[Public Opinion Brief 16-3] Early Study Abroad: How Far Will It Spread?

[Public Opinion Brief 16] Changes in the Educational Environment and Strategic Choices of Education Consumers

[1] Educational Issues Demand a Paradigm Shift - Overall Research Team

[2] Strategic Choices of Education Consumers: Overseas Study Abroad - Lim Chun-soon & Jeong Il-jun

[3] Early Study Abroad: How Far Will It Spread? - Seo So-jeong & Jeong Han-wool

[4] The Next Government's Education Policy Requires Multifaceted and Complex Measures - Lim Chun-soon & Kim Byung-guk

[5] Other Major Findings

3. Early Study Abroad: How Far Will It Spread?

Seo So-jeong (Kyung Hee University) & Jeong Han-wool (EAI)

□ Young Generations, High-Income Earners, and White-Collar Workers Lead Public Opinion on Early Study Abroad

Overall, early study abroad can be viewed not as a societal trend but as a strategy for employment competitiveness centered around specific social strata. By generation, those in their 20s; by occupation, white-collar professionals; and by income level, high-income earners are the origin points for the spread of public opinion favoring early study abroad.

By generation, only 26.2% of those aged 50 and above responded positively to early study abroad, while 33.7% of those in their 40s, 42.4% of those in their 30s, and 49.5% of those in their 20s evaluated it positively. In fact, the response 'I would send them if conditions permit' also showed an increasing trend, with 35.2% of those aged 50 and above, 39.0% of those in their 40s, 46.9% of those in their 30s, and 53.6% of those in their 20s expressing a desire to send their children abroad if conditions allowed. By occupation, 58.6% of students and 46.5% of white-collar workers indicated their intention to pursue early study abroad for their children if conditions permitted. Among housewives, the proportion viewing early study abroad positively was 36.1%, and the response for sending children if conditions allowed was 39.9%, showing a relatively passive stance compared to other groups. By income level, the proportion of positive evaluations for early study abroad was 48% for households with a monthly income of 6 million KRW or more, and 41.4% for those earning between 4 million and 6 million KRW. For the 2 to 4 million KRW income bracket, it was 35.1%, and for incomes below 2 million KRW, the positive response rate for early study abroad remained at 35.9%.

□ Outlook for Early Study Abroad Trends: It Will Become a Prominent Option Among Various Educational Paths

There is a projection that early overseas study abroad, being an option only available within specific strata, will not spread throughout society as time goes on. Instead, it is expected to widen the gap in perspectives between social classes and accelerate polarization. While it is true that the survey results clearly reveal differences in attitudes towards early study abroad across different social strata, and the financial capacity to afford early study abroad is indeed concentrated in specific groups, it is difficult for early study abroad to converge into a society-wide phenomenon. However, the current increasing trend is expected to continue for a considerable period and spread to a wider range of social classes.

First, the increasing trend of early study abroad can be projected to grow, given the strong favorable attitude towards early and overseas study among younger generations. Notably, those in their 20s are the generation that will soon enter the pool of future parents. The highest positive attitude towards overseas study among this group implies a higher likelihood of choosing early study abroad when their children reach school age.

Second, in the context of globalization, the demand for English language education and international competence in assessing national and individual competitiveness is likely to act as a societal pressure, not just for specific strata. This pressure may continuously reinforce the choice of early study abroad even for those who view it negatively or who objectively lack the financial means. Among the groups that responded negatively to early study abroad, 22.4% indicated they would send their children abroad if conditions permitted, indirectly showing the societal pressure for early study abroad.

Furthermore, the fact that the difference in perception regarding early study abroad is relatively small compared to the objective income disparity is also evidence of the societal pressure for early study abroad. While it is true that a clear gap in perception exists between high-income and low-income groups, the proportion of positive responses towards early study abroad among low-income groups earning less than 2 million KRW per month was 35.9%, only a 12 percentage point difference compared to the 6 million KRW or more income group (48%), which earns more than three times as much. This result suggests that the fervor for early study abroad has significantly penetrated even low-income brackets, to an extent comparable to the perceptual differences between these groups.

Ultimately, while there may be limitations to early study abroad becoming an option accessible to all social strata, the current increasing trend will likely continue for a considerable period. Moreover, it is projected to be considered as one of the prominent options by a broader range of social classes, rather than being exclusive to high-income earners.

[Figure 1] Proportion of Positive Attitudes and Intentions for Early Study Abroad by Generation (%)

Note) Calculated after removing 'Don't know/No response'

[Figure 2] Proportion of Positive Attitudes Towards Early Study Abroad by Occupation

Note) Calculated after removing 'Don't know/No response'

[Figure 3] Proportion of Positive Attitudes Towards Early Study Abroad by Income Level

Note) Calculated after removing 'Don't know/No response'