Overview of the General Education System

Rooted in the philosophies of Confucius, which accentuates the significance of learning, South Korea emphasizes education as a powerful tool necessary as a stepping stone for an individual's improvement as well as for national development. As a result, the country’s rapid economic growth since the 1960s correlates with the citizens’ education, enabling South Korea to become a high-income nation. Nowadays, South Korea flaunts its globally competitive high literacy rate and higher educational attainment, which are closely connected to its social mobility and career success.

For these reasons, South Korea is known for its highly centralized and competitive educational system, which is structured with 6-3-3-4 years of schooling. This starts with six years in primary school, three years in middle school, another three years in high school, and finally, our years for college or university.

Furthermore, the Ministry of Education (MOE) governs the development and implementation of education policies across all these schooling stages. Other bodies like the Ministry of Health and Welfare support the MOE, particularly in early childhood development. The MOE is also responsible for managing public and private institutions' national curriculum and standards. Public schools dominate the institutions, but around 15% of schools are private, most of which receive government subsidies.

The National policy is backed by various educational research institutes, such as the Korea Institute of Curriculum and Evaluation (KICE) and the Korean Educational Development Institute (KEDI). There are also 17 regional education offices and 176 local offices that manage school operations, budget allocation, and inspections. South Korea’s medium of instruction is Korean, while English is taught widely and often used in international and higher education settings.

Compulsory education in South Korea lasts nine years, starting at the age of six and continuing through middle school. Elementary education lasts six years, while middle school lasts three years. Although early childhood education is not obligatory, it is commonly accessible and encouraged. Education is free at the primary level, and enrollment exceeds 99%.

In fact, the government implemented the Nuri Curriculum in 2012 for children aged three to five, which pays attention to balanced development across the learners' physical, emotional, and cognitive domains. As a result, the country’s literacy rate reported from statistics reached 98.8%.

Reforms have been made over the past decades, such as the kindergarten curriculum, which has been amended ten times since its implementation in 1969, and the 1982 education tax, which sought to finance the quality and equity of primary education, including smaller class sizes, extended English instruction from the third grade, modernization of educational facilities, and enhancement of teachers’ socio-economic status.

After completing middle school, learners advance to high school. Secondary schools consist of general, vocational, special-purpose, and autonomous institutions. Though fees were previously required, the government plans to waive all upper secondary education fees by 2025 to reduce the fees paid for admission and textbooks. This policy aims to equal the educational field and promote global access to quality education. In 2024, it was reported that approximately 93.9% of teenagers aged 15 to 17 years in South Korea were enrolled in high school.

South Korea's high regard for education is reflected in its expansive and diverse higher education field, which includes junior colleges, four-year universities, graduate schools, cyber universities, and industrial and polytechnic institutions. Entry to higher education is competitive and is based on a combination of high school records and a passing score from the national exam administered annually by the KICE, known as the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT). Another way that is taken into account by the institution is interviews, essays, and in-house exams for admissions.

Moreover, South Korea in 2024 has 332 higher education institutions, which include four-year universities and junior colleges. The country’s universities are mostly private but function under regulations set by the Higher Education Act. Degrees include a four-year bachelor’s degree, an associate degree that takes two to three years, a two-year master’s degree, and a doctoral degree that usually takes two or more years, while medical and technical programs can reach up to six years. The graduate studies, open through research universities and independent graduate schools, involve thesis completion and oral defenses.

On the other hand, specialized institutions such as industrial universities and polytechnic colleges provide education to adult learners and industrial needs and offer job-relevant programs, thus supporting lifelong learning. Flexible learning opportunities are also available in cyber universities and open universities through online platforms. The accessibility of South Korea’s education is apparent in the 2024 statistics, which reported approximately 2.36 million students enrolled in universities and junior colleges, equivalent to around 75% as the overall university enrollment rate.

Apart from that medium of learning, there are also recognized non-traditional learning offered by the Academic Credit Bank System that acknowledges learning experiences earned from within and outside of the school. A student with 80 points can gain an associate degree, whereas 140 credits are required for a bachelor’s degree. As a result, this enables learners to obtain degrees through formal and informal educational experiences.