South+Korea+(LC)

=__South Korea__= According to a BBC report, South Korea’s education system is thriving. The BBC states, “…the country’s emphasis on education has seen its young people leapfrogging the academic achievement of other industrialized countries, including the United Kingdom” (p.1). During the 17th and 18th Centuries, education in South Korea was modernized, as a result of Western influences. The educational system in South Korea follows a 6-3-3-4 pattern. This pattern consists of elementary school (1st through 6th grade), middle school (7th through 9th grade), high school (10th through 12th grade), junior college, and college and university. Most students attend school from age six through age seventeen. There are two categories for high school students. One is general and the other is vocational. There are also trade schools available for students who want to pursue a career in a specialized field. There are also Korean graduate schools available for students who have a desire to pursue a higher degree.

__Primary Education__:
__Duration__: __Entrance Age__: __Demand__:
 * 4 years
 * 6 years
 * Female only: 685,132
 * Male only: 718,805
 * Male and Female: 1,403,937

__Secondary Education:__
__Entrance Age__: __Demand__:
 * 10 years
 * Female only: 1,169,972
 * Male only: 1,221,518
 * Male and Female: 2,391,490

__Tertiary Education__:
__Demand__:
 * Female only: 965,153
 * Male only: 1,007,955
 * Male and Female: 1,973,108

__Human and Financial Resources__:
__Literacy__: __Expenditures__:
 * Percentage of males: 99%
 * Percentage of females: 97%
 * Total percentage of literate individuals: 97.9%
 * GDP: 4.6%