The schools sought to grow the future leaders of Korea by teaching practical subjects. In 1945, Korea emerged from the 35-year Japanese occupation and created a basis for democratic education. A landmark 1948 education law mandated an autonomous educational structure and introduced a compulsory education system. The law entitles all Korean citizens an opportunity to receive an education. All children must attend school at least through the elementary school level.
Compulsory education is free.
Korea's rapid economic progress with the political and cultural changes of the 1960s and 1970s resulted in a quantitative expansion of the Korean education system. The numbers of students increased at a tremendous pace. Although the number of educational facilities and teachers also grew, they could not keep up with the growing number of students. Additionally, competition in the national college entrance examination began to get excessive. The government adopted several reforms to try to normalize the system.