'2 Nights 700,000 Won' School Trips in the Era of High Inflation... Parents Struggling Financially

Sharp Increase in School Trip Expenses Due to Peak Season and High Inflation
Nationwide City and Provincial Education Offices to Increase Financial Support

As COVID-19 related restrictions have eased, more schools have resumed school trips, but the rapidly rising costs are becoming a burden for parents.

It has been reported that trips to Jeju Island can cost tens of thousands of won, and overseas trips can reach hundreds of thousands of won. Considering students' memories and friendships, parents find it difficult not to send their children on school trips, increasing their worries.

Jeju 700,000 won, Busan 500,000 won... Parents Burdened by Soaring School Trip Expenses

Students Going on a School Trip
Photo by Yonhap News

According to recent reports from city education offices, middle and high schools plan to take school trips to Jeju, Busan, Gangwon Province, and other locations between this month and next. Among 1,320 elementary, middle, and high schools in Seoul, 45.5% (601 schools) responded that they have plans for school trips this year.

The expenses for these school trips are estimated at 500,000 to 700,000 won for Jeju (2 nights, 3 days), around 500,000 won for Busan, and about 400,000 won for Gangwon. These amounts have increased by more than 100,000 won compared to before COVID-19.

Some schools in Seoul are planning overseas school trips, with costs per student reaching several million won in some cases.

The main reasons for the sharp increase in expenses include △ the current peak travel season and △ the high inflation trend. Recently, consumer price inflation has recorded 4-5%, causing increases in charter bus fees, airfare, and accommodation costs.

Measures to prevent accidents have also contributed to the cost increase. Hiring safety personnel for school trips has become mandatory, adding labor costs. Accommodation costs have also risen as the number of students per room has decreased, increasing the financial burden.

When considering new clothes purchased for the trip and pocket money for use during the trip, expenses increase further. For schools planning overseas trips, airfare costing several million won per student is also included.

Nationwide City and Provincial Education Offices Increase Support for School Trip Expenses to "Ease Burden"

[Photo by Yonhap News]

To alleviate the burden of school trip expenses, 11 out of 17 education offices nationwide plan to increase financial support for students.

For example, the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education will increase support by up to 100,000 won and 170,000 won respectively for students facing financial difficulties.

The Incheon Office of Education will increase support by 330,000 won from last year to 450,000 won, and the Jeonnam Office of Education will triple last year's amount to 240,000 won for all students.

The Gwangju Office of Education also raised the amount provided to all students from 200,000 won last year to 300,000 won this year.

The Chungbuk Office of Education will provide up to 350,000 won per student (based on high school students) for school trip expenses starting this year.

Some argue that, like school meals, school trips should not have disparities, and that more educational grants should be allocated to address this issue. According to the National Assembly Budget Office, as of 2021, the total funds accumulated by city and provincial education offices nationwide amounted to approximately 6.6 trillion won.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.