[EAI Briefing 16-1] Education: A Paradigm Shift

[EAI Briefing 16] Changes in the Educational Environment and Strategic Choices of Education Consumers

[1] Educational Issues Demand a Paradigm Shift - General Introduction by the Research Team

[2] Strategic Choices of Education Consumers: Overseas Study - Chunsoon Im & Iljun Jeong

[3] Early Study Abroad: How Far Will It Spread? - Sojung Seo & Hanwool Jeong

[4] Education Policy for the Next Government: Multifaceted and Complex Measures Are Urgently Needed - Chunsoon Im & Byungkook Kim

[5] Other Key Findings

1. Educational Issues Demand a Paradigm Shift

□ Paradigm Shift 1. Korean Society is Unaware of the Problems in Korean Education

Education is a problem. Anxiety about the future and dissatisfaction with the education system are increasing among parents and students. A survey conducted by the National Human Resources Panel Team of the East Asia Institute (EAI, Director Byungkook Kim, Professor at Korea University) in collaboration with the JoongAng Ilbo from July 24 to August 1 among 1,008 adults residing in seven major cities revealed that 74.7% are dissatisfied with public education, which forms the foundation of Korean education.

Indeed, concerns that the nation's century-long plan is being shaken at its roots are not new. In response, Korean society has continuously debated education-related policies such as equalization policies, the contribution-based admission system, and amendments to the Private School Act. These debates can ultimately be summarized as a contest between the stance that 'the government must lead the normalization of public education' and the stance that 'market autonomy should be guaranteed by excluding government intervention.' The most serious harm caused by this debate framework is that it reduces the root of all problems to issues within public education, causing complex changes and diverse problems that arise in reality to be overlooked. Educational issues, which are becoming complex and evolving at various levels, are being replaced by the age-old ideological debate of 'state versus market.'

A glance at the current presidential election campaign readily confirms the problems in Korean society. In response to the question of how much the candidates' education policies will be considered in the presidential election in December, 24.8% answered 'will consider very importantly,' and 58.4% answered 'will consider importantly,' overwhelmingly outnumbering 'will consider a little' (14.3%) and 'will hardly consider' (2.5%). It is also true that candidates running for president are all saying that educational issues are important. However, concrete policy competition and problem diagnosis by each candidate are difficult to find. It is doubtful how much the education policies proposed by the next presidential candidates can deviate from the framework of the debates that took place under the current government.

□ Paradigm Shift 2. Problems Become Visible When We Change Our Thinking.

Centennial changes, both domestically and internationally, such as globalization, informatization, and democratization, have had a profound impact on social structures and people's perceptions over the past few decades. What is important is that these environmental changes of the times sometimes act uniformly across all social strata, and sometimes act in a fragmented manner depending on social class, age, taste, and ability.

For example, globalization highlights the importance of English education throughout Korean society, but it can be interpreted differently depending on social class or individual preferences. Some people will emphasize English education in terms of college entrance exam strategies or job search strategies, while those who work or intend to work within international networks will require international sensibility and perspective beyond English proficiency. Among the public, there is a shift away from the simplistic logic that all problems can be reduced to public education issues or that success is guaranteed by entering a prestigious university by focusing solely on college entrance exams. Separate from the problems of Korean public education, strata concerned about their children's educational paths are emerging, and in some strata, there is skepticism about the premium placed on the hierarchy of domestic prestigious universities. This change in perception coexists with the phenomenon of 'educational exodus' of minor students, represented by the boom in early study abroad and language study abroad, and the opposing public opinion that adheres to the 'three prohibitions' policy.

□ Paradigm Shift 3. The Dichotomy of 'Regulation vs. Autonomy' is Not a Solution. Customized and Complex Policies Are Needed.

Diverse educational demands and preferences cannot be judged by a single standard. Neither 'public education normalization theory' nor 'market fundamentalism' can be a panacea. Adhering to one or the other will make it impossible to comprehensively solve the problems of Korean education. There may be areas where the government should not intervene, and areas where active intervention can be effective. For these complex policies to succeed, it is necessary to respond more sensitively to the changes in the perceptions of education consumers surrounding educational issues, and to provide more refined and multi-layered prescriptions. The starting point for these changes lies in recognizing the responsibility of emphasizing the importance of educational issues while remaining insensitive to changes in the perceptions of education consumers and neglecting the preparation of practical measures.

[Figure 1] Consideration of Education Policy in Presidential Elections

Note) Calculated after removing Don't Know/No Answer

[Figure 2] Satisfaction with Public Education in Korea

Note) Calculated after removing Don't Know/No Answer