The Korea Times close
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Entertainment
& Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
Sports
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
Video
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • Site Map
  • E-paper
  • Subscribe
  • Register
  • LogIn
search close
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
Sat, May 28, 2022 | 11:08
Fortune Telling
History of Korea's education fever on display
Posted : 2014-12-16 16:56
Updated : 2014-12-16 18:22
Print Preview
Font Size Up
Font Size Down
In this 1981 photo, exhibited at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students wait in line to apply for admission to Yonsei University in Seoul. / Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
In this 1981 photo, exhibited at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students wait in line to apply for admission to Yonsei University in Seoul.
/ Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History


In this 1981 photo, exhibited at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students wait in line to apply for admission to Yonsei University in Seoul. / Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
Reference book used during the Korean War (1950-1953)
By Baek Byung-yeul

Korea is known for its obsession with education. In Korea, which has the highest college entrance rate among OECD countries with over 70 percent, Kids are forced into fierce competition, being sent to different kinds of "hagwon" or private pram school in order to enter better college.

The National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, located in downtown Seoul, holds an exhibition about the history of Korea's exam from late 19th century to present to shed light on this seemingly unusual phenomenon of Koreans, starting from Tuesday.

"We prepared this exhibition as we do recognize the problem that many Koreans are too much obsessed with education. We hope that seeing the history of examination system will give some idea of what we need to improve in current education system," said Kim Seong-jun, curator of the history museum, on Monday.

"Besides college entrance exams, there are many kinds of exams where many Koreans are experiencing fierce competitions like the civil service exam. However, we especially focused on the country's college entrance exam as many people share similar memory of the exam," he added.

In this 1981 photo, exhibited at the National Museum of Korean Contemporary History, students wait in line to apply for admission to Yonsei University in Seoul. / Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History
In this 1952 file photo, a teacher teaches at a temporary school built at unidentified venue in Korea during the Korean War.
/ Courtesy of National Museum of Korean Contemporary History

Titled, "Seeing the Past in the Examinations," the exhibition is comprised of three parts per period, featuring some 230 materials related to examinations from 1894 to present.


The first section starts with the year of 1894 when the Joseon Kingdom (1392-1910), the last kingdom in the Korean Peninsula, went through "Gabo Reform."

In that year, the kingdom sought changes to modernize and thus brought changes in examination system as well.

"After 1984, the kingdom began adopting modernized exam system. Therefore, the students taking exam to enter higher educational institution were required to study domestic and overseas history, geography, mathematics, economy, law and politics as well as previous Confucian scriptures," Kim explained.

The competition became fiercer than before when Korea was under the Japanese colonial rule from 1910 to 1945.

"As we were under Japanese colonial rule, many Koreans tried to do well on the exam because it was the only way to be treated equally as ordinary Japanese in that period," the curator added. Textbooks, test sheets, graduation certificates are displayed.

The second part shows Koreans' relentless education fever during the Korean War (1950-1953). Even in the war period, parents sent their kids to the temporary schools and the government didn't stop administering school entrance exam.

The last part covers the period from postwar to present. After the war, the government implemented six-year compulsory education course in a bid to provide training opportunities to every citizen of the country.

Study materials in 1960s, 70s and 80s and a lottery wheel, which was used to determine the middle school students would enter, when the country abolished middle school entrance exam in 1969 and introduced the middle school lottery system, are on display.

The exhibition runs through Feb. 18, next year. Located near exit 2 of Gwanghwamun Station, subway line 5. Admission is free. For more information, call (02) 3703-9200 or visit www.much.go.kr.

Emailbaekby@ktimes.co.kr Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
  • [SPECIAL REPORT] Asylum-seekers create Myanmartown from scratch in Bupyeong
  • S. Korean volunteer fighter in Ukraine returns home with knee injuries
  • Koreans ready to flock to Japan as tourism resumes in June
  • Presidential security team misplaces live bullets
  • POSCO Chemical, GM pick Quebec as site for $327 mil. joint cathode plant
  • UN Security Council fails to pass N. Korea resolution due to opposition from China, Russia
  • Trade deficit feared to become long-lasting trend
  • Sex slavery activist Youn under fire for not sharing details of settlement with victims
  • Early voting for local elections kicks off
  • Zelenskyy to invite Yoon to Ukraine Recovery Conference in July
  • Disney+ original 'Kiss Sixth Sense' to offer high-spirited, fantasy rom-com Disney+ original 'Kiss Sixth Sense' to offer high-spirited, fantasy rom-com
  • [INTERVIEW] German professor hopes to boost appreciation for Korean traditional music [INTERVIEW] German professor hopes to boost appreciation for Korean traditional music
  • Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival Korean films make splash at Cannes Film Festival
  • 'The Roundup' becomes most-watched Korean film in pandemic era 'The Roundup' becomes most-watched Korean film in pandemic era
  • [INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag [INTERVIEW] Korea needs more small-sized concert venues: Prof. Lee Gyu-tag
DARKROOM
  • 75th Cannes Film Festival

    75th Cannes Film Festival

  • People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

    People in North Korea trapped in famine and pandemic

  • 2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

    2022 Pulitzer Prize: Bearing witness to history

  • Worsening drought puts millions at risk

    Worsening drought puts millions at risk

  • Our children deserve the best

    Our children deserve the best

The Korea Times
CEO & Publisher : Oh Young-jin
Digital News Email : webmaster@koreatimes.co.kr
Tel : 02-724-2114
Online newspaper registration No : 서울,아52844
Date of registration : 2020.02.05
Masthead : The Korea Times
Copyright © koreatimes.co.kr. All rights reserved.
  • About Us
  • Introduction
  • History
  • Location
  • Media Kit
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Service
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • Mobile Service
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Policy
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • 고충처리인
  • Youth Protection Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group