President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a town hall meeting. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)

In 2022, Korean parents spent a staggering 11.9 trillion won on private-sector education for their children, highlighting the importance placed on education in the country. The expenses associated with education are a common concern for parents and couples considering starting a family and appear to be an important factor in the country’s low birth rate. In 2022, Korea’s fertility rate hit an all-time low of 0.78, the lowest among all member countries of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development.

In response to these challenges, the Korean government recently introduced a new program called Neulbom School, which broadly aims to reduce the need for expensive private education and address the country’s low birthrate. The government-funded program offers activities for students before and after school. Plans for the program were confirmed by the Ministry of Education in January. At a recent public discussion event, President Yoon Suk Yeol said that he believes this program will help increase the country’s birthrate, as many mothers currently leave the workforce when their children start elementary school. President Yoon stated that this is because sending children to private institutes can be costly, and community-based childcare centers have limited opportunities for play and learning.

In recent decades, Korea has undergone significant societal changes, including the transition from extended to nuclear families. This shift, influenced by factors like urbanization and economic changes, has made it more challenging for families to rely on the support of relatives, such as grandparents. Additionally, with more women joining the workforce and men still playing a relatively small role in childcare (although there have been some improvements), many families struggle with managing childcare and covering associated costs. According to Statistics Korea, nearly half of Korea’s 12 million married households are double income.

In tandem with these societal changes, Korea’s education system is characterized by private academies, or hagwon, where students from elementary to high school go after regular school hours, often late into the night. The existence of these academies is not only driven by Koreans’ enthusiasm for education but also by the fact that parents who work late or at night have limited childcare options.

Fortunately for busy parents, the Neulbom School program has already started this spring semester for many first graders and will eventually include all elementary school students by 2026. It will be expanded to all first graders in 6,000 elementary schools nationwide starting in the second semester this year. The program provides extracurricular classes that can be scheduled anytime between 7 a.m. and 8 p.m. Students can also come early for special classes from 7 a.m. to 9 a.m. In the evening, free dinners are provided for those who wish to stay.

President Yoon Suk Yeol speaks during a town hall meeting. (Courtesy of the Office of the President)

This ambitious program is expected to be popular among students and parents. President Yoon, during a meeting with senior secretaries in late January of this year, noted that 83.6 percent of respondents in a recent survey would like to participate in the new program. However, time will be required to ramp up resources to meet the requirements of the program. Currently, 6.3 percent of elementary schools in Seoul have begun participation in the program, while the national average stands at 44 percent. 

The Ministry of Education plans to assign 8,500 staff members to manage the extracurricular classes by the end of this year. Additionally, a Neulbom School support office will be established in all schools next year, drawing staff from civil servants and retired teachers. The education ministry also plans to allocate nearly 1.17 trillion won (US$875 million) to expand facilities and staffing to support the Neulbom School program.