The Study Habits of Korean Students
Have you ever been curious about the everyday study schedules of Korean students? According to a survey, teens in Korea average 15 hours more studying weekly than their peers in other OECD member nations. However, their academic performance hasn’t necessarily reflected this effort.
The National Youth Policy Institute reports that Korean youths aged 15 to 24 studied for an average of 49.43 hours per week, significantly higher than the OECD average of 33.92 hours. This indicates that on weekdays, they study for about seven hours and fifty minutes, compared to the five hours that their counterparts in other OECD countries study.
In Sweden, teenagers studied for five hours and fifty-five minutes, while in Finland, it was six hours and six minutes. Students in the US and Germany studied for about five hours, and Japanese students averaged five hours and twenty-one minutes.
Studying consumes their leisure time and affects sleep; youths in Korea sleep an average of seven hours and thirty minutes, over an hour less than their American, British, or Finnish counterparts. While teenagers in the US engage in physical activity for approximately 37 minutes daily, Korean teens manage only 13 minutes.
The institute emphasized the need for political support to help teenagers find time for volunteering, social activities, exercise, and adequate sleep. Despite their extensive study hours, Korean students’ academic performance has not been exemplary.
In 2003, the OECD administered the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA) to 15-year-old students in its member countries. The results revealed that Finnish students outperformed Korean students in mathematics even though they studied for only 4 hours and 22 minutes per week, less than half the time Korean students dedicate.
A Day in the Life of a South Korean Student
What does a typical South Korean student’s day look like? Being a student in South Korea is one of the most challenging roles in the world. How many hours a day do you study? Three hours? Half the day? Undoubtedly, very few study less than seven hours. What if I told you that South Korean high school students study for up to 17 hours a day? Yes, you read that correctly.
The societal pressure to gain admission to one of Korea’s elite universities, such as Yonsei University, Korea University, Seoul National University, etc., is immense. This is due to South Koreans’ obsession with the “name value” of the universities one attends, which can often lead to personal judgments based on alma mater.
To gain university admission, students must take the 수능 (KSAT) exam, comparable to the American ACT and SAT. Preparation typically begins in elementary school, but once students transition to high school, they become acutely aware of the significant test ahead.
A Typical High School Student’s Daily Schedule:
- 06:30 AM: Wake up, have breakfast (or not), and prepare for school.
- 07:30 AM: Take an elevator or bus to high school.
- 08:00 AM: If you arrive after this hour, you will be considered “late.” Teachers may require students to do push-ups or discipline them in other ways for tardiness.
- 08:10 AM: Start of “homeroom,” where the designated class teacher may discuss class happenings for the day or week.
- 08:30 AM: Short “homeroom” period before classes commence. There are ten-minute breaks between each fifty-minute lesson.
- 08:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Four “morning” class periods, during which many students might doze off. Students will consider today’s lunch menu by 12:20 PM, the conclusion of the fourth period.
- 12:20 PM: Lunch period begins, with upperclassmen receiving preference to eat first.
- 01:30 PM – 04:20 PM: Three “afternoon” class periods, during which students often struggle to stay awake after lunch.
- 04:30 PM: “Homeroom” time again, during which students clean the classroom.
- 05:00 PM: Most schools hold a quick “supplemental” class lasting one hour, where students can pick their classes, though the school sets the schedule during the actual day.
- 06:00 PM: Dinner time.
- 07:00 PM – 11:00 PM: Known as 야자 (Ya-ja), this period is required for self-study in classrooms covering the KSAT and class materials.
- 11:00 PM, 1:00 AM (or even 2:00 AM): After school, students head to nearby libraries or hagwons to continue studying.
Other Routine Variations:
- A) During 야간자율학습: Begins at 5 PM with dinner served shortly after.
- B) Without 야간자율학습: Students eat between 4:50 and 6 PM before heading to hagwon for additional subjects.
The Curriculum and Educational Structure
Social studies education begins in the first and second grades through a science-based course called “Intelligent Life.” First graders receive 120 hours of instruction, while second graders receive 136 hours over 34 weeks. For third and fourth graders, social studies is taught for 102 hours annually, increasing to 136 hours for fifth and sixth graders. Middle school students receive 136 hours of social studies in eighth and ninth grades, with seventh graders getting 102 hours.
First-year high school students must enroll in a set program of courses, with options in natural sciences, vocational studies, or a combined track of social studies and humanities by their second year. The social studies track includes world history, world geography, and courses in Korean politics, economics, society, and culture.
Korea’s national curriculum is developed and monitored by the Ministry of Education, undergoing revisions every five to ten years; the seventh national curriculum commenced in 2000. It aims to cultivate democratic citizens with strong moral and civic values.
The primary curriculum encompasses nine subjects: science, math, science education, moral education, music, fine arts, practical arts, social studies, and the Korean language. English language education begins in the third grade, focusing on conversational skills rather than rote grammar memorization as is common in many middle and high schools.
After elementary school, students proceed to middle school, covering grades seven through nine, with a mixture of core subjects, electives, and extracurricular activities. Middle school teachers are subject specialists, similar to their American counterparts, whereas elementary school teachers handle all subjects.
High schools are categorized into academic and vocational types, with approximately 62% of students attending academic schools and 38% vocational schools as of 1995, with a small percentage attending specialized high schools focusing on foreign languages, the arts, and sciences. This distribution remains consistent.
The stated objectives of high school education are “to cultivate each student’s personality and abilities necessary to support and strengthen the nation’s backbone; to develop knowledge and skills necessary for future employment; to enhance students’ autonomy, emotional growth, and critical thinking abilities both in and out of school; and to promote physical strength and build a sound mind.”
The Schedule and Structure of Classes
The school calendar comprises two semesters: the first from March to July and the second from September to February. Summer and winter breaks are offered, although these vacations are typically shortened to 10 days due to 10 optional half days at the beginning and end of each break, attended by nearly all pupils.
High school students typically spend their mornings studying before classes that begin at 8:00 a.m. Each class lasts for fifty minutes, accompanied by an additional fifty minutes for lunch and a morning break. The afternoon session resumes around 1:00 PM. Classes typically run until 4:00 or 4:30 PM, after which classrooms are cleaned. Students can either eat at school or take a short dinner break at home. While students usually remain in one location, teachers circulate throughout the room.
After school, students often return to the school library for study sessions, attend tutoring, or go to private study centers, sometimes staying until around 10:00 PM or midnight. At home, students may watch TV, snack, or listen to music before going to bed. Elementary and middle school students have similar days, albeit with fewer hours of study and more leisure time.
Attendance requires a minimum of 220 days at all levels. The curriculum is mandated by law, along with the criteria for developing textbooks and instructional materials. Revisions to the curriculum occur periodically, most recently in March 2000, with a trend toward decentralization in determining, diversifying, and implementing the curriculum.
A well-educated person according to the curriculum·and reflecting what is valued in Korean society·is deemed to be healthy, independent, creative, and moral.