"Every student should be able to use after-school education regardless of their economic circumstances, through a stronger public education foundation"

Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker So Byeong-hun [provided by the lawmaker's office]
Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker So Byeong-hun [provided by the lawmaker's office]

So Byeong-hun, a Democratic Party of Korea lawmaker representing Gwangju-gap in Gyeonggi Province, said Friday he had introduced a bill to amend the Elementary and Secondary Education Act to establish a legal basis for school-run after-school programs and mandate after-school program vouchers for elementary school students.

Elementary, middle and high schools currently operate after-school programs using teachers and outside instructors to meet students' diverse educational needs beyond regular class hours, So said. The existing Elementary and Secondary Education Act contains no explicit legal basis for such programs, however, drawing repeated criticism that the absence of a statutory foundation limits systematic operation and support.

While after-school programs are relatively affordable compared with private tutoring, tuition fees for some programs can still burden families, underscoring the need for public support to ease education costs.

The bill would clarify schools' legal authority to run after-school programs following regular curriculum hours and require the education minister and provincial education superintendents to set standards and content guidelines for such programs. It also includes provisions aimed at ensuring that after-school programs already operating in schools can be run in a more stable and systematic manner.

The bill also mandates that elementary school students receive after-school program vouchers. The vouchers would provide a set amount to help students access after-school programs at their schools, with the per-student support amount set by presidential decree based on quarterly tuition fees and disbursed on a quarterly basis.

"After-school programs are more than just an optional educational activity — they are a vital pillar of public education that meets children's diverse learning needs and eases the childcare and educational burden on parents," So said. "Programs already running in schools must be given a proper legal and institutional foundation so they can operate with stability. Through this amendment, I intend to lower the education cost burden on families and strengthen the role of public education so that children's access to after-school learning is not limited by their family's economic circumstances."


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