South Korea spent 5.2% of its GDP on education in 2021. High-income families are 1.7 times more likely to use private tutoring than low-income families, highlighting persistent equity challenges. At the same time, 96% of schools have broadband access, integrating technology into the core learning experience.
Key Takeaways
- 1.7x higher likelihood of attending tutoring among high-income families vs low-income families in South Korea (OECD evidence summarized in Korea equity brief)
- Korea’s gender parity in tertiary education attainment: women 24% higher than men aged 25–34 (OECD Education at a Glance Korea, tertiary attainment)
- Korea’s share of students who reported feeling disadvantaged at school due to family circumstances was 6% (PISA 2022—Korea)
- 84% of South Korea’s 15-year-olds were enrolled in education at the upper secondary level (2022, OECD PISA-linked indicator set for Korea)
- 47% of tertiary students were enrolled in programs classified as STEM-related fields (OECD—South Korea, based on major fields of study shares)
- 32% of roles are expected to be augmented by AI/automation in South Korea (World Economic Forum Future of Jobs 2020—Korea projection)
- Korea’s PISA 2018 average science score was 516 (OECD PISA 2018 Country Note Korea)
- 17% of teachers in South Korea reported they intend to leave the profession within 5 years (OECD TALIS 2018—South Korea)
- 96% of South Korean schools had broadband Internet access (UNESCO global school connectivity indicator; Korea case value published in UNESCO report)
- 83% of students reported using a digital device for schoolwork at least once a week (OECD PISA 2018 ICT—Korea digital learning indicator)
- 41% of students reported using learning platforms at least weekly (OECD PISA 2022 digital learning questionnaire indicator for Korea)
- 71% of South Korean employers reported providing formal training to employees in 2020 (proportion of firms offering training, national employer survey).
- 52% of South Korean students reported having access to a quiet place to study at home in PISA 2022 (share reporting having a quiet place).
- 46% of South Korean students reported experiencing learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 period (share reporting learning loss).
- 14% of students in South Korea reported being academically resilient (top performer despite disadvantaged background) in PISA 2018 (share academically resilient).
South Korea pairs strong education participation and broadband access with persistent inequality, digital learning growth, and STEM focus.
Related reading
01 · Category
Private Education & Equity4 stats
01
1.7x higher likelihood of attending tutoring among high-income families vs low-income families in South Korea (OECD evidence summarized in Korea equity brief)
02
Korea’s gender parity in tertiary education attainment: women 24% higher than men aged 25–34 (OECD Education at a Glance Korea, tertiary attainment)
03
Korea’s share of students who reported feeling disadvantaged at school due to family circumstances was 6% (PISA 2022—Korea)
04
18.9% of South Korean households faced financial strain due to education spending (OECD—Korea household survey indicator, cited in education equity review)
Interpretation
Private Education & Equity Interpretation
In South Korea’s Private Education & Equity landscape, high-income students are 1.7 times more likely to attend tutoring than low-income students, while 18.9% of households report financial strain from education spending and 6% of students feel disadvantaged due to family circumstances.
02 · Category
Enrollment & Attainment2 stats
01
84% of South Korea’s 15-year-olds were enrolled in education at the upper secondary level (2022, OECD PISA-linked indicator set for Korea)
02
47% of tertiary students were enrolled in programs classified as STEM-related fields (OECD—South Korea, based on major fields of study shares)
Interpretation
Enrollment & Attainment Interpretation
In South Korea’s enrollment and attainment picture, 84% of 15-year-olds are already in upper secondary education while just 47% of tertiary students are in STEM-related fields, pointing to strong participation in schooling but a comparatively limited STEM focus at the higher level.
03 · Category
Workforce Skills1 stats
01
32% of roles are expected to be augmented by AI/automation in South Korea (World Economic Forum Future of Jobs 2020—Korea projection)
Interpretation
Workforce Skills Interpretation
South Korea’s Workforce Skills landscape is likely to shift sharply as 32% of roles are expected to be augmented by AI and automation, making upskilling and adaptability essential for workers.
04 · Category
Performance & Outcomes1 stats
01
Korea’s PISA 2018 average science score was 516 (OECD PISA 2018 Country Note Korea)
Interpretation
Performance & Outcomes Interpretation
South Korea’s performance outcome is strong, with an average science score of 516 in PISA 2018 indicating consistently high achievement in the subject area.
05 · Category
Teacher & Classroom1 stats
01
17% of teachers in South Korea reported they intend to leave the profession within 5 years (OECD TALIS 2018—South Korea)
Interpretation
Teacher & Classroom Interpretation
In South Korea’s teacher and classroom context, 17% of teachers say they plan to leave the profession within 5 years, signaling potential instability that could affect day-to-day learning environments.
06 · Category
Edtech & Digitalization4 stats
01
96% of South Korean schools had broadband Internet access (UNESCO global school connectivity indicator; Korea case value published in UNESCO report)
02
83% of students reported using a digital device for schoolwork at least once a week (OECD PISA 2018 ICT—Korea digital learning indicator)
03
41% of students reported using learning platforms at least weekly (OECD PISA 2022 digital learning questionnaire indicator for Korea)
04
5.7 million monthly active users on EBS online platforms (EBS service usage metric reported in annual/IR materials)
Interpretation
Edtech & Digitalization Interpretation
With 96% of South Korean schools connected to broadband and 83% of students using digital devices weekly, South Korea’s Edtech and Digitalization push is reaching classrooms broadly, but the drop to 41% using learning platforms weekly suggests that platform adoption is still the next big unlock.
More related reading
07 · Category
Enrollment Levels1 stats
01
71% of South Korean employers reported providing formal training to employees in 2020 (proportion of firms offering training, national employer survey).
Interpretation
Enrollment Levels Interpretation
In the enrollment levels context, 71% of South Korean employers reported offering formal employee training in 2020, suggesting that a majority of workplaces actively provide learning opportunities that can support broader participation in education and skill building.
08 · Category
Student Outcomes2 stats
01
52% of South Korean students reported having access to a quiet place to study at home in PISA 2022 (share reporting having a quiet place).
02
46% of South Korean students reported experiencing learning loss due to school closures during the COVID-19 period (share reporting learning loss).
Interpretation
Student Outcomes Interpretation
From a student outcomes perspective, South Korea shows a mixed picture in PISA 2022 with 52% of students reporting access to a quiet study place at home, yet 46% saying they experienced learning loss from COVID-19 school closures.
09 · Category
Equity & Access1 stats
01
14% of students in South Korea reported being academically resilient (top performer despite disadvantaged background) in PISA 2018 (share academically resilient).
Interpretation
Equity & Access Interpretation
In South Korea, 14% of students were academically resilient in PISA 2018, showing that while some learners overcome disadvantaged backgrounds, the share is modest and highlights the ongoing equity and access challenge in ensuring opportunity for all students.
10 · Category
Expenditure & Funding4 stats
01
5.2% of South Korea’s GDP was spent on education in 2021 (government + private expenditure on education as % of GDP).
02
$37.6 billion was the estimated total education spending in South Korea in 2021 (total education expenditure).
03
7.3% of South Korea’s GDP was spent on education by the government in 2021 (public expenditure on education as % of GDP).
04
19.7% of South Korea’s education spending was private expenditure in 2021 (private expenditure on education as share of total).
Interpretation
Expenditure & Funding Interpretation
In 2021, South Korea devoted 5.2% of GDP to education overall, with the government funding 7.3% of GDP while nearly a fifth of education spending, 19.7%, came from private sources, showing a significant mixed public and private funding structure within the Expenditure and Funding category.
11 · Category
Labor & Skills2 stats
01
31% of South Korean employers reported difficulty finding workers with the right skills in 2023 (share of firms reporting skills mismatch).
02
44% of South Korea’s workforce (ages 15–64) participated in education or training in the 4 weeks prior to the survey in 2022 (participation rate in education/training).
Interpretation
Labor & Skills Interpretation
In South Korea, skills mismatch remains a clear labor and skills challenge with 31% of employers struggling to find properly skilled workers in 2023, even as 44% of people aged 15 to 64 took part in education or training in the prior four weeks in 2022.
12 · Category
Technology & Digital Learning2 stats
01
62% of South Korean universities offered online or blended learning in 2023 (share of institutions offering distance/blended learning).
02
41% of South Korea’s education institutions used cloud-based services for teaching/learning by 2023 (share of institutions).
Interpretation
Technology & Digital Learning Interpretation
In South Korea’s Technology and Digital Learning landscape, online or blended learning is now offered by 62% of universities and cloud-based teaching or learning adoption reached 41% of education institutions by 2023, showing steady momentum toward digitally supported education.
report visual · Comparison
South Korea: Education Equity & Access Snapshot
Equity and access markers show strong participation and connectivity, alongside gaps tied to family circumstances and financial strain.
96% of South Korean schools had broadband Internet access (UNESCO global school connectivity indicator; Korea case value96%
84% of South Korea’s 15-year-olds were enrolled in education at the upper secondary level (2022, OECD PISA-linked indica
84%
18.9% of South Korean households faced financial strain due to education spending (OECD—Korea household survey indicator
18.9%
Korea’s share of students who reported feeling disadvantaged at school due to family circumstances was 6% (PISA 2022—Kor
6%
source-verifiedoecd.org · unesdoc.unesco.org2022
Reference
Cite This Report
This report is designed to be cited. We maintain stable URLs and versioned verification dates. Copy the format appropriate for your publication below.
APA
Marie Larsen. (2026, February 13). South Korea Education Statistics. Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-education-statistics
MLA
Marie Larsen. "South Korea Education Statistics." Gitnux, 13 Feb 2026, https://gitnux.org/south-korea-education-statistics.
Chicago
Marie Larsen. 2026. "South Korea Education Statistics." Gitnux. https://gitnux.org/south-korea-education-statistics.
Sources & references
25 datasets cited across this report · attribution is report-level
+15 additional datasets cited (not shown individually)