Three public university mergers approved

South Korea’s long-planned university restructuring entered a decisive stage Tuesday as the government approved presidential decrees finalizing three major integrations of public universities — a sweeping consolidation aimed at helping regions survive shrinking student populations. The decrees establish the official names, structures and student-status measures for the merged institutions, marking the most significant step yet toward the government’s goal of maintaining one national university i

Feb. 24, 2026

Are school uniforms too pricey? Govt. mulls overhaul

The Ministry of Education said Friday it will conduct a nationwide survey of school uniform prices after President Lee Jae Myung raised concerns over what he described as excessively high costs. “It recently came to my attention that school uniforms can cost up to 600,000 won ($415),” Lee said on Feb. 12. “It would be meaningful to review the appropriateness of school uniform prices before the new semester begins.” Lee’s remarks come amid the government’s broader push to curb inflation. Alongsid

Feb. 22, 2026

Uzbek student sues Hanshin University over forced departure

An Uzbek student who was forced to leave South Korea by officials at Hanshin University in November 2023 has filed a damages lawsuit against the university along with her husband. According to local media reports Thursday, the 23-year-old student and her 32-year-old husband filed the suit with the Suwon District Court, seeking 100 million won ($69,200) in damages. The Uzbek couple claimed the university’s actions caused psychological harm and disrupted the student’s education. On Nov. 12, 2023,

Feb. 19, 2026

Grades dominate parent talks with elementary students

Conversations between parents and elementary school children in South Korea are increasingly centered on academic performance rather than aptitude or future aspirations, coinciding with rising levels of depression among younger students. According to a recent report by the Ministry of Education, the proportion of elementary school students who said they discuss their grades or academic performance with their parents every day rose to 30.5 percent in 2025, up from 25.7 percent five years earlier.

Feb. 18, 2026

How Koreans are reimagining shuttered schools

Local governments across South Korea are scrambling to find new uses for shuttered schools amid a declining student population, while a parallel movement is unfolding on social media, where individuals are taking the initiative to renovate and reimagine closed campuses. According to the Ministry of Education, the cumulative number of shuttered schools surpassed 4,000 in 2025, with South Jeolla Province recording the highest number at 854. In contrast, only seven schools have closed in Seoul sinc

Feb. 17, 2026

Busan junior colleges tapped for foreign talent program

Busan Metropolitan City said Thursday that three local junior colleges had been selected for a Justice Ministry pilot to foster specialists, with foreign students being eligible for improved visa access. The mechanical engineering departments at Kyungnam College of Information and Technology, Dong-Eui Institute of Technology, and the automotive engineering department at Busan Institute of Science and Technology, were selected for the program encompassing 16 university departments across the nati

Feb. 13, 2026

Want to study in Korea? Check out these schools

University of Seoul, Kyungpook National University, the Ulsan National Institute of Science and Technology, and Sejong University are among 39 institutions designated by the Ministry of Education as "excellent certified universities" for international students in 2025. The designation, unveiled Wednesday, forms part of the government’s annual review of universities’ capacity to recruit, manage and integrate overseas students. Schools that meet higher benchmarks receive visa advantages and priori

Feb. 12, 2026

Why Suneung's English section was so hard

The Ministry of Education on Wednesday announced measures to overhaul the way the College Scholastic Aptitude Test, known locally as Suneung, is put together, following widespread criticism over last year’s unusually difficult English section. Only 3.11 percent of test-takers in November 2025 earned the top grade (Level 1) in the English section, reflecting the exam's increased difficulty. Under normal conditions, around 7 percent of students are expected to achieve the highest score. The record

Feb. 11, 2026

S. Korea to add 3,342 medical school seats outside Seoul by 2031

The government said Tuesday it will add 3,342 medical school seats over five years from 2027 to 2031, as part of efforts to ease doctor shortages outside the Seoul metropolitan area. According to the Ministry of Health and Welfare, medical school quotas at universities outside Seoul will be expanded gradually, rising from 490 additional seats in the 2027 academic year to 613 in 2028 and 2029, before increasing to 813 in both 2030 and 2031. The incremental expansion is intended to limit pressure

Feb. 10, 2026

Lowered tuition hike cap proposed at National Assembly

A law revision was introduced Tuesday to lower the ceiling on annual college tuition hikes amid ongoing tensions between students and university administrations over this year’s tuition increases, according to education officials on Sunday. The debate has also raised questions about the treatment of foreign students, whose tuition largely falls outside government regulations. Democratic Party lawmaker Rep. Kim Moon-soo introduced the revision to the Higher Education Act that would limit tuition

Feb. 8, 2026

KIS to host open house

Korea International School said Sunday it will host its spring open house program on March 4 from 10 a.m. to noon, showcasing its academic and co-curricular programs to prospective families. The event will be held at the school’s Pangyo campus in Gyeonggi Province, offering families the opportunity to learn more about a range of school programs, including its experiential education program and arts curriculum. KIS’ experiential education program provides students with both domestic and internati

Feb. 8, 2026

Unequal schooling leaves students with disabilities behind

What South Korea calls its "special education" system is drawing renewed scrutiny after a government survey indicated that many students with disabilities continue to be placed in regular classrooms, suggesting that significant support gaps remain. More than 19,000 students with disabilities were assigned to regular classrooms in 2025, even as demand for specialized instruction has grown, according to a survey released Wednesday by the Ministry of Education. The proportion of students with disab

Feb. 7, 2026

Seongnam City Council calls for tighter oversight on foreign, unaccredited international schools

The Seongnam City Council on Monday passed a resolution urging the government to pursue institutional reforms to strengthen public accountability for foreign schools and better safeguard students at unaccredited international schools. The resolution was introduced by People Power Party council member Jeong Yong-han, who argued that Article 60-2 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, which grants special exemptions to foreign schools, no longer reflects current educational environments. I

Feb. 4, 2026

Vietnam to accept TOPIK scores in college admissions

The Test of Proficiency in Korean will be accepted in Vietnam’s college admissions process, South Korea's Ministry of Education said Tuesday. Vietnam’s Ministry of Education and Training signed a ministerial decision on Jan. 12 allowing TOPIK scores to be used as an elective grade in their university admissions, according to the Education Ministry. This marks the second overseas case in which TOPIK has been incorporated into university admissions, following Hong Kong in 2025. Vietnamese students

Feb. 3, 2026

Tighter curbs at major education hubs may steer more students to Korea: report

South Korea is poised for a sharper rise in international students, as major Western study destinations tighten entry rules, a shift that could redirect global demand toward Asia, according to a new report. The study warns that Korea could face similar tensions unless the rapid influx is balanced with housing capacity and community need. In a recent paper, Kim Do-hye, a professor of anthropology at Duksung Women’s University, examined the consequences of tightening restrictions on international

Feb. 1, 2026