“Analyzing South Korean and North American Educational Systems”

by Carolina, Lilliana & Marisol

South Korea vs. North America: federal government spending on education

4.5 percent of the Gross National Product 7.5 percent of the Gross National Product

CURRICULAR DIFFERENCES

• The United States leaves it up to the individual state to come up with the general standards

and curriculum to abide by. 

• In Korea, however, all elementary and secondary schools, whether public or private, follow the same national curriculum and use

the same textbooks (Sorensen, 1994), though it remains to be seen whether this is attributable

to the overall success of Korean students.  

EDUCATIONAL PATTERNS:-Korea has a 6-3-3-4 ladder pattern, whereas America generally has a 5-3-4-4. Korean elementary schools last until 6th grade. Generally, elementary schools in America last until 5th grade. Middle schools in both countries go for three years, while high school in America lasts for four years, and in Korea it lasts for three.

-Korean high schools are generally classified into 2 categories: general and vocational. Some schools offer both. Korean schools can be specialized into schools such as art, science, athletic, foreign language.

-In North America, high schools are either public, private, or charter. American schools may place a bigger emphasis on certain subjects, such as the Advancement for Science and Technology.

IMPORTANCE OF EDUCATION: SIMILARITIES

• During the Japanese colonial occupation of Korea (1910-1945), educational opportunities were limited to a small number of Koreans.

• Elementary education was made mandatory and free for both countries due to the past historical events.

• Education is social marker of class and status in society. This is where the pressure of studying comes in.

Common Stereotypes Voiced by American and Koreans Children

(Shin, 2001)

Stereotypes Korean Students Have about Americans:

Americans are white, tall, and big.

Americans are very rich. All of them own one or more cars.Americans carry guns with

them at all times.Americans eat a lot of food,

anywhere and anytime.Americans are good workers.

Stereotypes American Students Have about Koreans: Koreans are short and have black hair and black eyes.Koreans believe in Buddhism. There are no Christians.Koreans can do Kung-Fu, Karate, or Taekwon-Do.Koreans eat raw fish.Koreans are hard workers.

Should North Americans Apply the South Korean Educational System?

• South Korean parents are willing to do anything to provide their children with

better educational opportunities.• They sacrifice even their married lives to provide a better education for their

children by sending their wives and children to the States for a better education.

• Korean husbands and wives trust each other, even though they live apart for years, as long as the separation is for their children’s education.

• President Barack Obama praised Korea for its excellent education system; therefore, quite a few Koreans were perplexed as many believe the American education system is far superior to Korea’s.

• Korean education system is based on cramming and memorization. Students often lack original ideas and creativity (like identical products on a factory).

• Korean students learn to carefully listen to others and accept what they have to say before judging.

The American Educational System• American education system teaches students to raise questions,

discuss and argue extensively before accepting any statement, assumption or premise.

• American students are trained to challenge and doubt others’ opinions and ideas; they often neither listen to others with a positive mind, nor accept others’ opinions.

• This world needs a humane close listener who accepts and agrees with what you try to convey and American students seem to lack such quality.

• American society based their lives in a logical and reasoning systems and when they fail they become confused and depressed.

• Americans seem to try to reason even with love or marriage life, and believe such things can be logical. Perhaps they think that separating or divorcing is the reasonable ending of an unreasonable relationship.

Student Expectation

• Getting into• A college!!!

South Korea

GPA

Suneung

Nonsul“Triangle of Death”

College admissions in the U.S

Grades

Challenging Schedules

Standardized Test Scores

Letters of Recommendations

Application Essays

Extracurricular Activities

Conclusions

The Korean and American education systems are not perfect wholes, but can compliment and supplement each other.

For example, Korean students should learn from the American education system about how to be creative and original.

On the contrary, American students should learn from the Korean education system about how to listen to and accept others’ opinions without underlying suspicions and reservations.