Inequality of Educational Opportunity in Korea by Gender, Socio-Economic Background, and Family Structure

In this paper, I summarise empirical findings regarding the degree of and trend in inequality of educational opportunity in South Korea to indicate the extent to which individuals' educational outcomes are associated with their ascribed characteristics such as gender, socio-economic origin, and family structure. To gauge the degree of educational inequality in South Korea, I refer to various studies that provide cross-national comparisons in the effects of gender and socio-economic background on educational achievement and attainment. To address how educational inequality has changed over time, I review studies that have tracked the effects across different birth cohorts. I also address the implications of recent demographic changes surrounding family structure, particularly increasing single parenthood and a growing number of children born in South Korean-foreigner families, for educational inequality. In helping understand the context of educational development in South Korea, I provide a short description of educational expansion in South Korea during the past few decades as well as some major features of the South Korean educational system.