As a means of success and the basic condition for realization of personal values, education has been attached with great importance in Korea. Modern education was first introduced to Korea in 1880. One of the first things that the Korean government established in 1945 was to establish the modern educational system of the Broadcasting and Communication University. In 1953, the Korean government introduced the 6-year compulsory educational system over the entire nation. Today, the Korean people are proud of their high college admission rate. The well-educated citizens of Korea form the basis for its accelerated economic growth over the past 30 years.

Korea's educational system features 6 years of elementary school education, 3 years of junior high school education, 3 years of senior high school education and 4 years of university education, which if appropriate are then followed by master and doctorate education. There are also technological colleges with 2 to 3 years of courses. Elementary and secondary education offers lessons in morality, basic literacy and knowledge, etc. From senior high school on, courses are divided into humanities, nature, business, industry, art and special fields that are provided depending on students’ wishes. The compulsory education free of charge implemented in some secondary schools will be expanded to cover all secondary schools starting from 2004.