South Korea is facing growing criticism over a cram school culture that now pulls in even preschool children, pushing them into a high-pressure race for academic success years before they enter elementary school.
Government data released in 2025 showed that nearly half of children under six are already in some form of private education, including hagwons or "cram schools."
The rate rises sharply with age, with more than 80 percent of five-year-olds attending extra classes outside regular daycare or kindergarten. Parents spend an average of around 332,000 won per month on these programs, and fees can exceed 1.5 million won for English-focused kindergartens.
Pressure Starts in Preschool
Critics warn that the pressure now starts as early as age four, when some children sit entrance exams for elite English preschools or early-track programs. These tests often include content well beyond their developmental level, a practice that experts say creates fear in parents and stress in children, according to the New York Times.
South Korea's National Human Rights Commission has argued that exposing preschoolers to such high-stakes assessments violates their rights.
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Researchers link the intense private education race to rising stress and anxiety among young people, who are told that their future depends on test scores from an early age.
Studies of older students in hagwons show high levels of stress symptoms, and counselors report more cases of self-harm and burnout among youth who feel trapped in endless competition. Experts warn that today's preschoolers may carry similar mental health burdens as they grow up in the same system.
Government Response and Parent Dilemma
The government has begun to react, as the education culture is increasingly blamed for worsening mental health and for South Korea's record-low birth rate, the Korea Times reported.
Lawmakers have proposed banning entrance exams and ranking tests for children below school age at English kindergartens and private academies. Authorities have also pledged to improve public early childhood programs and expand free education and childcare for three- to five-year-olds.
Still, many parents say they feel they cannot step away from hagwons while other families keep investing heavily. For now, preschool remains the starting line in a relentless race, with South Korea still struggling to balance ambition, children's rights, and mental health, as per Time.
