ABSTRACT
South Korean students’ academic achievement in international comparative tests such as the Programme for International Student Assessment and Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study has been envied. South Korean students grow up in a society that respects the value of education, not solely having good credentials, but more importantly, becoming knowledgeable and ethical individuals. Yet South Korean students have often been described as obedient, bored in classrooms, and suffering from intense exam competition. Different from such images, many South Korean students enthusiastically and tirelessly learn through methods such as self-directed learning and inquiry-based learning. Many South Korean students take a leading role in their learning, searching for better-fitting educational opportunities. Researchers find that South Korean students’ academic success is driven from home, specifically parental support and involvement. Much of South Korean students’ learning happens out of school, in what is called shadow education.
