The South Korean government has announced new measures to strengthen oversight of illegal activities related to private tutoring fees at academies (hagwons). The policy aims to protect households from rising education costs and ensure fair fee practices. This initiative is part of the government’s broader effort to stabilize consumer prices and address public concerns about the burden of private education expenses. The Ministry of Education presented these plans during the sixth meeting of the Special Task Force on Livelihood Prices on April 9, 2024.
The new policy directly impacts private academies, parents, students, and local education offices. Key actions include increasing the reward for reporting illegal fee collection by ten times, introducing new administrative fines to recover unjust profits, and raising the maximum fine for violations from 3 million won to 10 million won. Inspections have already covered 15,925 academies and detected 2,394 violations, with 58 cases referred for prosecution or investigation. The government is also enhancing public awareness and monitoring of illegal practices through online channels and dedicated reporting centers.
Implementation began in January 2024 with special inspections targeting academies with the highest fee increases over the past five years. The Ministry of Education, in cooperation with local education offices, is monitoring suspicious cases, including unregistered fee changes and misleading advertisements. Legislative amendments to the Private Academy Act and its enforcement rules are underway, aiming to take effect in the first half of 2024. Public campaigns, including card news, school newsletters, and digital billboards, are being used to encourage reporting and compliance.
Frequently asked questions include: What should parents do if they suspect illegal fee practices? They should report violations to the Ministry of Education’s Illegal Private Tutoring Reporting Center. What penalties do academies face for illegal activities? Offenders may face increased fines, administrative penalties, and possible prosecution. How will these measures affect academy fees? The government expects stricter oversight and penalties to help stabilize or reduce private education costs for families.
Metaqsol opinion: The government’s decision to significantly increase rewards for reporting illegal private tutoring fees and raise penalties demonstrates a strong commitment to protecting families from excessive education costs. By combining stricter enforcement with public awareness campaigns and legislative changes, these measures are likely to improve transparency and accountability in the private education sector. The ongoing inspections and collaboration with local education offices suggest that the policy will have a tangible impact on reducing illegal practices. Overall, these actions are well-aligned with the goal of stabilizing academy fees and easing the financial burden on households.