$11,000 tuition and toddler tests: Korean English preschools spark concern
A banner promoting a freshman orientation hangs outside an English kindergarten in Seoul’s Gangnam District in this March photo. Yonhap
As preschool tuition soars past $11,000, Korean toddlers face entrance exams that raise alarms about early education pressure
Children as young as four are taking level tests to gain entry into increasingly expensive English immersion academies, as the cost of early childhood English education surges across Seoul and Gyeonggi Province.
A new survey by Rep. Kang Kyung-sook of the Rebuilding Korea Party and the civic group "World Without Worries About Private Education" reveals that monthly tuition at English kindergartens — a term for English-language academies catering to preschoolers — now ranges from 1.2 to 1.3 million won ($1,090). The steep rise in fees is adding to the financial burden of parents, with some now paying more than university-level tuition.
The study, released Tuesday, analyzed 999 English kindergartens operating on at least a half-day schedule in Seoul and five high-demand regions in Gyeonggi Province: Goyang, Anyang, Seongnam, Yongin and Hwaseong. Data was compiled using official academy registrations from the Seoul and Gyeonggi education offices as well as public education portals, with the survey conducted from May 7 to 30.
The most striking trend is the rapid increase in fees. In these five Gyeonggi cities, monthly tuition for English kindergartens now averages 1.27 million won — up 10.1 percent from 1.11 million won last year. Yongin saw the sharpest hike, with fees rising 13.7 percent.
In Seoul, where English kindergarten costs are already the highest in the country, the monthly average increased by 3.5 percent — from 1.31 million won to 1.36 million won during the same period. These figures include instructional fees, mock exam fees, materials, meals, dormitory costs and transportation. After-school programs and other extras are not included, suggesting the actual cost to families is significantly higher.
"Sending just one child to a half-day or longer English kindergarten costs about 15 million won a year," the civic group said. That is higher than the average annual tuition for a four-year university in South Korea, which is 13.65 million won in 2024.
The survey also points to a growing trend toward consolidation. While the number of English kindergartens in Seoul fell by 34 last year, the number of operating classes declined by only 10. In the five Gyeonggi cities, three centers shut down, but 101 new classes were opened. Analysts say this indicates that small academies are being pushed out of the market due to declining birth rates, while larger institutions are expanding their presence.
"Educational inequality starting from the very first stages of life harms the long-term sustainability of our society," said Kang. "The Lee Jae-myung administration must consider urgent legislative and administrative measures to curb excessive private education spending and protect public education."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.