The average monthly private education cost per student who participated in private education last year topped 600,000 won. It was the highest level since related statistics were compiled in 2017.
According to the "2025 survey results on private education expenses in elementary, middle, and high schools" released by the Ministry of Education on the 12th, the average monthly private education cost per student who participated in private education was 604,000 won, up 2% from the previous year (592,000 won). Compared with 382,000 won in 2016, it increased by about 50% over 10 years.
An official at the Ministry of Education analyzed, "It appears that inflation affected the increase in private education costs per participating student." Last year's consumer price inflation rate was 2.1%.
By subject, the average monthly expenditure per student participating in private education was 281,000 won for English, 270,000 won for math, 185,000 won for Korean, and 166,000 won for social studies and science.
Year-over-year growth rates jumped more than 13% for social studies and science (13.8%) and Korean (13.1%), while math (8.7%) and English (6.2%) posted single-digit growth.
By school level (based on students participating in private education), elementary school students spent 512,000 won per month, middle school students 632,000 won, and high school students 793,000 won on private education. The higher the school level, the greater the private education costs.
◇ Total private education aggregates down 5.7%… polarization in private education persists
However, the total private education aggregates last year was 27.5 trillion won, down from the previous year. It decreased by 1.7 trillion won (5.7%) from 2024 (29.2 trillion won).
By school level, the decline in private education costs for elementary school students was the largest at 7.9%, followed by high school students (-4.3%) and middle school students (-3.2%). The average monthly private education cost per person also fell 3.5%, from 474,000 won in 2024 to 458,000 won last year.
The participation rate in private education also fell. The participation rate, which was 80% in 2024, dropped 3.3 percentage points to 75.7% last year. For elementary school students it was 84.4%, down 3.3 percentage points; for middle school students 73%, down 5 percentage points; and for high school students 63%, down 4.3 percentage points.
The Ministry of Education analyzed that a combination of factors—fewer students, expanded elementary after-school care, and expanded after-school programs—had an impact. An official at the Ministry of Education said, "The number of middle school students increased, but the total private education aggregates and participation rate among middle school students fell the most," adding, "It is difficult to explain this with simple demographic changes alone, and we see more complex factors at play."
Meanwhile, the trend of polarization in private education continued. Among households with an average monthly income of 8 million won or more last year, private education expenditure was 662,000 won per month, but among households with less than 3 million won, it was 192,000 won—a 3.4-fold gap.
Also, as of last year, the share of students by average monthly private education expenditure bracket increased from the previous year in the "no private education," "less than 200,000 won," and "1 million won or more" brackets.