Gyeongsangbuk-do Records Second-Lowest Tutoring Costs in Korea, Participation Falls

The Education Ministry and the National Data Agency released the 2025 survey results on private tutoring costs for elementary to high school students. In North Gyeongsang Province (Gyeongsangbuk-do), the average monthly private tutoring expenditure per student is 329,000 won, the second-lowest among Korea’s 17 provinces and metropolitan cities. The province’s ranking improved significantly from fifth place last year.

The survey also shows the private tutoring participation rate in Gyeongsangbuk-do at 70.9%, down from 75.4% a year earlier, the sixth-lowest national figure. This indicates a broader decline in students taking part in private tutoring in the province.

Among students who did participate in private tutoring, the average monthly cost is 464,000 won, down from 473,000 won last year. That figure remains the second-lowest in the country. The combination of lower participation and lower costs suggests a reduced burden on families in the region.

The Gyeongsangbuk-do Education Office says the results reflect partial success of policies aimed at easing parents’ private tutoring burden while improving public education. Officials emphasize continuing efforts to raise the quality of schooling so students receive adequate learning and care within schools. Superintendent Im Jong-sik commented that the gains should not be temporary and that existing policies must be solidly implemented on the ground, with new and current measures linked to sustain cost reductions felt by families.

For readers outside Korea, the trend matters because private tutoring represents a major household expense in South Korea and a key lever of the education economy. Government policies to curb private tutoring costs can influence consumer spending, demand for tutoring services and educational technology, and the broader policy debate about how to balance public and private education resources.

The regional data also provide context about how different parts of Korea approach education funding and public-school investment. Gyeongsangbuk-do is a eastern province where provincial education authorities oversee public schools, with nationwide comparisons drawn across 17 jurisdictions, including major cities and other provinces.

Overall, the results illustrate ongoing efforts to reduce reliance on private tutoring while boosting the quality of public education. The figures from Gyeongsangbuk-do align with a nationwide aim to ease families’ financial burdens and to ensure that schooling itself delivers strong learning outcomes. For the U.S. audience, the update offers a comparative snapshot of how one major education system is addressing private tutoring costs and may inform considerations about education policy, market opportunities in edtech, and the economics of schooling.