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🇸🇬 Singapore /Culture & Society

South Koreans spend big on enrichment to give children an edge amid intense competition

From The Straits Times · () English

Translated from English, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • South Korean parents are heavily investing in private enrichment programs for their children to ensure they keep pace in a hyper-competitive education system.
  • Working parents often rely on these academies for after-school childcare, with some also receiving financial support from extended family for evening care.
  • Despite government incentives to boost the country's low fertility rate, the high cost of raising a child, estimated at over 1.1 million won monthly, remains a significant burden for many families.

Sarah Kim, a 46-year-old office worker in Seoul, grapples with the pressure to give her 10-year-old daughter, Noh Seung-ah, an edge in South Korea's intensely competitive education culture. While she carefully selects enrichment programs, she prioritizes those with minimal homework to prevent burnout.

So while she fills her daughter Noh Seung-ah’s after-school hours with enrichment programmes, she deliberately chooses academies that assign little to no homework to avoid overburdening her child.

— Sarah KimDescribing her approach to her daughter's after-school activities.

The family spends approximately 1.5 million won (S$1,300) monthly on a variety of lessons for Seung-ah, including English, math, reading, in-line skating, sandplay therapy, and art. These activities aim to supplement her school curriculum and broaden her experiences. For working parents like Kim, these academies also serve a crucial childcare function.

Adding to the support system, Kim provides her mother with a one million won monthly stipend for caring for Seung-ah in the evenings. She acknowledges her good fortune, as many families lack such extended family assistance and must pay for external caregivers. The couple's combined monthly income of 15 million won sees 3.5 million won allocated to their daughter's expenses, covering clothing, food, school supplies, lessons, and leisure.

For working parents such as Kim, private academies often double as childcare.

— Sarah KimExplaining the dual role of private academies for working parents.

Kim's decision against having a second child stems from her age, the financial strain, and the guilt of taking maternity leave. The average cost of raising a child to 18 in South Korea is estimated at 1.115 million won per month, according to a 2025 survey. While the government offers financial aid totaling up to 30 million won per child to combat the nation's low fertility rate of 0.8, the substantial costs continue to be a major consideration for parents.

Kim decided against having a second child because of her age, the financial burden and the guilt of placing additional strain on her colleagues by taking maternity leave.

— Sarah KimReasoning behind her decision not to have another child.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by The Straits Times in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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