A South Korean civic group has filed a petition with the National Human Rights Commission, urging the body to classify so-called “7-year-old exams” — entrance tests for private academies taken by children before they start elementary school — as child abuse.
The group, called the Citizens’ Accusation Group Against the 7-Year-Old Exam, held a press conference outside the commission’s office in central Seoul on April 16, submitting a petition calling for the exams to be banned and for stronger regulations on private education.
The petitioners argue that children as young as six are being forced to memorize English sentences and prepare for interviews to gain entry into prestigious private English academies. “We urge the National Human Rights Commission to recognize this as more than child abuse, but as a serious crime,” the group said, calling for severe penalties against those responsible.
The petition also calls for legal reforms, saying the exams promote harmful competition and excessive academic pressure that damages children’s emotional and developmental well-being.
A 10-year-old student, Jung Se-yeon, filed the petition on behalf of the group. “My friends’ backpacks are filled not with textbooks but with homework from after-school academies,” Jung said. “Please, help rescue them from this system.”
The term “7-year-old exam” has gained popularity in recent years, particularly in affluent districts like Gangnam. It refers to entrance tests for top-tier private academies, or hagwons, which children must pass before being admitted. If they fail, they are unable to attend these sought-after classes, which are seen as crucial for gaining entry to elite schools and programs.
South Korea’s private education system has often garnered international attention for its intensity. The country’s education ministry revealed in a report last month that total spending on private tutoring for elementary, middle, and high school students reached 29.2 trillion won ($21.4 billion) in 2024 — a 7.7% increase from the previous year.
