Korea Joongang Daily
Korea JoongAng Daily

Cram or crime? Demand for illegal late-night hagwon classes persists despite gov't crackdowns

Teaching beyond the legally permitted hours is a common practice in Daechi-dong in Seoul’s posh Gangnam District — an area known for its dense concentration of private cram schools — said a social studies teacher who works there.

2024-08-23

Record-high spending on private education

The total expenses spent on private education jumped 4.5 percent year on year in 2023 to post a record-high figure of 27.1 trillion won ($20.6 billion), according to a survey from Statistics Korea and the Ministry of Education on Thursday.

2024-03-14

[WHY] What's the big deal with becoming a doctor in Korea?

In Korea, to road to becoming a doctor is highly competitive, with students attending cram schools from a young age to prepare for med school. However, the trend is leading to a shortage of graduates in science and engineering, prompting concerns.

2024-02-24

Mastermind of hagwon drugged drink caper extradited to Korea

He is accused of orchestrating the distribution of drinks, mixed with methamphetamine and the drug ecstasy, given to four high school students in Daechi-dong on April 3 with the intent of blackmailing their parents.

2023-12-26

FTC to penalize hagwon and cram school publications

These hagwon and publications are accused of false advertising, which includes exploiting parents' concerns and exaggerating the qualifications of some of their teachers who contribute to curriculum development and study guides.

2023-10-04

Demand for private education defies Korea's declining demographics

Despite decaying demographics, Koreans are spending more on private education and opening more cram schools. There were 109,488 cram schools and private study rooms in the country as of 2022, up 17.4 percent from two years ago, according to...

2023-09-06

Teachers earned illicit millions by colluding with cram schools

Hundreds of teachers in Korea have colluded with private education businesses and pocketed millions of won over the past five years.

2023-08-21

FTC ups efforts to stamp out 'dark commercial patterns'

Ever purchased a product under a “last day offer” only to find out the offer was still valid the next day? Korea’s antitrust regulator is looking to stamp out such consumer-deceiving practices.

2023-08-09

Cram schools under scrutiny

A pedestrian walks past a branch of a private cram school in Gangnam District, southern Seoul, on Tuesday.

2023-07-11

Gov't receives more than 300 private academy complaints

More than 300 cases highlighting irregularities at private education businesses have been reported to the government in the past two weeks after President Yoon Suk Yeol vowed to weed out academy “cartels.”

2023-07-07