The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
The Korea Times
amn_close.png
amn_bl.png
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
amn_bl.png
Business
  • Tech
  • Bio
  • Companies
  • World Expo 2030
amn_bl.png
Finance
  • Companies
  • Economy
  • Markets
  • Cryptocurrency
amn_bl.png
Opinion
  • Editorial
  • Columns
  • Thoughts of the Times
  • Cartoon
  • Today in History
  • Blogs
  • Tribune Service
  • Blondie & Garfield
  • Letter to President
  • Letter to the Editor
amn_bl.png
Lifestyle
  • Travel & Food
  • Trends
  • People & Events
  • Books
  • Around Town
  • Fortune Telling
amn_bl.png
Entertainment & Arts
  • K-pop
  • Films
  • Shows & Dramas
  • Music
  • Theater & Others
amn_bl.png
Sports
amn_bl.png
World
  • SCMP
  • Asia
amn_bl.png
Video
  • Korean Storytellers
  • POPKORN
  • Culture
  • People
  • News
amn_bl.png
Photos
  • Photo News
  • Darkroom
amn_NK.png amn_DR.png amn_LK.png amn_LE.png
  • bt_fb_on_2022.svgbt_fb_over_2022.svg
  • bt_twitter_on_2022.svgbt_twitter_over_2022.svg
  • bt_youtube_on_2022.svgbt_youtube_over_2022.svg
  • bt_instagram_on_2022.svgbt_instagram_over_2022.svg
  • Login
  • Register
  • Login
  • Register
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
  • 1

    Man who opened plane door says he wanted to get off quickly: police

  • 3

    INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'

  • 5

    Annual K pop-concert comes to Busan, featuring BTOB, ITZY, Nmixx and more

  • 7

    Korean literature in translation enjoys growing universal appeal

  • 9

    Can Seoul succeed in transforming Yeouido into a global financial hub?

  • 11

    Man allegedly murders girlfriend shortly after release from police custody in dating violence probe

  • 13

    Korea plays 10-man Honduras to draw at U-20 World Cup, knockout fate up in air

  • 15

    INTERVIEWFormer UK gang member shares hard-learned lessons to prevent youth violence

  • 17

    Unification ministry's NK report disclaimer creates controversy

  • 19

    Nuri's main payload NEXTSAT-2 enters orbit, makes communication with Earth

  • 2

    US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war

  • 4

    76th Cannes Film Festival

  • 6

    Traditional markets catch on with foreign tourists, young consumers

  • 8

    INTERVIEWHow 'bojagi' helped adoptee reconnect with Korean roots

  • 10

    Gen MZ shifts to thrifty mindset amid high cost of living

  • 12

    INTERVIEWAs Georgia marks Independence Day, new ambassador vows to bolster ties

  • 14

    Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases

  • 16

    Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets

  • 18

    Suspect held after four killed in Japan gun and knife attack

  • 20

    About 3,000 Korean tourists stranded in Guam due to Typhoon Mawar aftermath

Close scrollclosebutton

Close for 24 hours

Open
  • The Korea Times
  • search
  • all menu
  • Login
  • Subscribe
  • Photos
  • Video
  • World
  • Sports
  • Opinion
  • Entertainment & Art
  • Lifestyle
  • Finance
  • Business
  • National
  • North Korea
National
  • Politics
  • Foreign Affairs
  • Multicultural Community
  • Defense
  • Environment & Animals
  • Law & Crime
  • Society
  • Health & Science
Sun, May 28, 2023 | 21:38
Education
More universities to shutdown in coming years
Posted : 2018-03-28 18:09
Updated : 2018-03-29 12:21
Kim Hyun-bin
Print PreviewPrint Preview
Font Size UpFont Size Up
Font Size DownFont Size Down
  • facebook
  • twitter
  • kakaolink
  • whatsapp
  • reddit
  • mailto
  • link


Low birthrate forcing institutions to close

By Kim Hyun-bin

An increasing number of local universities are on the verge of shutting down in the coming years, due to the low birthrate that has been plaguing the nation.

Each university or college that could be forced to close in the suburbs will take a direct toll on the local economy and local residents fear this the most.

Their fears could come to pass just four years from now. Two year colleges will start to see a drastic reduction of students starting from 2022, and four year universities by 2024, what experts are calling a "college shutdown domino."
It has become inevitable for colleges to face low enrollment as the country's birthrate continues to fall.

The low birthrate generation began in 2002 with total newborns for that year recording 490,000 dipping below the 500,000 mark for the first time.

South Korea hit its new record low of 357,700 in 2017 down 11.9 percent from the previous year, according to Statistics Korea. It's the lowest number since the statistical agency started to compile data in 1970.

Low birthrate = Shutdown

According to research conducted by Cho Young-tae, a professor of health demography at Seoul National University there are 138 colleges and 189 universities currently operating in the country as of last year. However, due to the drastic decrease in the country's birthrate, 43 colleges in 2022 and 73 four year universities by 2024 will no longer be needed.

70 percent of the operating costs of an institution typically come from tuition fees and if enrollment tanks it will have a direct effect on the survival of the school.

"The reduction of student enrollment is becoming a threat to universities and colleges. The institutions are more aware of their situations and are asking for aid," said an official at the Ministry of Education.

"We are currently looking for ways to combine nearby universities in the future that are struggling to meet their student quotas."

Many experts point out that the decision to combine universities that are struggling to stay afloat does not solve the root problem.

"The decision to combine schools will be ineffective, the government needs to come up with a solution to tackle low enrollment," said Cho Young-tae, a professor of health demography at Seoul National University.

"Currently the nation is fixed on enrolling 18 year olds who just graduated from high school, but it should widen the enrollment age gap so people of all ages could attend."

Last year alone, three universities _ Seonam University, Hanzhong University, and Daegu University of Foreign Studies _ closed due to corruption and lack of funds to operate the institutions.

Recent statistics show that enrollment rates for higher education which include all types of colleges and universities have drastically dropped in recent years.

College enrollment hit its peak in 2008 with 83.8 percent of high school grads going to college. That number, however, continues to decline. By 2017 only 68.9 percent went to college according to recent data from Statistics Korea.
Many experts point out that with the current trend the enrollment rate will continue to fall each year.

Work vs. education

Another key factor for the decline in college enrollment is due to changes in perspectives toward higher education. Many Korean high school students are entering the workforce instead of enrolling in college.

Each year an increasing number of college grads are struggling to find jobs, which is pushing more high school students to jump into the job market right after graduation.

The college graduate unemployment rate surpassed that of high school graduates for the first time last year.
The unemployment rate for graduates with a bachelor's degree stood at four percent, doubling the jobless rate of high school graduates.

Over half a million college graduates struggled to find jobs _ 90 thousand more than high school grads.
"More people are realizing that a college degree does not guarantee a job, so more people are jumping into the workforce to make a living early on," said Cho.

In 2009 only 16.7 percent of vocational high school grads were lucky enough to get jobs, but since then that number has soared.

Just last year, 50.6 percent of vocational high school graduates landed jobs, marking the first time in 17 years since that number surpassed the 50 percent mark.


Emailhyunbin@ktimes.com Article ListMore articles by this reporter
 
wooribank
Top 10 Stories
1US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war US urged to respect Korea's position amid US-China chip war
2Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets Chinese carmakers challenge Hyundai Motor, Kia in global markets
3Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics Calls grow for regulations on AI technology on webcomics
4CJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineupCJ, Shinsegae study temple food to expand vegan lineup
5Africa Day celebrated in Korea with book talkAfrica Day celebrated in Korea with book talk
6[INTERVIEW] Korean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining sceneINTERVIEWKorean chef aims to change Hong Kong's dining scene
7Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance Bernadou's travels in Korea in 1884 Part 4 - Gaeseong's passive defiance
8ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry? ChatGPT: boon or bane for banking industry?
9Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards Labor unions seek to attract migrant workers at shipyards
10Man arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flightMan arrested for opening airplane emergency exit during flight
Top 5 Entertainment News
1Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases Stray Kids, NCT's Taeyong, ATEEZ gear up for June releases
2Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful' Chun Woo-hee becomes chameleon con artist in 'Delightfully Deceitful'
3[INTERVIEW] 'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time' INTERVIEW'No more part-time jobs': VANNER talks about life after winning 'Peak Time'
4Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show Competing to get married? 'Physical:100' writer to roll out marriage survival show
5Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel Ma Dong-seok goes all out to create iconic action hero in 'The Outlaws' threequel
DARKROOM
  • Turkey-Syria earthquake

    Turkey-Syria earthquake

  • Nepal plane crash

    Nepal plane crash

  • Brazil capital uprising

    Brazil capital uprising

  • Happy New Year 2023

    Happy New Year 2023

  • World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

    World Cup 2022 Final - Argentina vs France

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
  • Contact Us
  • Products & Services
  • Subscribe
  • E-paper
  • RSS Service
  • Content Sales
  • Site Map
  • Policy
  • Code of Ethics
  • Ombudsman
  • Privacy Statement
  • Terms of Service
  • Copyright Policy
  • Family Site
  • Hankook Ilbo
  • Dongwha Group