South Korea Debates Early English Education

English at age 7: tutoring cost fix or pressure on children?

A pledge to introduce English classes from first grade has revived a decades-old debate in South Korea over whether earlier public instruction can ease private tutoring costs or fuel even more competition among young children. Yoon Ho-sang, the conservative candidate in the 2026 Seoul education superintendent race, told Newsis on Monday that public elementary schools should begin English education earlier to meet demand now being absorbed by private academies. “Many families spend heavily on pri

By The Korea Herald