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HOW KOREA BECAME THE MOST EDUCATED NATION

CLARA MEEKYUNG SHIN

대한기획인쇄 · 2026-08-31 서점 등재 확인 중

ISBN 9791185447230 · 사회과학

346쪽 · 정가 15,000원 · 종이책

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『HOW KOREA BECAME THE MOST EDUCATED NATION』는 출간 예정일(2026-08-31)이 지났지만 아직 서점 판매가 확인되지 않았습니다. 매일 확인해 판매가 확인되면 서점 링크와 함께 한 번 알려드립니다. 예정일 뒤 60일이 지나도 확인되지 않으면 그 사실을 알려드리고 알림을 마칩니다.

책 소개

The global perspective on Korean education is distinctly polarized. On one hand, the world looks with awe at Korea’s “Miracle on the Han River,” noting how the nation prioritized bold investment in education amidst the desperation following liberation and the Korean War. This investment played a decisive role in Korea’s economic rise and its consistent top-tier performance in international assessments such as PISA and TIMSS. On the other hand, a sharp critical lens points to the intense competition of entrance exams and rote learning, which are seen as stifling creativity and critical thinking, leading to a system often described as “inhumane” due to its preoccupation with quantitative metrics.

Interestingly, Koreans themselves are among the most stringent critics of their own system. Mirroring international concerns, there is a prevailing public anxiety that education has become a mechanism for the hereditary transfer of wealth, thereby exacerbating social inequality. Furthermore, many point out that today’s university entrance exams have become incomparably more complex and competitive than those of previous generations, signaling profound flaws in both the admissions system and the supporting educational infrastructure. These diverse evaluations—both domestic and

international—are all valid reflections of the multifaceted reality of Korean education.

This book provides an objective trajectory of South Korea’s education policies over the past 80 years, starting from a period of extreme poverty and political fragmentation following colonial rule. In the 1950s, a British journalist objectively assessed the country’s precarious state, stating that expecting democracy to flourish in Korea was like ‘expecting a rose to bloom in a garbage can.’ This cynical yet reality-based metaphor was soon echoed by the World Bank, which used the same reasoning to reject a loan application for the construction of a steel mill, doubting Korea’s economic viability.

I have written this book to add one more piece of evidence to the argument that education was the primary catalyst that allowed those roses to flourish against all odds. The miracle that defied these global skeptics was not a matter

of luck; rather, South Korea achieved seemingly impossible milestones through the strategic vision of its leaders and the

unwavering dedication of government ministries at every critical juncture. This journey began with the rapid realization

of universal primary education through a robust compulsory education drive shortly after liberation in 1945. During the 1960s and 70s, the system was overhauled to support the transition from an agrarian society to a heavy-industrial power by expanding vocational training, equalizing secondary education, and fostering national universities to boost regional industries. Since the 1980s, policies have focused on expanding higher education and securing sustainable financing to simultaneously promote economic growth and social equity. Following the inauguration of the first civilian government in 1995, the paradigm shifted from control to autonomy and globalization. Even during the Asian Financial Crisis, Korea did not waver in its investment in human capital, launching initiatives like Brain Korea 21 and educational informatics to prepare for a new national leap These persistent government efforts fostered a profound national belief: that education is the ladder for social mobility. Citizens witnessed firsthand that, regardless of where they lived, academic excellence could lead to prestigious universities and eventual success, even for those from humble backgrounds. To ensure

this, the government secured resources to provide universal opportunities and implemented various regulations and support systems to create a “level playing field.” The “excessive fervor for education” often criticized today is, in fact, a dynamic byproduct of students from all social strata competing and growing within this framework of opp

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요약

“How Korea became the most educated nation” is a compelling and insightful education essay that chronicles the policy currents of Korean education since liberation. It is written in a way that is accessible not only to experts but also to ordinary citizens, making the complex and distant field of education policy more approachable and engaging.

The author takes meticulous care to recover the historical contexts and governmental intentions behind each policy, examining not only their outward achievements but also their deeper social meanings and educational philosophies. This balanced perspective highlights both the expansion of opportunity and equity, as well as the persistent commitment to improving quality, offering readers a broad overview of the evolution of Korean education. One of the book’s most notable strengths is the author’s attempt to view the achievements of Korean education from an international standpoint. Drawing from her experience at the Asian Development Bank, she compares Korea’s policies with those of other countries, providing a unique perspective on Korea’s distinctive trajectory and strengths. This comparative approach enriches the

global understanding of Korean education policy. As a researcher long engaged in international comparisons and the historical contextualization of education policy, I found deep resonance with the author’s method of situating Korea’s particularity within its universality.

Above all, this book is an earnest attempt to revive memories of educational policies that are now fading even from the recollections of older generations and to share them with the next generation. By retracing each policy through the flow of its era, the author reveals the choices of the nation and the aspirations of its people, all conveyed with unmistakable affection for Korean education. In reflecting on past achievements, this book quietly reminds us that fresh national attention and strategic approaches are needed to address today’s new educational challenges. I hope the next generation will see through this work that education is not merely a matter of schools but a cornerstone in determining the direction of an entire society.

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서지 풀이

부가기호 03370: 독자 대상 교양 · 발행 형태 단행본 · 내용 분류 사회과학.

분량·판형: 346쪽 · 판형 138*208.

국립중앙도서관 서지에 기록된 실제 발행일은 2026년 8월 31일입니다.

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