Out of 100 South Korean schoolchildren, how many take paid private lessons after school?
▲
▼
Drag to get close · ▲▼ to fine-tune
76
76% of South Korean students take paid after-school lessons, at the private academies known as hagwon or with a tutor. Participation is highest among the youngest: 84% of elementary schoolers go. Even among high schoolers it is 63%. On the day of the national college entrance exam, South Korea halts every takeoff and landing for 35 minutes so the English listening section is not disturbed.
76% of South Korean students take paid private lessons after school. On exam day the country grounds every flight for 35 minutes.
Source: Korea Ministry of Data and Statistics (Private Education Expenditures Survey 2025); CNN · checked Mar 2026