a month for a child in wealthy 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 focused too much on academic achievement and 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