S. Korea’s private education spending surges by 1.1 tn won in one year

Statistics Korea reports an 86% surge in private education spending over 4 years

Statistics Korea reports that households with four or more members, including at least two children, spent an average of 589,034 won ($445.97) monthly on private education in the first half of this year, up 7% from last year and an 86% jump from four years ago. The recent tuition hikes by academies are a result of rising inflation. The photo shows a banner promoting medical school entrance exams displayed on a building in the Daechi-dong academy district in Gangnam, Seoul. /Newsis

Shin, a 42-year-old parent from Gangseo-gu, Seoul, expressed concerns about rising private education costs. Shin, who has children in the 3rd and 6th grades, mentioned a recent text from their children’s math cram school announcing a monthly tuition hike of 20,000 to 30,000 won. Prices for workbooks and taekwondo lessons have also risen. “I’ve heard costs double in middle school, and I’m already worried,” Shin said.

Inflation in South Korea, initially driven by rising food prices, is now affecting private education. Although the headline inflation rate fell to 2% in August, private education costs, a significant burden for families, continue to surge. Many hagwons, or private cram schools in Korea, have increased tuition this year, citing inflation.

Statistics Korea reports that households with four or more members, including at least two children, spent an average of 589,034 won ($445.97) monthly on private education in the first half of this year, up 7% from last year and an 86% jump from four years ago. Nationwide, private education spending rose by 1.1 trillion won (4%) last year, reaching 27.1 trillion won ($20.52 billion).

An English hagwon in Gwangju, Gyeonggi Province, recently raised its beginner-level class tuition by 200,000 won to 240,000 won per month, citing inflation and rising labor costs. A math cram school in Seoul’s Gangdong-gu increased its fees for elementary students by 20,000 won in March, and parents on online communities are voicing their frustration. One parent noted a 35,000 won hike in September, questioning whether to continue sending their child to the cram school. Others shared similar concerns, with comments like “It’s too expensive” and “I’m barely left with anything after all these expenses.”

Graphics by Yang In-sung

Families with children enrolled in multiple cram schools feel the pressure even more. Choi, a parent of a middle school student, reported that piano, taekwondo, and math lessons had increased by a combined 80,000 won this year. Lee, another parent, shared that after their child was placed in a top-tier math class at a cram school, they now pay an additional 100,000 won per month.

Experts warn that upcoming changes in the education system, such as the high school credit system—where students choose subjects like in college—could further drive hagwon costs up. With growing uncertainty around college admissions, more parents may turn to private cram schools. Park Nam-gi, a professor at Gwangju National University of Education, stated, “Parents feel they have no choice but to rely on cram schools offering tailored solutions for the new system.”