By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter
More than 800 private institutes, or hagwon, were suspended from operation or received other punitive measures for overcharging on tuition and other wrongdoings.
The education ministry said Monday that it detected 854 hagwon irregularities nationwide over the last two months. Of them, 246 institutes took more money from students than allowed under tuition ceilings set by regional education authorities. Seventy hagwon were consequently ordered to refund a total of 38 million won ($26,000).
Two institutes were forced to shut down and 47 have suspend operation, while 771 were ordered to correct the irregularities.