Education Fever: Exploring Private Education Consumption Motivations Among Korean Parents of Preschool Children

Abstract

Education fever, the national obsession with the attainment of education in Korea, has received attention from the media and researchers. However, research on Korean parents’ investment in private education for their preschool children is limited. The purpose of this study was to explore what the consumption of private education means to Korean parents, and to identify factors motivating their consumption behavior. Focus group interviews with 23 Korean mothers of preschool children were conducted to identify why private education was important to them. The results of the interviews indicated that social norms emphasizing education, the social mobility acquired through education, and the mothers’ dissatisfaction with social services were the key social factors motivating the mothers. Experiences from the mothers’ own childhood as well as household resources were key personal factors.

Towards the Sustainable Development of Young Children: Impact of After-School Tutoring on Chinese Preschoolers’ Social Behavior

“…A longitudinal study in the United States showed that 78.4% of children of those studied had participated in one or more types of after-school tutoring during kindergarten and first grade, among which sports were the most popular, while music and arts were the least popular [2]. The results of studies in regions such as South Korea, Singapore, Canada, and Hong Kong, China were all similar [3][4][5][6]. The "Annual Report on Chinese Children's Development (2020)" pointed out that nearly 90% of preschool children in China's urban areas had participated in after-school tutoring.…”

Does an economic crisis deflate education bubble and inequality? Lessons from South Korea 1997–2020

“…For example, the earnings ratio of tertiary graduates to lower secondary graduates in Korea decreased from 217.0 per cent in 2005 to 172.9 per cent in 2021 (OECD 2022b). Second, although Korean parents participated in severe education competitions for their children, nearly half of Korean households already reported their private education expenditure as a massive financial burden for household livelihoods (Woo and Hodges 2015). Third, this education fever also had serious negative effects on the psychological condition of students, and it sometimes discouraged study motivation (Woo and Hodges 2015; OECD 2021).…”

“…Second, although Korean parents participated in severe education competitions for their children, nearly half of Korean households already reported their private education expenditure as a massive financial burden for household livelihoods (Woo and Hodges 2015). Third, this education fever also had serious negative effects on the psychological condition of students, and it sometimes discouraged study motivation (Woo and Hodges 2015; OECD 2021). Lastly, it has been regarded as an important factor in low fertility rates in East Asian region including Korea because this excessive education arm races tend to significantly suppress child‐care willingness in this region (Jones 2019).…”

Intimate mobilities—International (transnational) marriage and migration: Japanese marriage migrants floating between Japan and Korea

“…Korean society is considered one of the most competitive, and education is highly valued, where a large focus is placed on entering prestigious schools-credentialism (Woo & Hodges, 2015). Korea's competitive environment shapes the way parents, most often mothers, raise their children, resulting in excessive educational enthusiasm-parenting ideologies.…”