Under Pressure

One of the biggest questions we were exploring on the Discover Korea Research Trip was, “How did Korea change so rapidly from the time of the war until now?” It is staggering the amount of rapid development that occurred here in such a short span of time. The answer is complex, but one piece of it involves education.

We had several opportunities to learn about the Korean education system during our 11-day tour. We were fortunate to have Dr. James Person of George Washington University with us throughout our travels. He is a renowned expert in Korean history and modern Korea. Dr. Person shared many insights about the pressures of being a student in South Korea today.

We also met with Korean teachers on two occasions. After the formalities of introductory speeches and presentations, it was great to chat with these teachers about their daily lives.

Cramming for a better future

I was not surprised to hear about “cram schools” in Korea as I’ve read about them before and learned about similar schools in Vietnam during my fellowship there. In order to get into the best universities, students must attend several private classes after school to prepare (cram) for the university entrance exam. The exam is given one day a year. There are no second chances. So, if you are sick or get a flat tire on the way to the exam, the course of your life could change forever.

Cram schools themselves are competitive. The most elite cram schools cater to the wealthier students. There are even cram schools that prepare students specifically for the more elite cram schools. Those who can afford it also hire private tutors for their children.

A student may go to several hours of cram schools and tutoring every day, returning home late at night to do homework well past midnight, and wake up early the next day to start again. This what is required to get ahead in Korea. So much depends on getting the best education possible: social status, job opportunities, even marriage prospects.

The whole system has led to a cycle where the rich have access to better cram schools, better universities, and better jobs for life. Those who opt for vocational training instead of competing for a university spot will have no chance of social mobility.

The intense pressure has led to what is called the “giving up” generations in Korea. Some have given up on owning property (too expensive), marriage, having children (also expensive, especially paying for multiple cram schools and tutoring), and more. The birth rate in Korea has declined rapidly in recent years.

The government has tried to create a more equal system. During our time in Korea, they announced the elimination of the “impossible” questions from the university exam. These are questions that go far beyond an undergraduate level and that kept many students without means from passing the exam. Even with this step, though, the best way for students to succeed in Korea is to cram as much as possible before taking the exam.

Teaching the war

On another note, during one of our meetings with Korean teachers, they spoke openly about how they teach the Korean War. Surprisingly, with all the cramming for the exam that is required, teachers don’t have much time to teach this important topic. In fact, there may be just one question on the test about the war, depending on the year.

Still, these teachers were clearly devoted to teaching about peace. They balance teaching about the horrors of the war with hope for reunification as one Korea without the constant threat of war. One teacher talked about the challenges of teaching about the war when he has students and his own family with members on both sides of the border.

A beautiful performance

Finally, we were so fortunate to view a presentation by high school students from the National High School of Traditional Korean Arts. It was incredible to watch the students perform Korean traditional music and dance and none of us wanted the performance to end! The sangmo dance with spinning ribbons attached to the dancers’ hats was spectacular; watch a clip here.