CONTENTS
Ⅰ. An Overview of Korean Education
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Ⅳ. Korean Education to Reach the World
1. Korean Education System
2. Education in Korea Today
Ⅰ. An Overview of Korean Education
1. Korean Education System
Early
Childhood Education
Elementary and Secondary Education
Tertiary
Education Vocational
Education Special
Education Lifelong Education
Eliminating the Educational Gap
Guaranteeing Equal Educational Opportunities
Equipping Future Generations with Inter-disciplinary Skills Promoting the “Job First, University Later”
More Support for Special Education Greater Access to Lifelong Education
Ⅰ. An Overview of Korean Education
2. Education in Korea Today
Enrollment rates at higher education institutions remained below 10% until the 1980s, but there has been a sharp rise in enrollment with a growing
passion for education, eventually reaching 67.8% in 2019.
Tertiary Educational Attainment Rates (Unit : %)
Source: Education at a Glance 2020 : OECD Indicators
Education - One of the Substantial Governmental Expenditures
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
1. COVID-19 and Korean Education
2. Transition to Future Education in Post-COVID-19 Era
Implementation Progress
From April 9 to April 20 Since May 20
Opening of online
classes in phases Alternating online And offline classes
Making efforts to
minimize the learning gap
※ The MOE announced a strengthened education safety net on August 11 and to take additional measures by September 15
Early Childhood, Elementary, Middle, High School
University
March 5 September 9
Permitting online classes on full
scale during the spring semester Allowing for more autonomy in academic management
※The MOE lifted several restrictions on online Classes, such as the percentage of online classes(20%) or upper limit of online credits.
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
1. COVID-19 and Korean Education
Implementation System
Ministry of Education Metropolitan and Provincial
Offices of Education Other ministries, local
governments, etc.
School Reopening Preparation Team
Pan-Governmental International Student Support Team
COVID-19 Response Headquarters
(Deputy Prime Minister is in charge)
COVID-19 Emergency Response Team
1) Building a Systematic Disease Control System for Schools
Strict in-school infection control measures
Development of a low-density classroom model
Close monitoring of people with
symptoms
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
1. COVID-19 and Korean Education
2) Stable Operation of Online Classes
∥Expanding Public Infrastructure
∥Various Types of Online Classes
Types of Online Classes
※Examples of video-conferencing platforms: Naver LINE WORKS, Gooroomee,Google Meet, Microsoft Teams, Zoom, Cisco Webex, etc.
∥Customized Support for Disadvantaged Students
Real-Time Interactive Classes
One-Way Classes
Others
2. Content-Oriented Classes 3. Task-Oriented Classes
Lecture type
Lecture + Activities type
2) Stable Operation of Online Classes
∥Enthusiasm and Commitment of Teachers
∥Supporting Professional Development
Online Teacher Communities
This online community is composed of teachers representing the 17 metropolitan cities and provinces, the Ministry of Education, the Korea Education & Research Information Service (KERIS) and relevant institutions. It helps schools run online classes more successfully by identifying and providing solutions to difficulties teachers may encounter online.
This comprehensive online learning support platform shares information on the production of online classroom materials and tips on keeping children focused when learning at home. Members voluntarily upload new online content on the website every day.
A group of teacher volunteers answer questions posted online by other teachers and assist in creating online classrooms and designing and operating online curricula.
This interactive online knowledge sharing website enables teachers to directly communicate online teaching skills to peers. Flexibility is given to teachers with respect to making training materials and selecting topics, content and period of training.
The Community of 10,000
Teachers
School - On
Teacher - On
Knowledge Spring
(Jisik Saemteo)
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
1. COVID-19 and Korean Education
3) Seamless School Operation during COVID-19
∥School Operation Guidelines
∥Social Distancing and Density Criteria at Schools
School Reopening Plan according to Social Distancing Stages
(effective from November 1, 2020)
Stage1
Stage1.5
Stage2
Stage2.5
Stage3
In Daily Life
Local Transmission
Nation-wide Transmission
Two-thirds of students are allowed to attend;
with adjustments for school conditions Large, overpopulated schools maintain two- thirds attendance
Maintain two- thirds
attendance
One-third of students are allowed to attend (two-thirds for
high schools)
Optional increase to two-thirds attendance
Maintain one- third
attendance
Switch to online classes
4) Student Safety and Emergency Childcare
∥Emergency Childcare Support
∥Stepping up Cooperation at the Pan-Governmental Level Childcare Measures in Response to COVID-19 Situation
Category
Elementary
Kindergarten
Before online school opening
(March 1-April 15)
After online school opening
(April 16-May 26)
During school closure (March 1-May 26)
After returning to school
(May 27-Present)
Target
Class Size
Operating Hours
Students requesting childcare service
About 10 persons per class
9:00 - 19:00
Students requiring childcare service
*Priority is given to low- graders and dual-earner
families
About 10 persons per class
9:00 - 19:00
Students in the most need of childcare,
such as dual-earner, low-income, and single-parent families.
Can be adjusted considering student density
9:00 - 19:00
Ⅱ. Main Issues of 2020
2. Transition to Future Education in Post-COVID-19 Era
Top 10 Initiatives for Future Education
Early childhood, elementary and secondary
education
Higher and lifelong education
Establishing a foundation
Goal Top 10 Initiatives
Strengthening accountability and autonomy in education
Seeking innovation through sharing and
cooperation
Establishing a foundation to preemptively address
future challenges
Revising the curriculum 1
Considering a comprehensive reform of the teacher management system 2
Building future-oriented schools by prioritizing students 3
Establishing a safe education system to ensure student learning and development 4
Promoting the advancement of universities and local communities based on collaboration and sharing
5
Fostering students equipped with qualities that meet future needs of society 6
Offering advanced vocational education to make graduates job-ready 7
Guaranteeing lifelong learning for all 8
Laying the foundation for digital transition 9
Facilitating cooperative governance for future education 10
Innovation
Inclusion Future
Lifelong
School Innovation for Customized Education
Strengthening Public Accountability for Education Cultivating Future Talent Through Autonomy
and Innovation in Higher Education
Ensuring Lifelong Vocational Education
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Innovation School Innovation for Customized Education
1) Customized Education for Student Growth
∥ Curricula Focusing on Creativity and Inter-disciplinary Studies
∥ Free Semesters and Career Exploration
∥ Career-focused High School Curriculum
∥ Emphasis on Arts and Physical Education
2) Digital-based Educational Innovation
∥ Learner-centered Digital Education Ecosystem
∥ Transition to AI Education
AI Convergence Education
AI pilot schools (24 schools in 2020); and general high schools designated to incorporate AI education into their curricula (34 schools in 2020)
New post-graduate inter-disciplinary AI courses established in graduate schools of education (1,046 persons in 2020)
AI Basics and AI Math established as new high school career-related elective courses (September 2020)
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Innovation School Innovation for Customized Education
2) Digital-based Educational Innovation
∥ Building Green & Smart Schools of the Future
Transition to Green-Smart School of the Future Project Plan
2021-2025 (5 Years)
Project Term
18.5 Trillion Won
Project Cost
2,835 Old School Buildings
Project Target
150,000 Persons
Jobs Created
2) Digital-based Educational Innovation
∥ Restructuring Learning Spaces
Space Innovation in Preparation for the Future
Existing Schools Future Schools
Diverse space designs and layouts for developing creativity and inter-disciplinary thinking skills
A space harmonizing rest, play, and learning
A space designed based on the feedback from school users including students
and teachers Efficient yet uniform space design
Learning-only space
Provider-centered design
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Innovation School Innovation for Customized Education
3) Professional Development of Teachers
Primary and Secondary School Teacher Training System Master’s Degree (2-3 years)
Elementary Middle and High Schools
100% of Elementary
School Teachers About 45% of Middle and
High School Teachers About 25% of Middle and
High School Teachers About 30% of Middle and High School Teachers
Graduate School of Education
(107 graduate schools)
General University Teacher Training
Courses at General Universities
(In 125 universities) College of Education
(In 46 universities) Department of Education in General
Universities (In 15 universities)
∥ Improving the Teacher Training System
Teachers’ College (In 10 universities) Department of Primary
Education (In 3 universities)
Bachelor's Degree (4 years)
1) Reinforcing the Public Accountability for Education
∥ Providing Quality Early Childhood Education and Childcare Services
∥ All-day Childcare System - Childcare Service in Elementary Schools
∥ Safe and Healthy Schools
∥ Ensuring Basic Level of Education for All
∥ Reducing the Financial Burden of Higher Education
Free Education for All High School Students in 2021
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Inclusion Strengthening Public Accountability for Education
2) Educational Support for Disadvantaged Students
∥ Supporting Students from Low-Income Families
∥ Customized Educational Support for Disadvantaged Students
∥ Support for Students at Risk of Dropping Out
Students with
Disabilities Students from Multicultural Families
Students who Defected from North
Korea
Students at Risk of Dropping Out
Online course for students with disabilities
(4,247 materials uploaded, 2,763,237 accessed)
Offering more Korean
language courses
(372 courses in 2020)
Disseminating the Multicultural and Receptive Education Model
(661 schools in 2020)
1:1 mentoring
(1,500 persons in 2020)
Developing School Dropout Prevention Plan
(August 2020)
Supporting learning outside the
classroom
(834 students registered in 2020)
1) Ecosystem of Autonomy and Innovation
∥ Innovation through University Collaboration
∥ Collaboration Between Local Governments and Universities for Innovation
∥ Restructuring of Universities
Linking Local Industries and Clusters
Local Industrial Economy Revitalization
Support Project
Establishment of Future Leader Development System
Special research and development
zone
(Ministry of Science and Technology)
Innovation city
(Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and
Transport)
Development of regional focus industry
(Ministry of SMEs and Start-ups)
Regional innovation
cluster
(Ministry of Trade, Industry and
Energy)
University Consortia
Opening of contract- to-hire course
Restructuring of university
system Demand Supply
Matching
Local government
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
2) Equipping Talent for Emerging Industries
∥ Ensuring All Students Have Digital Skills
∥ Government Support in Advanced Technologies
∥ Fostering Talent in Emerging Technologies
Future Cultivating Future Talent Through Autonomy and Innovation in Higher Education
3) Industry-Academia Collaboration & Employment Support
∥ Industry-Academia Collaboration
∥ Building a Solid Base for Emerging Technologies
∥ Suport for Employment and Start-Ups
2017 2018 2019 2020 2021 2022 2023
LINC+ (‘17-’21)
Advanced LINC type Demand-driven type Supporting industry-leading
universities
※ Providing support for technology and curricula development, equipment, and start-ups.
Developing/teaching customized curricula that lead to employment
4th Industrial Revolution Innovation University type (‘18-’21)
Supporting curricula/educational methods/
environment for problem-solving ability
Creation of research complex within universities (‘19-’23)
Attracting companies to university campuses
Commercializing the creative assets of universities (‘18-’22)
Supporting the commercialization of university-developed technologies
Support for Universities Pursuing Cooperation with Industry (316.6 billion won)
Ⅲ. Heading Toward the Future Through Innovation and Inclusion
Innovation
1) Vocational Education in High Schools
∥ Industry-Customized Curriculum
∥ On-site Training Prioritizing Learning and Safety
∥ Developing Basic Skills Required at Workplaces
∥ Strong Employment Support
Ensuring Lifelong Vocational Education
∥ Supporting Continuous Competency Development
∥ Meister High Schools (52 schools)
∥ Apprentice Schools(67 project teams)
2) Guaranteeing Lifelong Learning Right for All Fourth Lifelong Education Framework (2018-2022)
•Guaranteeing the lifelong learning right for all
•Supporting disadvantaged
students
•Building an online lifelong education ecosystem
•Customizing curricula to meet the needs of industries
•Supporting the functions of universities
•Lifelong learning at the grassroots level
•Developing the core values of the future for local communities based on lifelong learning
•Improving relevant laws and regulations
•Increasing investment and systematic
management
Lifelong Learning Accounts Created
Working and Studying
Job
Lifelong Education Everywhere
Local
Lifelong Learning for All
People
Solid Lifelong Education Foundation
Base
Ⅳ. Korean Education to Reach the World
1) Enhancing Educational Mobility
∥ 160,000 international students (189 countries, 2019)
∥ Government Scholarship Program for Foreign Nationals (GKS)
11,115 persons form156 countries, 2020
2) Sharing Educational Experiences with the World
∥ 69 education cooperation MOUs (2009-2019)
∥ Korean education ODA
Better Education for Africa’s Rise (BEAR), etc.
Ⅳ. Korean Education to Reach the World
3) Providing Additional Support for Korean Language Education to Meet Rising Demand
∥ The number of TOPIK(Test of Proficiency in Korean) applicants 249,000 persons
∥ Korean language curriculum adopted in primary and secondary schools overseas
152,000 students, 1,669 schools, 39 countries
Current Status of Korean Language Classes in Elementary and Middle Schools Overseas (as of October 2020)
