Jung Da-hyun is a reporter at The Korea Times, covering social issues in Korea, including foreign residents, education, environment and politics. Driven by a deep interest in people’s stories, she focuses on investigative and feature reporting through direct interviews and field coverage. She received the Amnesty International Korea Media Award for her “Deepfake Crisis at Schools” series. Reach her at dahyun08@koreatimes.co.kr. Always open to hearing your stories.
Education minister puts diversity at center of higher education reform
Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin speaks during a press briefing at Government Complex Sejong, Monday. Yonhap
By Jung Da-hyun
Korea’s education system is at a turning point, facing both a declining student population and the pressures of a highly competitive academic environment, with Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin calling for greater diversity to drive innovation in higher education.
“Diversity in the student body positively affects creative thinking and learning outcomes. It goes beyond equal opportunity — it plays a decisive role in improving the quality of university education,” Education Minister Choi Kyo-jin told reporters Monday at Government Complex Sejong.
The press conference, held a month after Choi took office, outlined the ministry’s vision and priorities for higher education under the Lee Jae Myung administration.
Citing examples from overseas, he noted that many foreign universities have established dedicated committees to promote diversity across race, gender and socioeconomic background.
“Some Korean universities are also making such efforts, which is an encouraging sign,” he said. “Expanding diversity should be a key direction for the future of Korean higher education.”
Amid the rapid rise of artificial intelligence, the ministry is intensifying efforts to attract specialists from abroad, a key pillar of the government’s higher education strategy.
The education ministry plans to strengthen international exchanges, particularly in science and engineering, to secure top-tier global students.
Specifically, the ministry plans to raise the share of Global Korea Scholarship recipients to 2,776 in 2027. The 2026 program has already completed its selection, with 2,562 scholars chosen — up from 2,126 in 2025 — as part of the government’s broader push to attract more experts from abroad.
The ministry also announced plans to operate a control tower, designed to systematically oversee and support outstanding figures across sectors.
Choi also called for stricter oversight of the private English education industry targeting preschool-aged children, warning that excessive competition and level-based classes at private institutions could harm child development.
He stressed the need to reassess whether current teaching practices align with the developmental needs of young learners.
“We need to fundamentally ask whether these programs are appropriate for children’s developmental stages — whether they truly help their growth and whether the teaching methods are suitable,” he said.
The surge in early-age private tutoring has sparked public concern, with the phrase “gosi for 4- and 7-year-olds” — reflecting the rapid rise of private education in Korea, particularly in English language instruction. This is also becoming a symbol of Korea’s overheated education culture.
In response, the education ministry carried out its first nationwide survey of English cram schools this year, examining the prevalence of preenrollment level testing and early learning programs.
Furthermore, a bill seeking to restrict early English education for young children was introduced to the National Assembly in July, but the proposal has faced heated debate amid strong opposition during public hearings and opinion-gathering sessions.
Choi took a cautious stance on imposing blanket restrictions, warning that overly strict regulations could be seen as infringing on educational rights.
“The ministry aims to take a balanced approach — not simply relying on punitive measures, but through inspections, administrative guidance and expanding alternative programs within public education,” he said. “We also plan to promote awareness and offer diverse policy options instead of focusing solely on regulation.”