"It's Hard to Succeed With Ordinary Credentials"... U.S. Parents Sending Children on 100 Million Won Around-the-World Programs

40,000 Students in North America Choose Gap Year Annually

Round-the-World Travel and Internships Gaining Popularity Before College Enrollment

The trend of ultra-expensive gap year programs, which involve paying tuition comparable to that of U.S. colleges to provide children with unique life experiences, is rapidly expanding among the American upper class.

Travelers are pulling their suitcases. Photo by Getty Images

According to the Los Angeles Times, Bloomberg, and others on September 1 (local time), increasing numbers of financially well-off parents are focusing on overseas study programs for their children that can cost as much as 100 million won, seeing them as qualifications for college admission.

From at least tens of millions to as much as 100 million won

A gap year program refers to a period when students, instead of immediately entering university or while in the midst of their studies, dedicate roughly a year to experiential learning for personal and academic growth.

According to the American Gap Association (AGA), an average of 40,000 students from the United States and Canada choose a gap year each year. There is no strict time frame, but the most common cases involve participating in overseas exchange programs for three to six months, working as program coordinators, or exploring remote areas such as Patagonia.

Summer program offered by member companies of the Gap Year Association in the United States: Pacific Discovery

In fact, Natalia Beltran, a parent who supported her child's gap year, said, "I spent most of the funds I had set aside for my son's first-year college tuition on his gap year." Instead of heading to a dormitory, her son went straight to the airport to join the eight-month round-the-world program run by Baret Scholars.

During the program, he went bungee jumping at Victoria Falls in South Africa, visited a Brazilian bank to code an application, and accumulated practical experience before enrolling at Bocconi University in Italy. Although the program itself cost $94,500 (about 130 million won), Beltran said it was a more valuable experience than anything taught in school and added that she plans to send her second son to the same program.

Screenshot of the Gap Year Program Introduction Video. Go Overseas Website

Fueled by the rising popularity of gap years, specialized and costly gap year programs have seen explosive demand in recent years. According to AGA, the number of member companies doubled over the past six years, resulting in around 90 related programs. Some programs have even reached full capacity due to a flood of applicants.

Originated in the UK, redefined as Overseas University Exchange Programs in Korea

The gap year first became common in the United Kingdom in the early 2000s. After William and Harry, the sons of the British royal family, spent “rest” periods in Chile and Australia, respectively, upon graduating from Eton, the idea spread rapidly across the United States.

Later, in 2016, former U.S. President Barack Obama received both praise and criticism when he announced that his daughter Malia Obama would take a gap year before starting Harvard University, at a time when gap years were also facing backlash as an “exclusive privilege for the wealthy.”

Participant reviews of the Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program. Official Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Instagram @sadari_gfgf

In Korea, since the launch of “Korea Gap Year” in 2008, more than 1,800 projects—including medical volunteering and digging wells in 60 countries—have been developed, and opportunities have been provided to over 2,000 participants annually.

There have also been local government initiatives. Since 2023, Gyeonggi Province has been operating the “Gyeonggi Youth Ladder Program,” which provides those aged 19 to 39 with overseas university study opportunities, covering most costs to help young people reconsider and redesign their career paths.

The rise of “Underground Resume Building” fueled by distrust in higher education

On the other hand, some point out that it is difficult to prove a direct correlation between costly gap years and long-term educational or career success. The majority of participants come from affluent families who can afford such expensive programs.

Reviews uploaded on social media by those taking a gap year. TikTok capture

Experts say, "The underlying reason parents are opening their wallets is because trust in higher education is weakening." According to Gallup, trust in American collegiate education dropped sharply from about 60% in 2015 to 38% recently.

They also warn, "A gap year can be beneficial, but if it's just a lightly planned break or vacation, it can negatively impact college admissions." They recommend that after receiving an acceptance letter from the university of choice, students should request to defer enrollment for a semester to a year.

As the perception grows that a four-year degree no longer guarantees a high-income job, more parents are seeking distinctive experiences for their children, fueling the boom in ultra-expensive gap year programs.

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