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Experts point out that the collapse of public education and the surge in private education, epitomized by the so-called "age seven exam" phenomenon, are largely due to the government's inconsistent education policies. Specifically, the problem lies in how easily and frequently these policies change. Every time the college admissions system, represented by the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT), is revised, students and parents become more dependent on private academies, leading to a sharp increase in household spending on private education.

How often have admissions policies actually changed? In this context, Seongho Lim, CEO of Jongro Academy, presents an analysis of the admissions system changes experienced by the "golden pig year" students?those born in 2007, who are now high school seniors?as they entered elementary school and over the past 12 years.

The current high school seniors, known as the golden pig year students, started elementary school in 2014. The golden pig year marked the first increase in the birth rate in seven years, with about 490,000 children entering school?an increase of approximately 45,000 from the previous year. When these students were in first grade, the "comprehensive student record admissions system" was introduced for the first time. This sparked a frenzy among parents and students to build up their "specs," or extracurricular credentials, in order to receive favorable evaluations on their student records. Serving as class president or vice president, participating in various school and extracurricular activities, and winning awards became essential elements for college admissions.

In 2016, when the golden pig year students reached third grade, Korean history on the CSAT was changed to an absolute grading system. In response to criticism that too few students were choosing Korean history on the CSAT, the Ministry of Education made it a mandatory subject and changed the evaluation method. Before this, Seoul National University was the only university that required Korean history as a compulsory subject.

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When the golden pig year students were in fourth grade in 2017, English on the CSAT was also switched to an absolute grading system, with the intention of reducing the burden of English. However, since English was still graded on a relative scale for school exams, students had to prepare separately for "CSAT English" and "school English."

Lim commented, "These inconsistent and patchwork policies have ruined admissions education." Around this time, a trend emerged in private education to finish CSAT English early through advanced study, then focus entirely on other subjects like mathematics. The boom in English academies for young children (so-called "English kindergartens") is also closely linked to the shift to absolute grading for English. According to data submitted to the Ministry of Education by lawmaker Cho Jeonghun, the number of English academies for young children surged from 615 in 2019 to 843 in 2023?a 37% increase.

In 2018, the so-called "Cho Kuk scandal" erupted, sparking controversy over unfair advantages gained through "mom's chance, dad's chance," and eventually leading to calls for the abolition of the comprehensive student record admissions system. Students and parents who had trusted the policy and focused on extracurricular activities were left confused and uncertain.

In 2020, when the golden pig year students were in their first year of middle school, the top 16 universities expanded regular admissions to 40 percent. This marked a shift from a system focused on school grades to one centered on the CSAT. The following year, the introduction of the integrated CSAT allowed science-track students to apply to humanities programs, and all pharmacy schools nationwide switched to undergraduate admissions.

The following year, all 39 medical schools switched to an undergraduate system. This was a decisive moment that intensified the concentration in the medical and pharmaceutical fields known as 'Uichihan Yaksu' (medical, dental, Korean medicine, pharmacy, and veterinary schools). Seongho Lim, CEO of Jongro Academy, described this as a "revolutionary change." From then on, top-ranking students increasingly preferred 'medical schools' over 'universities.' Ultimately, the government and its inconsistent education policies are to blame for the current 'medical school craze.'

A promotional poster related to medical school admissions is displayed on a private academy building in Gangnam, Seoul. Photo by Yongjun Cho

The admissions system continued to change every year, even during the golden pig year students' high school years. In 2023, when they became high school freshmen, the government announced the removal of "killer questions" from the CSAT. While these difficult questions were eliminated, the failure to properly adjust the overall difficulty resulted in what became known as the "difficult CSAT." This led to a rush of students flocking to private math academies.

Last year, there was the well-known increase of 2,000 seats in medical school quotas. Now, as high school seniors, the golden pig year students must compete with an increased number of repeat test-takers, fueled by the expanded medical school admissions. Yet, for next year's admissions, the increase in medical school quotas has been reversed. Ultimately, the golden pig year students are experiencing the pinnacle of the "education policy chaos," where everyone becomes a victim.

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On the 23rd, a summer special lecture banner is hung on the exterior wall of an academy located in the academy district of Mokdong, Yangcheon-gu, Seoul. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

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Since entering elementary school, the golden pig year students have experienced nine changes in admissions policy over 12 years. That means the policy changed once every 16 months. With such frequent changes, students and parents inevitably turn to private academies and private education. It is clear that the current public education system is ill-equipped to respond to these unpredictable policies. To survive in this environment, families have no choice but to tighten their belts and pay expensive academy fees to send their children to private academies?this is the reality of education in Korea today.

Lim stated, "Is private education fueling anxiety and the rush to medical schools? That's a one-sided view that misses the bigger picture." He emphasized, "The real cause is the frequent changes in admissions policy." He also asked, "Who sent the signal that 'anyone can become a medical student if they just do well on the CSAT' by switching from the graduate school (medical graduate school) system to the undergraduate (medical school) system?"