Cornellia Widiastuti 2010462053 Organizational Learning and Innovation in Korea Prof.

Oh Ingyu March 14, 2011

Success and Education in South Korea

I. Background South Korean locate its 15% GDP for education. The question arises is: Does that have anything to do with the fact that South Korean achieved the highest mean score in science and math? This paper is trying to analyze the factors that impact South Korean achievement in education. II. Factors There are three factors, according to my opinion, that might have driven or be driving South Korean in attaining such achievement. 1. Historical factors Historical factor such as Confucianism might have driven South Korean society to its achievement by its belief in highly valuing education. But the flaw in this assumption occurs because the students value is not purely the education itself but merely the purpose in achieving higher social status (upward mobility). While the process in expanding the school system during Jeoson period up to the state where it is now might also be a cause, it is quickly eliminated because it only molds the education system in South Korea but fails to explain why Students are highly motivated to study. 2. Internal Factors Education System in South Korea nowadays is a perpetual answer for Students and Parents demand to facilitate the needs of upward mobility. From the students point of view, the motivation comes not only from the upward mobility prospect to attain better economic situation, modernization, and way of living, but also the responsibility in fulfilling their duty to their parents. For parents themselves, education is the only channel to achieve higher social status and therefore they often sacrifice everything for their kids for the sake of their kids and themselves, too. Additionally, the family structure, which allows parents to deeply involved with their kids makes the intention prevails. 3. External Factors Adding to the pressure that already exist, a good job, especially in managerial level, needs a particular education background such as math and English because it requires one to utilize modern technology devices or western job implementation. Parents-teacher coalition is one of the external factor that

strongly impel students motivation in studying because in society where teachers word are law-quasi, parents usually take the teachers side, establishing a very effective motivation. III. CONCLUSION South Korean students are perhaps studying harder comparing to the other nations. Influenced by Confucianism, South Korean Society do highly value education and pay the utmost respect to their elders and teachers. But this is not the case why South Korean Students are studying really hard. A Cause that makes such fact possible is students motivation that derives and shapes by their environment such as family pressure, parents-teacher coalition, and the desire to seek upward mobility.