Kang Deuk-gu: 97.9% of Students, Parents, and Staff Oppose 'Admission at Age 5'

Gang Deuk-gu Democratic Party Office
Survey of 130,070 Participants

Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, held a press conference at the National Assembly Communication Office on the 2nd. Rep. Kang urged "full reopening of schools in the second semester and full operation of after-school programs" to eliminate educational inequality. Photo by Yoon Dong-joo doso7@

[Asia Economy Reporter Koo Chae-eun] Approximately 98% of students, parents, and teachers oppose the proposed education system reform to lower the elementary school entrance age to 5 years old.

According to Kang Deuk-gu, a member of the National Assembly's Education Committee from the Democratic Party of Korea, a survey conducted by his office from the 1st to the 3rd of this month targeting 131,000 teachers, students, and parents nationwide revealed that 97.9% of respondents disagreed with this policy. Among all respondents, 95.2% answered that they "strongly disagree."

Regarding whether the policy implementation process was legitimate, 98% of respondents said they did not agree. The most common reason, at 79.1%, was "the opinions of the stakeholders were not collected."

When asked about the plan to increase enrollment by dividing the 2018?2022 birth cohorts by 25% each to lower the entrance age, 97.9% of respondents also disagreed. In response to whether the policy should be reconsidered by reflecting the opinions of parents, teachers, and other stakeholders, 94.9% agreed.

Assemblyman Kang Deuk-gu stated, "The data confirms that the majority of the public opposes this," and added, "The President should take responsibility and withdraw the policy."

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