(image: Yonhap)
SEOUL, Aug. 20 (Korea Bizwire) — One year of tuition at a private elementary school in Seoul is equivalent to a year of college study, an opposition lawmaker said Tuesday.
According to data from Rep. Yeo Young-guk of the minor opposition Justice Party Monday, the annual tuition fees in 2018 for 39 private elementary schools in Seoul averaged 6,517,693 won (US$5,390).
This is 97.2 percent of the average annual tuition at 196 four-year universities, which was 6,706,200 won.
Among private elementary schools in Seoul, Hanyang Elementary School in Seongdong District had the most expensive tuition fee at 8,376,000 won.
Uchon Elementary School in Seongbuk District ranked second at 8,004,000 won, and Seoul Younghoon Elementary School in Gangbuk District came third at 7,650,000 won.
“While college tuition and kindergarten fees are subject to information disclosure, elementary, middle and high school tuition is not eligible for disclosure,” Yeo said.
“In the past, the government has pushed for the disclosure of autonomous private high schools and special purpose high schools’ tuition fees, but this has not been realized,” Yeo claimed.
On the same day, Yeo proposed a revision to the “special law on information disclosure by education-related agencies”.
The revision requires disclosure of the basis for calculating tuition fees and other payments for elementary, middle and high schools in order to guarantee parents’ right to know and ensure transparency in the operation of educational institutions.
D. M. Park (dmpark@koreabizwire.com)
