An 18-year-old high school student starts her day early in the morning in front of her desk, memorizing vocabulary; she continues to memorize even while eating breakfast. After school, her private consultant rearranges her room interior to make the condition congenial for her to study. She turns obsequious in front of her senior who is already attending an acknowledged university. She then starts to study indefinitely until she is exhausted enough to sleep at her desk. This is how the protagonist studies in a K-drama called ‘Sky Castle’ released in 2018. Unfortunately, the drama is based on the normal lives of South Korean students. The rigorous daily routine for the university entrance exam (also known as ‘suneung’) is common and unsurprising to any Korean citizen, not only restricted to secondary school students but also to elementary school students.

The Unspoken Burden: A Look into South Korean Elementary School Students

Below is an interview between a famous YouTuber and an elementary school student residing in

Daechi-dong, Seoul, a city known to be the ‘No. 1 private education city’:

Q: Are you in the second year of elementary school?

A: Yes

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Q: How many academies do you attend?

A: About 6 or 7

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Q: What subject?

A: English and math.

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Q: So, you’re going through 6 types of English and Math academies?

A: Yes

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Q: Do you go to the academy every day?

A: It seems like almost every day

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Q: Do you have any goals of your own?

A: Uh...not much.

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Q: Do you have a dream or something that pushes you forward to study harder?

A: I just do it because my mom tells me to.

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To blend in with other students studying in Daechi-dong, parents must be especially conscious about how long their children study, regardless of their age. In 2023, 86% of elementary school students responded that they attend academies to increase the amount of time they study. Although there may be some exceptions, more than half of these children are trapped in the vicious cycle of endless studying under the supervision of their guardians, regardless of their will.

The situation went beyond the limit because teenagers residing in South Korea created their own children's report, which they published after 3 years of thorough research and surveys. They visited the UN Committee on the Rights of the Child in Geneva, Switzerland, in 2019. UN members took the issue very seriously, acknowledging the reality of Korean students studying longer than average adults working. Students revealed that they get pressured by adults constantly saying, “Good days will come if you endure this period. ” The average number of hours studying in South Korea is 40-60 hours per week, whereas the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) reveals the average hour of student studying in the world is 33 hours; thus, Korean students study nearly 2 times more than students studying in every other nation in the world. There is distinctive discrimination against those less talented in studying when selecting a group to attend a competition, participating in a role in a school activism fair, or doing volunteer work. As such, the 1st place supremacy policy that has existed in South Korea has now surpassed its limit.

Beyond Culture: Unveiling the Education System of South Korea

In 1910, Korea was annexed by the Empire of Japan after years of war. The country was considered a part of Japan until 1945. During the Japanese occupation of Korea, Korean citizens were restricted in every aspect of their lives. The Japanese government restricted the Korean education system to hinder Korean students from becoming too intelligent to overturn the Japanese government. They implemented cramming education, which is the practice of working incessantly to absorb large volumes of information in a short amount of time, also known as mass learning. Unfortunately, this method is still being implemented until now. Korean students learn English by memorizing grammar; teachers do not allow them to express their ideas using English or even write an essay. Teachers are self-righteous without regard for students' curiosity or interests, eventually hampering students’ ability to think independently.

When asked about their GPA, Korean students show more self-consciousness and intimidation when revealing their scores. Conversely, students from the United States are more confident when talking with interviewers or even showing their scores. An interviewer asked a university student from Korea and one from the United States, and analyzed their behaviors when asked about their GPA scores. A Korean student who got a nearly perfect GPA confessed that she thinks she can do better next time. An American student who got an average GPA was so proud of herself that she right away talked about the presents that she was going to get from her parents. The distinctive differences between Korean and American students are shown through various aspects, including their attitude toward education. Korean students are known to be last in the OECD in terms of performance compared to the amount of money they spend studying. According to an examination of the ratio of GDP per worker to expenditures on education per person, Korea was found to have the lowest rate at 6.5 times. Simply put, there is not much difference between the money that one spends studying and the money one earns. Most Korean students are running a short sprint of study with only the goal of going to a decent university. As a result, competition between students and even close friends has flared up, with students scrambling to get even higher scores, and the dependency on private education has increased significantly. Students are consistently acquiescing to view their friends as enemies, and some even end up developing a strong appearance of duplicity during the process. In 2021, the total cost of private education in Korea was 23.4 trillion won, and the private education cost per student was 485,000 won per month. Based on PISA, Korean students' study time is 8 hours and 55 minutes, which is 4 hours and 33 minutes longer than Finland's, while students get similar scores. Lastly, after employment, Korean students’ intellectual abilities decline rapidly. This speed is said to be the fastest among OECD countries. When comparing the literacy and numeracy skills of 16-24-year-olds and 55-56-year-olds in Korea, there was a huge difference compared to the United States. The total study time on weekdays for Korean employed people is 2 minutes. It is very short compared to European countries such as Germany and Finland. In the end, the biggest problem is that students only study as teenagers to get into a good university and then stop studying after graduating from a university.

It is also acknowledged that Korean students are especially talented in mathematics. They rank the top marks in the annual assessment regarding math. But ironically, their interest in math is just the opposite. According to a study conducted by TIMSS, Korean students' interest in mathematics is ranked last in the world. The percentage of students around the world who responded that they do not like math is 41%, but in Korea, it is recorded as 61%. This suggests that although students are not truly interested in math, they are just forced to conform to the situation. Suppressing students' true aspirations and compelling them to pursue paths approved by society is a major factor in their decision to discontinue education after completing the Korean Entrance Test.

The pervasive issue of pressure within the education system impacts students globally, extending beyond the borders of Korea. China has continued to heavily invest in its educational system over the past decade, with an average increase in educational spending of 19%. The main challenges faced by the Chinese education system can be divided into three categories: excessive emphasis on testing, a rigid system affecting mental health, and the rural-urban gap. Test scores play a highly significant role in China's education system, leading to a fundamental disregard for children’s individuality, hobbies, and passions. Students are compelled to spend most of their free time studying for exams, leaving little time for leisure activities. The intense competition also puts Chinese students under a lot of stress, which can harm their confidence and self-esteem. From an overemphasis on test scores to discrepancies due to the rural-urban gap, China needs to reform its education system to ensure a more balanced, equitable, and quality education for all. This reveals similarities between China and Korea in terms of their education systems. This suppressive circumstance, where students need to stay in obeisance and accede to the societal educational standard, is easily spotted in Asian countries.

However, Western countries show a different trend; they spend less time studying, yet achieve better results than students in Asian countries, who study twice as much. Intellectual and educational reform that is revolutionizing the initial education system is taking place currently in Finland. Cramming robotic schedules or stressing over standardized tests is not the case. Rather, they are leading the way toward a holistic teaching environment. By creating an environment that values cooperation over competition, Finland makes the basics a priority and encourages students to start school at an older age. This generally leads to a more relaxed atmosphere and fewer assignments. The key factor that drives Finland students to study efficiently in a short amount of time is their ability to achieve equal quality of education compared to Korean students, who study nearly double the time. Encouraging a mindset that welcomes failure helps students to maintain a positive attitude towards education and continue learning even after being accepted to universities.

Finland underwent a significant educational reform after the outbreak of World War II. Before the 1970s, Finland's education system was similar to that of many other European countries, focusing on traditional teaching methods and rote memorization. The need to promote national development and modernize the country, transitioning from an agrarian to an industrialized economy, marked a turning point in Finland's education system.

Respecting the Situation

Just because the culture surrounding Sky Castle is fierce does not mean that this corresponds with every individual’s thoughts and beliefs. While some advocate for the coexistence of public and private education and the intricate education system of Korea, others report the opposite. Most of the students undergo excruciating pain under the pressure to avoid any type of failure. While such debate and activism are steady, the education system relating to Sky Castle continues to thrive and expand.

Although some public schools in Korea are focusing more on selecting future courses and extracurricular activities, allowing students to seek their dreams still remains low. The strong societal push towards promoting social equality and equal education opportunities for all students fostered equitable education reform in Finland. Ultimately, it is up to the Korean people to steer the education system; as we collectively take one step forward, change will follow in the direction that best aligns with our society.