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South Korea's Private Education Spending Soars 60% in a Decade

Spending on private education in South Korea has surged by over 60% in the past decade, reaching nearly 29.2 trillion won in 2024. The increase marks a fourth consecutive annual rise, driven by higher hagwon costs, more dual-income households, and greater disposable income. Elementary school spending saw the sharpest jump at 74%, while such expenses now consume a record 13.5% of monthly household expenditures. Experts attribute the relentless growth to frequent changes in college admission policies, which create uncertainty and push parents toward private tutoring.

Key Points: S. Korea Private Education Spending Jumps 60% in 10 Years

  • 60% spending surge in a decade
  • 4th consecutive year of increase
  • Elementary school costs jump 74%
  • Spending hits record 13.5% of household budget
2 min read

Spending on private education in S. Korea jumps 60 pc over past decade

South Korean household spending on private tutoring surged over 60% since 2014, now consuming a record share of family budgets amid policy uncertainty.

"A family with at least two unmarried children spent an average of 611,000 won per month on their private education - KOSIS Data"

Seoul, Jan 4

South Korean families' spending on private education for their children has jumped by more than 60 percent over the past decade, government data showed on Sunday.

According to the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS) for the Ministry of Data and Statistics, South Korean households spent just under 29.2 trillion won (US$20.2 billion) on private education in 2024, up by 60.1 per cent from 2014.

This also marked a fourth consecutive year of increase in private education spending, reports Yonhap news agency.

While costs for sending students to hagwons, or private academic institutions, have been rising, families also have more money to spend on giving their children extra lessons outside their schools, contributing to the continued surge in private education spending, the ministry said.

A steady increase in the number of dual-income households has also led to more expenditures on private education, the ministry added, since those parents often send their children to after-school hagwons during their working hours rather than leaving them at home alone.

KOSIS numbers also showed spending on education for elementary school students has had the most significant jump, going from about 7.6 trillion won in 2014 to 13.2 trillion won in 2024, a 74.1 percent increase.

Over the same 10-year period, spending for middle school students rose by 40.7 percent to 7.8 trillion won, and that for high school students went up by 60.5 percent to reach 8.1 trillion won.

According to KOSIS, a family with at least two unmarried children spent an average of 611,000 won per month on their private education during the third quarter of 2025. The figure accounted for 12.6 percent of such families' entire monthly expenditures, only behind spending on food.

KOSIS began tracking private education spending in 2019, when it accounted for 11.5 percent of monthly household expenditures. It reached 12.8 percent by 2024.

For 2025, the figure was 13 percent for the first quarter and hit the record high of 13.5 percent in the second quarter.

Experts say frequent changes to college admission policies and resultant uncertainty are forcing parents to lean more heavily on private education.

- IANS

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Reader Comments

A
Arjun K
It's a global race now. Whether it's Seoul or Surat, parents are spending fortunes on private education. Dual-income families can afford it, but what about the middle class? This creates a huge gap. The article mentions uncertainty in admission policies – that's the root cause. Same story here with changing exam patterns.
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Rohit P
Elementary school spending up 74%! That says it all. The pressure starts so young now. Instead of playing, kids are going to classes after school. It's sad, but as a parent, you don't want your child to fall behind. 🤷‍♂️ We need to ask if this is really creating smarter kids or just more stressed ones.
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Sarah B
While the data is from Korea, it mirrors a concerning trend. The fact that it's the second largest expense after food is telling. It points to a failure of the public education system to instill confidence in parents. Governments need to invest more in quality public schooling to reduce this burden on families.
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Vikram M
Hagwons in Korea, coaching centers in India. The business model is the same – profit from parental anxiety. The article says families have "more money to spend" but I think it's more about feeling compelled to spend. It's a vicious cycle no one knows how to break. Quality education should not be this expensive.
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Nikhil C
Respectfully, I think we should be careful about directly comparing. The scale and reasons might differ. However, the core issue is universal: when college seats are limited and competition is high, private tutoring thrives. Maybe we need to look beyond traditional degrees and promote skill-based education more.

We welcome thoughtful discussions from our readers. Please keep comments respectful and on-topic.

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