KS's Global Insights into Higher Education

In Seoul’s affluent Gangnam district, it’s not unusual to see parents lining up on a Saturday morning with children barely out of preschool. The reason isn’t a playdate or a pediatric checkup. It’s an entrance exam for kindergarteners. Dubbed the “4-year-old exam” and “7-year-old exam” in local parlance, these tests have become the latest escalation in South Korea’s education frenzy. Parents are pushing kids as young as four into academic training and test prep programs, despite scant evidence of any lasting educational benefit. The phenomenon raises an uncomfortable question: Why are we compelling toddlers and young children into this extreme of early competition? Education experts and policymakers warn that this trend is a symptom of deep structural pressures, from the fierce race for elite university admission and a high-stakes exam culture to parental anxiety in status-conscious communities and failures of public policy. It is an arms race that is warping childhood and widening soc...

1. South Korea’s Evolving Role in Global Higher Education South Korea is increasingly positioning itself as a dynamic and competitive destination in the global higher education market. With international student enrollment surpassing 200,000 in 2024, the country is not only expanding its global reach but also actively leveraging its cultural soft power—namely K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean language education—as an integral part of its internationalization strategy. South Korean universities are attracting students through short-term language programs, full degree offerings, and scholarship schemes. However, this growth comes with considerable challenges. Cultural and linguistic barriers persist, and many academic programs remain inaccessible to students who do not speak Korean fluently. Moreover, limited post-study employment opportunities and insufficient support structures continue to affect the student experience. While Korea’s appeal is rising, ensuring that international students can...