Even on Children's Day, Academies Are Packed... Kids Can't Rest on Their Day Off

Some Academies in Mok-dong and Daechi Operate as Usual
Special Holiday Lectures Also Promoted
Children's Happiness Index Remains at 45.3 Points

It has been found that, even ahead of Children's Day on May 5, some academies for elementary school students are holding regular classes or special lectures as usual. Although Children's Day is a national holiday designated to help children grow up rightly and wisely, and to raise awareness of the importance of children, many academies are maintaining schedules that are not much different from normal days.

On the 4th, one day before Children's Day holiday, children who visited Children's Grand Park in Gwangjin-gu, Seoul are enjoying their time riding amusement rides. Photo by Jinhyung Kang aymsdream@

Some math and English academies for elementary, middle, and high school students in major academy districts such as Mok-dong and Daechi-dong in Seoul have announced that they will hold their regular classes as scheduled on Children's Day or offer special lectures during the holiday period. On portal sites and local community boards, there have been numerous posts inquiring about class schedules during Children's Day and the holiday, as well as advertisements for special lectures. Some academies have promoted the idea that the holiday period can be used as a "time to improve skills" rather than a "learning gap," and have recruited students accordingly. There are also arguments that, as a long holiday may require adjustments to the curriculum or supplementary classes, it is better to maintain regular classes.

80% Participation Rate in Private Education... Average Monthly Private Education Expenses for Elementary Students: 442,000 KRW

The fact that academies hold classes on Children's Day is seen as a reflection of South Korea's heavy reliance on private education. According to the "2024 Survey on Private Education Expenses for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students" released by the Ministry of Education and Statistics Korea, the total private education expenses for elementary, middle, and high school students last year amounted to approximately 29.2 trillion KRW, marking a 7.7% increase compared to the previous year. The participation rate in private education was 80.0%, and the average time spent per week was 7.6 hours.

There are concerns that private academy classes on Children's Day reflect the high dependence on private education in Korean society. According to the "2024 Survey on Private Education Expenses for Elementary, Middle, and High School Students" published by the Ministry of Education and Statistics Korea, the total private education expenses for elementary, middle, and high school students last year amounted to about 29.2 trillion won, an increase of 7.7% compared to the previous year. Photo by Kang Jinhyung

The burden of private education on elementary school students has also increased. The average monthly private education expense per elementary student was 442,000 KRW, up 11.1% from the previous year. For those students actually participating in private education, the average was 504,000 KRW per month. This demonstrates that private education is not just an issue for middle and high school students preparing for entrance exams, but has become normalized from the early stages of schooling. Many academies maintain classes on holidays for the sake of learning continuity and curriculum management. In particular, at major subject academies such as math and English, the regular curriculum is tightly structured, and there is a widespread perception among parents that missing even a single day could result in the need for supplementary lessons or falling behind in the curriculum.

"At Least on Children's Day, Kids Should Rest" — Children's Happiness Index Remains Low

Statistics raising concerns about children's right to rest continue to emerge. According to the "2024 Child Happiness Index and Daily Time Survey" by ChildFund Korea, the happiness index for elementary, middle, and high school students was 45.3 out of 100 points. Among the students surveyed, 65.1% spent more time studying outside of school classes than the recommended level.

The exhibition scene of the 100th Children's Day special exhibition "Everyone Is a Child" at the National Museum of Korea Children's Museum in Yongsan-gu, Seoul in 2022. Photo by The Asia Business Daily

Excluding school classes, the average time spent studying through academies, study materials, or online lectures was 2 hours and 17 minutes per day for lower-grade elementary students, and 2 hours and 47 minutes for upper-grade elementary students. For middle school students, it was 3 hours and 12 minutes, and for high school students, 3 hours and 33 minutes, exceeding the recommended study time at all grade levels. In international comparisons, the quality of life for Korean children also remained low.

According to the "Children's Health in an Unpredictable World" report published in 2025 by UNICEF's research arm, the Innocenti Research Centre, South Korea ranked 28th out of 36 OECD and EU countries in terms of overall child well-being. The report analyzed that while South Korea ranked high in academic and technical skills, it was in the lower ranks for mental health.

Experts point out that, since Children's Day is not just a public holiday but a day to reflect on children's rights and the importance of rest, there needs to be a culture where, at least on this day, children can play and rest free from academic burdens. As social concerns about learning loss and competition in private education intensify, there is a growing call to reconsider a reality in which even Children's Day has become a "study day."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.