South Korea Education System (2024)

FAQs

Does South Korea have a good education system? ›

According to the famous PISA study, South Korea has a good education system. For example, it ranks 3rd in mathematics, while Germany is only in 22nd place. South Korea is also in the top group in all other subjects.

The U.S. approach aims for a well-rounded education. It fosters intellectual curiosity and broad knowledge. Conversely, the Korean system leans toward specialization. It focuses on depth of knowledge in a specific field from the start.

Students spend much of their time, often between 12 to 16 hours per day, at school or at a special after-school academy called a hagwon. The school system is very test-focused and goal-oriented, urging students to concentrate on their results.

South Korea comes fourth in the top performing countries for education, with an overall score of 523. This breaks down to 527 for maths (sixth in the world), 515 for reading (fourth in the world), and 528 for science (fifth in the world).

The revised grading system provides for 9 ranks based on students' relative standing amongst all others taking the same class that semester. In South Korea, depending on each school, the perfect score is represented as either 4.0, 4.3, or 4.5. The latter is the most commonly used system in the country.

1- South Korea

South Korea stands out as the most educated country globally, with a literacy rate of 97.9% in 2024. Its high percentage of higher education graduates among OECD countries was reached in 2022 when approximately 70% of the population between the ages of 25 and 34 had completed their college education.

What is the hardest education system in the world? ›

Singapore is ranked as having the most challenging education system, although it may not necessarily be the best system. Singapore epitomises a system where academic excellence is of utmost importance.

South Korea (69%)

South Korea takes the top spot with a remarkable 69% attainment rate. This achievement reflects a deeply ingrained cultural emphasis on academic success and a competitive education system.

The standard government-issued school curriculum is often noted as rigorous, with as many as 16 or so subjects. Most students choose to also attend hakwon to boost their academic performance. Core subjects include Korean, English and mathematics, with adequate emphasis on social and physical science subjects.

South Korea also has a highly educated population, with a literacy rate of nearly 100%. This is in part due to the country's emphasis on education, as well as its robust system of public schools and universities. Education is highly valued and deeply ingrained in the cultural fabric of South Korea.

Korean Education System

The Korean school system is comprised of a 6-3-3-4 single ladder system, 6 years in elementary schools, 3 years in middle schools, 3 years in high schools, and 4 years in university or 2 to 3 years at a junior college.

South Korea is one of the top-performing OECD countries in reading, literacy, mathematics and sciences with the average student scoring about 519, compared with the OECD average of 493, which ranks Korean education at ninth place in the world.

1- South Korea

South Korea leads as the most educated country globally, with a literacy rate of 97.9% in 2024. In 2022, it achieved the highest percentage of higher education graduates among OECD countries, with about 70% of people aged 25 to 34 having completed college.

Tuition fees aren't set nor regulated by the government, but schools, even the most prestigious ones, generally charge about the same amount. You can expect to pay between US$5,800 and US$6,500 per semester.

South Korean students are often described as obedient and bored, and intense exam competition is a common issue . Despite high spending on education, South Korean students have lackluster English fluency, which may be due to a teacher-centered approach that lowers motivation and confidence .