Education Fever

The transformation of South Korea from a rural, impoverished nation to a prosperous, democratic society post-1945 is intricately linked to its educational evolution. The country's remarkable rise in literacy and educational attainment stems from a deep societal obsession with education, termed "education fever." Michael Seth investigates this phenomenon through interviews and extensive research, revealing the societal pressures and challenges within the Korean educational system, including an overemphasis on entrance exams, competition, financial burdens of private tutoring, and political manipulation of education.