Education South Korea Project #72789

Hagwon Scholarships for Korean Youth

by Korean Kids and Orphanage Outreach Mission

Project Report | Jun 19, 2026
Closing the Education Gap, One Student at a Time

By Leah Garlock | Executive Director

Minwoo is a third grader in South Korea. He'd been looking forward to his first official English class all year.

But when his teacher asked the class simple questions, his classmates answered with ease. Many had studied English since they were four years old, through private after-school academies called hagwons. Minwoo never had that chance.

Within minutes, his excitement turned to quiet embarrassment. It was a feeling that followed him into math, reading, and nearly every other subject his classmates had extra help to master.

A Pattern That Repeats Every Year

Minwoo's story is a composite, drawn from real interviews and our own experience with students across KKOOM's partner children's homes. However, the pattern itself is real.

In South Korea, formal English instruction doesn't start until third grade. Most students start years earlier, through hagwons. According to a Ministry of Education report, 47.6% of preschoolers in Korea participated in private education last year (The Korea Times, July 2025). The number of English academies for young learners has nearly doubled since 2017.

Nationwide, families spent nearly $20.2 billion on private education in 2024, a 60% increase over the past decade (Korea Herald, Jan. 2026). For children without family resources behind them, the starting line keeps moving further away.

More Than Academics

The gap isn't just academic. Students without hagwon access often report feeling socially isolated and anxious comparing themselves to better-resourced peers.

We've seen it firsthand. At a STEM camp we held a few years ago, several elementary students told us that college and studying abroad simply felt "not for someone like them."

Your Gift in Action

That's why YOU make KKOOM's hagwon scholarships possible. Your gift gives a child in our care the same after-school academic support their peers take for granted, tutoring that typically costs $200–$300 a month per subject.

With your support, students like Minwoo get to start school on equal footing: building confidence, keeping pace with their class, and believing their dreams are still within reach.

Thank you for investing in a future where every child's potential, not their circumstances, determines how far they go.

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Feb 23, 2026
Lessons, Growth, and What's Ahead

By Leah Garlock | Executive Director

Last year, we successfully piloted our Hagwon Scholarship Program and learned a great deal along the way. With thoughtful feedback from our partner children’s homes, we’ve refined and strengthened the program for the year ahead.

The Bigger Context

Our work takes place within a national landscape of rising private education costs in South Korea.

A Korea Times article (Feb. 4, 2026), citing the Korean Statistical Information Service (KOSIS), reported: “Korean families' spending on private education for their children has jumped by more than 60 percent over the past decade.”

In 2024, Korean households spent approximately $20.2 billion on private education, a 60.1% increase from 2014. Private education now accounts for up to 13.5% of total household expenditures, second only to food.

For many families, hagwons are a significant financial commitment. For children living in Korea’s social welfare system, access to these opportunities is often limited.

But cost is only one part of the story.

While hagwons can provide valuable academic support, they can also create intense pressure. Many students already attend long school days followed by evening study hours. As we expand access, we remain equally committed to ensuring participation supports confidence and growth rather than adding unnecessary stress.

How We Are Continuing the Program

A Thoughtful Application Process: Students and house parents apply together to ensure alignment with each student’s goals and readiness.
Ongoing Feedback and Monitoring: Surveys throughout the year help us track academic progress, attendance, stress levels, and overall well-being.
Clear Documentation and Accountability: Receipts, attendance records, and grades are consistently reviewed to ensure responsible stewardship of donor funds.

Why This Matters
Through your support, students who might otherwise be excluded now have access to targeted academic support and enrichment opportunities.

Children’s homes have shared encouraging feedback, and students have expressed gratitude for being included in opportunities many of their peers take for granted.

What’s Next
In upcoming reports, we will share deeper insight into Korea’s hagwon system, updates on participating students, and a story written by our U.S. Fulbright Korea volunteers to highlight the human impact behind the statistics.

Thank you for supporting a program that closes the gap in educational opportunity while protecting student well-being.

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