Page 55 - IJPS-11-4

International Journal of
Population Studies Education fever in South Korea

The government has also worked with the industry of their plight. They largely internalize and accept their
to strengthen equality of opportunities in hiring, offer role as cogs in the machine-perpetuating social hierarchy.
workers second chances if they failed initial examinations, This is because their community and social media portray
make it easier for workers to change their career tracks, and educational fever as playing out in safe and modern
promote vocational training. These initiatives were partly conditions, and children’s abuse as subtle and performed
possible thanks to the state-led nature of the country’s under the guise of children’s own upbringing and social
industry and the system of incentives such as public initiation. Korean students’ plight is thus easy to discount
tenders and fiscal support during downturns (Kalinowski even by the students themselves as a cruel necessity.
& Hlasny, 2017), subject to eligibility criteria in terms of Broadly speaking, children are entitled to all
firms’ inclusiveness. opportunities for wholesome development, but predicting
Political debate has also considered the extent of which learning and skills students will need for their self-
children’s participation in decision-making over their realization is difficult. Unbiased by past norms, students
interests, and the applicability of related decrees in other themselves should be trusted as best placed to judge which
cultures. In this regard, Article 12 of the Convention on skills will be valued in their age cohort, in the information
the Rights of the Child calls for children’s participation in and social environment they are growing up in. Further
matters affecting them: consideration should thus be given to the modalities of
1. States Parties shall assure to the child who is capable of children’s participation. Children should be considered as
forming his or her own views the right to express those agents expressing their version of the narrative fully and
views freely in all matters affecting the child, the views candidly, under the support of professional counselors.
of the child being given due weight in accordance with Rather than imposing predetermined types of
the age and maturity of the child. knowledge and lifestyles on their children, parents should
2. For this purpose, the child shall in particular be encourage children to articulate their own desires, hopes,
provided the opportunity to be heard in any judicial and concerns so that they can help shape their life destinies.
and administrative proceedings affecting the child, By taking part in their own life design, children may find
either directly, or through a representative or an more meaning and motivation to realize their individual
appropriate body, in a manner consistent with the dreams. This could relieve some of the pressure on the
procedural rules of national law. mainstream educational system and the main career entry

4.2. Future directions of policy discourse points, alleviate competitive pressure for students choosing
the traditional trajectory, and bring positive effects to
Notwithstanding the calls in the Convention on the communities cherishing diversity.
Rights of the Child, children’s competence to form and
voice sound opinions has often been underestimated in To ensure that students choose the correct social
deliberations over policies affecting children’s welfare, pillar to climb in their adolescence and realize their full
and children’s participation has been overlooked. Thomas potential without lifelong scars, they must become more
(2000) documented cases of discrepancies between adults’ closely involved in their initiation process. The problem of
assumptions regarding children’s ability and willingness to imbalance in their school-to-work transition and in their
participate, and children’s competence and desire to direct mothers’ value system must be addressed via systemic
themselves. reforms. Upskilling opportunities will need to be expanded
to provide for balanced youth development, particularly
In traditional societies, parenting has entailed preparing for children with alternative learning needs, styles, and
children for a fixed pattern of living; therefore, obedience academic interests.
to parents has been viewed as good preparation for future
life. As custom and authority have given way to freedom 5. Conclusion
of choice under modernity, individuals are increasingly From enrollment in elementary school until acceptance
held responsible for shaping their own lifestyles. Helping at university, South Korean children, as well as their
children to form and express their opinions and make mothers and teachers, are subjected to a grueling regimen
sound choices is becoming a critical parental task (Thomas, of preparation for standardized examinations. This study
2000). Pedagogy and educational methodology affecting re-conceptualizes the educational experience as the rite of
children should be aligned with their wishes and with the passage, not only as part of the children’s social initiation
local and cultural contexts. but also in their mothers’ pursuit of self-worth. Given that
In South Korea, children have had limited ability to the blind and unidirectional steering of children toward a
position themselves as agents in control of the narrative common goal subjects them to hardships and long-term

Volume 11 Issue 4 (2025) 49 https://doi.org/10.36922/ijps.2955