Attend Academies Until Midnight? Youth Rights Groups Call It "Irresponsible Idea"

The Seoul Metropolitan Council's pre-announcement on October 28 of a partial amendment to the "Ordinance on the Establishment, Operation, and Private Tutoring of Academies under the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education," which would extend the permitted operating hours for high school academies from the current 10 p.m. to midnight, has sparked heated debate among stakeholders.

An image of a private academy district in downtown Seoul, unrelated to the article content.

Youth Rights Groups Oppose Seoul Council's Proposal to Extend Academy Hours to Midnight

The ordinance bill, proposed by Assemblyman Jeong Jiwung (People Power Party, Seodaemun 1), maintains the current permitted hours for elementary and middle school students (from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.) but extends high school students' academy hours to midnight (from 5 a.m. to 12 a.m.). Progressive educational and civic groups have called for the withdrawal of the bill, criticizing it as a "regressive ordinance that infringes on the basic rights of children and adolescents." The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education has also stated its position to maintain the current regulations.

The Korea Youth Policy Network, an organization advocating for youth rights, issued a statement on November 6, criticizing the Seoul Metropolitan Council: "It is an abandonment of public responsibility for the council to act as if it is representing the interests of academies, rather than striving for the well-being and happiness of Seoul citizens and youth." The network further pointed out, "Educational circles, parents' associations, and youth organizations have all called for the immediate withdrawal of this unethical and outdated bill, but the council is ignoring these demands, instead planning to hold a discussion forum in the council's second conference room on November 11." The organization reiterated its demand for the immediate withdrawal of the ordinance.

"In 2008, They Voted for No Restrictions; In 2016, Pushed for 11 p.m. Extension"

Lee Youngil, co-representative of the Korea Youth Policy Network and former member of the National Youth Committee's task force for improving the late-night study system in 2008, noted, "This is not the first attempt. Back in 2008, the Seoul Metropolitan Council, then led by Grand National Party members, passed an ordinance to remove time limits altogether and allow 'freedom.' In 2016, the council also sought to extend academy hours from 10 p.m. to 11 p.m. The common thread is that the council, which should be focused on strengthening public education, instead pretends to support students who want to study while packaging the interests of private education companies as educational policy."

Lee added, "Allowing adolescents to roam the streets late at night after dark, exposing them to various risks, is an irresponsible idea. While it is understandable that academies are driven by economic interests, it makes no sense for the council to push for a policy that essentially caters to private education companies by normalizing late-night academy operations, whether until 10 or 11 p.m., and then trying to enforce it through an ordinance revision. Council members who support this have no right to their seats." The network announced plans to launch various pressure campaigns to ensure the immediate withdrawal of what they call an unconstitutional and illegal ordinance.

Academy Association: "Principally Supportive... 10 p.m. Restriction Could Lead to Illegal Tutoring and Higher Fees"

In contrast, the Korea Association of Private Academies expressed its position in a statement on November 5, saying, "We are deeply concerned that the debate over extending academy hours is being dismissed as either a regressive idea or a mere defense of vested interests," and added, "We support the extension in principle." The association argued, "If academy hours are uniformly limited to 10 p.m., there will be a balloon effect, leading to a surge in illegal private tutoring and inevitably higher tuition fees. While cases of exposure to games or harmful environments after midnight are not regulated, restricting only academies is unfair. We hope for an environment where teaching is not treated as a crime."

According to the association, regulations on academy operating hours vary by region: in Daejeon and Ulsan, academies can operate until midnight; in Busan and Incheon, until 11 p.m.; and in Seoul, Daegu, Gwangju, Sejong, and Gyeonggi Province, until 10 p.m.

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