Korean education minister proposes lowering age for kids to enter school

Students attending Kwangjang Elementary School in Gwangjin District, eastern Seoul, head to school on May 2. [JOINT PRESS CORPS]

Korean children may be able to enter elementary school at a younger age starting from 2025.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Park Soon-ae made the proposal Friday to President Yoon Suk-yeol regarding a possible change in the entrance age of elementary school students.

Currently, children are admitted to elementary school at the age of six. The new proposal announced Friday would lower the age to five. This is the first move in 76 years to lower the age at which children are admitted to elementary school.

The change, if confirmed, would be administered in stages from 2025, with the goal of reducing the burden of education expenses for children and strengthening public education responsibilities.

Park's proposal also includes plans to abolish foreign language high schools, though autonomous private high schools would be able to be maintained.

BY LIM JEONG-WON [lim.jeongwon@joongang.co.kr]