Private education spending for kindergarteners surges 38% in 5 years

The Korea Times

The Korea Times

Finance

Sat, September 23, 2023 | 21:09

Economy

Private education spending for kindergarteners surges 38% in 5 years

Posted : 2023-09-17 15:55

Updated : 2023-09-18 15:54

Two children play at a kindergarten in Chuncheon, Gangwon Province, in this Jan. 30 file photo. Yonhap

Distrust in government leads to rising private education costs in Korea

By Lee Yeon-woo

Korean households with kindergarten-aged children have ramped up their spending on private education by more than 38 percent over the last five years, according to a report released on Sunday by the Korea Institute of Public Finance (KIPF).

The report, penned by Kim Hye-ja, a researcher from the Korean Educational Development Institute, revealed that spending on private education rose consistently from 2018 to 2022, except in 2020 when the impact of COVID-19 was most severe.

On average, monthly spending on private education per child amounted to 420,000 won ($315) for elementary students, 545,000 won for middle schoolers and 684,000 won for those in high school.

Among all the education levels, kindergarten witnessed the most significant surge in expenditures. The monthly spending jumped from 162,000 won in 2018 to 224,000 in 2022, marking a 38.3 percent increase.

Parents of kindergarteners often think that if this period is missed, there may not be another chance to nurture a child's artistic talents, especially since academic focus intensifies by middle school. Some also suggest that such education provided in formal settings, like elementary schools, might not fully meet their expectations.

"I'm concerned that I might be neglecting my 5-year-old child (by not engaging them in any structured learning). Many mothers I know are enrolling their children in English-specialized kindergartens or introducing them to painting or ballet," a mother posted on an online parental community with over 2 million members.

"I've also come across criticisms of mothers who send their kindergarteners to 'hagwon' for seemingly trivial pursuits. But isn't it a mother's role to expose her children to various stimuli while they're young and receptive? I'd appreciate your advice."

The responses for her posting varied, but a common thread emerged: "If it's financially feasible, why not?"

Children listen to their teacher at a kindergarten in Seoul in this April 6 file photo. Korea Times file

In a separate study by the Korea Institute of Child Care and Education, 40 percent of the parents who put their kindergarteners through private education feel financially strained by the cost. Yet, when asked why they still choose private education, 35 percent admitted fearing their children would fall behind their peers, and 30 percent expressed a desire to nurture their children's inherent talents.

Kim also noted that the trend was intensified by public distrust of government policy.

"Growing mistrust in politicians, public officials and media professionals appears to be linked to increased investments in private education," Kim said.

yanu@koreatimes.co.kr