English kindergartens offering full-day courses in Seoul have increased from 251 in 2017 to 295 last year. (image: Gunwi County Office)
SEOUL, Nov. 1 (Korea Bizwire) — So-called English Kindergartens in Seoul, specializing in teaching English to toddlers, were found to cost more than the average annual tuition fee at universities.
The World Without Concerns for Private Education, a civic group, reported that English kindergartens in Seoul charge an average of 1 million won (US$888) per month, up by 10,478 won from the previous year.
The cost combines all expenses including education, transportation, and others.
An English kindergarten run by an English school franchise in the Gangnam and Seocho districts charged the highest tuition at 2.2 million won per month.
Yearly tuition at this kindergarten would cost 26.9 million won, which is four times the average tuition fee at a 4-year college.
English kindergartens offering full-day courses in Seoul have increased from 251 in 2017 to 295 last year.
Among them, 87 kindergartens were located in the affluent parts of the city, such as the Gangnam and Seocho districts, accounting for 29.5 percent of all English kindergartens in Seoul, up by 31.8 percent since 2017.
Kindergartens taught for 4 hours and 51 minutes every day, which is similar to middle school.
“Sending children to an English kindergarten for two years and to a private elementary school will cost about 130 million won in the course of 8 years,” said the civil group.
“We need measures to ensure that a more rational standard of education is carried out at English kindergartens.
Ashley Song (ashley@koreabizwire.com)
