Preview

Korea Educational System

Best Essays
Open Document
Open Document
2642 Words
Grammar
Grammar
Plagiarism
Plagiarism
Writing
Writing
Score
Score
Korea Educational System
Korea is a country that has been successful in developing many industries, especially those of technology and education, within a short period of time. Korea’s advancement in mass media has been quite remarkable in the recent years. In addition, Korean pop music, also known as “K-Pop,” is spreading all around the world, causing people’s interest in Korean culture to grow. Moreover, as Korea becomes more well-known for its entertainment industry, residents of other countries consider Korea as a tourist destination. However, this fast growth is accompanied by some side effects. Some people are not able to keep up with the speed of these industries’ progress, so even though Korea has achieved much success, still not everyone can follow these changes immediately. Korea also faces air and water pollution that are evident around the country, especially in the capital, Seoul. This sudden change also encourages an increase in Korea’s crime rate because of the growing gap between the rich and the poor. Consequently, in an effort to protect themselves from becoming a part of the less fortunate population, Koreans obsess over how or what can help them achieve the most success. Hence, education becomes not only an opportunity but eventually an obsession. Due to the overt obsession for a better quality of life, most Koreans study and work extremely hard, giving up leisure time that is important for their overall emotional and mental stability. In fact, Korea’s obsession with education is the root of many problems, so Korea should counteract this by adopting some aspects of the American educational system.
In the past, countries foreign to Korea held more importance than its own. Instead of focusing on the development of its own industries, Korea constantly waited on its neighbors. As Korea left behind its past of Japanese colonial rule, it became more open to the idea of international relations, such as acceptance of Japanese pop culture. Due to this social change, Korea is



Cited: Ahn, Hyeon-Ju, and Jia S. Mah. “Development of Technology-Intensive Industries in Korea.” Journal of Contemporary Asia. 37.3 (2007): 364-79. Proquest Social Sciences. Web. 26 Jun. 2012. Basu, Susanto, and David N. Weil. “Appropriate Technology and Growth.” The Quarterly Journal of Economics. 113.4 (1998): 1025-54. JSTOR. Web. 26 Jun. 2012. Dorgan, Michael. “Education fever rules in S. Korea.” San Jose Mercury News. 27 Jan. 1997. NewsBank. Web. 16 Jun. 2012. Park, Hee Sun, Doshik Yun, Seungcheol Austin Lee , and Wonsun Kim Gittelsohn, John. “Study for Your Life.” Academic Search Premier 124. (1992): 18-19. Readers ' Guide Full Text Mega. Web. 17 Jun. 2012. Weidman, John C., and Namgi Park, eds. Higher Education in Korea. New York and London: Press, Falmer, 2000. Print. Joo, Jeong Suk Kim, Beryl. “Korea Air Pollution Problems.” TED Case Studies. 5.1 (1992). Mandala Projects Site Map. Web. 26 Jun. 2012. Lee, Meery, and Reed Larson. “The Korean ‘examination hell’: Long hours of studying, distress, and depression.” Journal of Youth and Adolescence. 29.2 (2000): 249-71. Proquest Social Science. Web. 14 Jun. 2012. Ripley, Amanda, and Stephen Kim. “Teacher, Leave Those Kids Alone.” Time Asia. 178.22 (2011): 46-9. EBSCO Host. Web. 8 Jun. 2012. Strother, Jason. “South Korean Parents Dissatisfied with Education System.” Thai Press Reports. 19 Dec. 2008. NewsBank. Web. 8 Jun. 2012.

You May Also Find These Documents Helpful

  • Good Essays

    One area the author explores is when education is placed as the most important thing in the student's life, it affects their social lives. For example, “-kids,parents, and teachers- saw getting an education as a serious quest, more important than sports or self-esteem”(116). In Korea, the importance of education is placed very high and is considered terrifying by foreigners. Korean students will have to take a test that determines their entire lives, so they spend the majority of their time studying and gave up certain values in their lives. Ripley also has said that Korean students spend most of their time in classrooms rather than at home because of…

    • 464 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Satisfactory Essays

    BRICs and MITSk Project

    • 794 Words
    • 3 Pages

    My report is all about Mitsk member – South Korea, “Land of the Morning Calm” a country with dynamic energy. Just 60 years ago, Korea was a country devastated by war and poverty. The elements that have made Korea a key player in the international economy include aid from the international community, Koreans devotion to work, the steady efforts of successive governments to open up its economy and corporate efforts to innovate and enhance their international competitiveness. Between 1970 and 2011, Koreans GDP grew by more than 144 times, from $8.1 billion to $1.16 trillion. Between 1961 and 2011, Koreans GDP per capita grew by more than 280 times, from $82 to $22,778. So far this millennium, Korea has achieved an average annual economic growth rate of about 4.5% and maintained strong economic vibrancy (Korea Trade-Investment Promotion Agency, n. d.).…

    • 794 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Satisfactory Essays
  • Good Essays

    Korea lies in the eastern part of Asia. This peninsula is divided into two countries: North Korea and South Korea. Although there is a division of landscape, government, and culture, the bulk of people in Korea consider themselves a part of the Korean nation. Regardless of that, the countries do have their differences. The entire peninsula is cut off from Northeast China by rugged mountains and sizable rivers (Rowntree 365). The north suffers from heavy deforestation, however it has more natural resources. The south has made extensive reforestation efforts post WWII and so they have more greenery. In terms of culture, there are more intense differences. In the South, k-pop and Korean drams have gone global. The culture has appealed to people worldwide. Meanwhile, North Korea remains somewhat in isolation. What’s more, North Koreans attempt to flee into Northeast China, quite often. Yet no one flees South Korea. This shows that there are different cultures and levels of comfort in each…

    • 600 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    assisting with the publication of this article. The author would also like to thank panel…

    • 4542 Words
    • 19 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Better Essays

    "Korean American Timeline." Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. SAPAC, 13 Apr. 2005. Web. 14 Mar. 2013.…

    • 1972 Words
    • 8 Pages
    Better Essays
  • Good Essays

    Despite the differences between us, my friends and I were unified by one commonality – we were all academically invested. We constantly worried about school and our grades, and it became the central topic of many of our discussions. As my friends talked about school, I learned that the vastly different Korean school system (infamous for its highly rigorous schedules) promotes students to the next…

    • 501 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Coffman, T., McCartie, C., Romvari, G., & Robinson, C. (n.d.). An interactive classroom on the korean american experience. Retrieved from http://www.koreanamericanstory.org/arirang/flash/main/index.htm…

    • 6307 Words
    • 26 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    By all means, I am proud of my heritage, but my six years of local Korean education had been unbearable; identical school uniforms, regulated hair lengths and a plethora of standardized tests. Yet, the most…

    • 580 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    First, the idea of authoritarianism is included in education in North Korea. The book, North Koreans in Japan by Sonia Ryang can be used to support this idea. Generally, there are two ways of explaining the author’s arguments, including qualitative approaches and quantitative approaches. Qualitative methods usually have numerical consequences to prove the author’s argument. On the other hand, qualitative methods don’t rely on the numbers and they utilize the materials which includes non-numerical resources such as interviews, diary, autobiographies. In her book, Ryang discovers the relationships between North Korea and South Korea by writing about North Korean people who live in Japan by using the resources she got from interviews with them. The information in her book is retrieved…

    • 1591 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Best Essays

    Korea under Japanese Rule

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages

    The Korea’s colonial period spans a time frame of 35 years from 1910 to 1945 until Japan was defeated in World War II. It started with the Eulsa Treaty also known as Japan-Korea Protectorate treaty which is signed between Empire of Japan and the Korean Empire on 17 November 1905 by the influence of Russo-Japanese War. This treaty effectively made Korea a protectorate of Japan. Immediately after that, on 22 August 1910 the Japan-Korea Annexation Treaty was signed, which officially unveiled Korea’s colonial period.1 The impacts of the colonial period on Korea can be discussed in three different aspects, namely infrastructure development, economics, education and culture.…

    • 1138 Words
    • 5 Pages
    Best Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    Education, the pride and passion of many United States citizens, is an issue in the United States that has drawn scrutiny over past fifty years. The United States is no longer viewed as the leader of Education, as it may have or may have not once been viewed. We are falling behind countries like Japan, China, and other countries in most subjects. In order to try to close the gap in education between us and the countries that are on top in the education world; we have implemented laws, such as the No Child Left Behind Act. Some may suggest that we need to adapt more of an Asian-style approach: “US education system requires an ‘Asian’ overhaul-for example, longer school days, more frequent short recess periods, and an earlier introduction of vocational focus.” (Spellings 2010, 68)…

    • 1541 Words
    • 7 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    South Korean culture can be tough for an outsider to grapple with. Though it has imported Chinese elements, it has also been shaped by the nation’s unique experiences with shamanism. If you just skim the surface, it is a very Westernized place. The youth has wholeheartedly embraced…

    • 2300 Words
    • 10 Pages
    Powerful Essays
  • Good Essays

    In South Korea, study has special meaning itself. Ever since South Korean people have survived the tragedy of occupation and war, the studying has become the means of acquiring social status and economic security. Therefore, in Korean society there is tremendous pressure which puts value on a high salary and highly reputed social position on the students. The parents think that once their children are safely employed as lawyers, doctors, or politicians, they will not have to be concerned about economic security. In contrast, in the United States, education is the means to self-fulfillment. The students study to obtain knowledge about various fields. Furthermore, in the United States, well developed public welfare is provided. With such welfare, students are free from such concerns that bother Korean students.…

    • 663 Words
    • 3 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Good Essays

    Koreans attach great importance to group harmony and loyalty. Creating a strong sense of belonging drives and motivates Korean workers. The Korean company functions as more than merely a workplace; rather, it acts like a second family. Employers feel a sense of responsibility and caring for their workers and try to ensure that the basic needs of the employee’s family are met. Korean employees are expected to dedicate themselves not only to their work, but also to the success and the well-being of their company. While there is no guarantee of lifetime employment, Koreans generally do not approve of job-hopping. Employees are indoctrinated through extensive initial orientation programs that last from two to five months and include learning the company song, philosophy, protocols, values and mission. While practical skills are also taught, the training emphasizes the importance of dedication, loyalty, team and spirit. The general consensus in Korea is that a dedicated employee can always learn job skills, and thus loyalty, teamwork, and commitment to the corporate philosophy should function as the priorities of the training. Company sports events, recreational…

    • 316 Words
    • 2 Pages
    Good Essays
  • Powerful Essays

    The Korean popular music, or the Korean pop or simply k pop is a musical genre consisting of electronic hip hop, pop rock, and R&B music originating in South Korea. Huyhn (2011) defined k pop as for Korean pop music that covers a wide variety of contemporary music including pop, hip hop, and R&B, dance-pop. Bubblegum pop, house, electro pop, and techno. Due to the big wave of success, k pop became so popular not only in South Korea but also to other parts of the world especially here in the Philippines.…

    • 2057 Words
    • 9 Pages
    Powerful Essays