Teachers Look Beyond Tenure as Personal Branding Gains Ground in South Korea (Image supported by ChatGPT)
SEOUL, Jan. 13 (Korea Bizwire) — A large majority of South Korean teachers are seeking to establish personal brands rooted in their professional expertise, reflecting a growing interest in entrepreneurship and self-directed career development within the education sector.
According to a survey released this month by the Korea Federation of Enterprises’ Center for Entrepreneurship Development, nearly 68 percent of kindergarten, elementary, middle and high school teachers said they were interested in building a personal brand through activities such as publishing books, running YouTube channels or giving lectures based on their educational philosophy and classroom experience.
The poll surveyed 714 teachers affiliated with the Korean Federation of Teachers’ Associations between late December and early January.
The most common motivation was a desire to share effective teaching methods and educational outcomes with other educators, followed by aspirations to deepen professional expertise and to prepare for post-retirement careers.
Financial gain ranked lowest among the reasons cited, underscoring that most teachers view personal branding as an extension of professional growth rather than a commercial pursuit.
Interest in entrepreneurship-related education was particularly strong. More than 84 percent of respondents said they would participate in training or camp-style programs focused on “teachers’ entrepreneurship,” with top areas of interest including the role of education in the AI era, understanding startups and investment, and AI-driven education and technology trends.
More than half of the teachers surveyed said they were familiar with the concept of entrepreneurship, and over 70 percent believed it was closely connected to the teaching profession.
When asked to define entrepreneurial qualities in educators, respondents emphasized the ability to anticipate future changes and articulate educational visions, pursue creative and self-directed teaching, and design and implement innovative educational initiatives.
In response, the Center for Entrepreneurship Development has launched a winter training program for school principals and teachers nationwide, running through mid-January.
The program includes courses on school leadership, economic literacy and entrepreneurship and leadership for teachers, aiming to strengthen educators’ professional capabilities in an era of rapid technological and economic change.
“Many teachers want to grow proactively and share their educational values more broadly,” said Jung Cheol, head of the center. “That mindset aligns closely with the core of entrepreneurship—problem-solving, growth and value creation—and can help elevate both teachers’ professional pride and the overall quality of education.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
