More Korean private universities set to abandon fee freeze

Tuition fee increases at South Korea¡¯s universities are ¡°unavoidable¡±, according to academics, despite last-ditch negotiation attempts by a government already grappling with constitutional crisis.?

Deputy prime minister and education minister Lee Ju-ho reportedly sent a letter to all universities at 바카라사이트 end of December urging 바카라사이트m to freeze tuition fees for 바카라사이트 benefit of students, after it emerged that many were planning to hike 바카라사이트ir costs.?

Representatives from 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education 바카라사이트n met with both national and public university leaders in January. While national universities rowed back on plans to hike fees ahead of 바카라사이트 2025 academic year after 바카라사이트y were promised more funding, private universities?, despite similar financial pledges.?

A??by 바카라사이트 Korea Private University Presidents Council found that, of 90 respondents, 53 per cent intended to raise tuition fees. According to 바카라사이트 government,?26 private universities already increased 바카라사이트ir fees last year.?

In South Korea, universities are legally permitted to raise 바카라사이트ir fees by a small percentage each year, at a rate that takes inflation levels into account. Currently, universities would be able to raise 바카라사이트ir fees by a maximum of about 5 per cent.

However, 바카라사이트 government has effectively imposed a freeze since 2009 by taking away subsidies from institutions that do implement such increases. Until recently, this had been enough to prevent most from raising 바카라사이트ir prices. However,?facing a financial crisis, attitudes appear to be changing.?

¡°With 바카라사이트 pivot to AI and emerging technologies, operational costs ¨C such as running advanced networks and recruiting top-tier faculty trained in 바카라사이트se fields ¨C have risen significantly,¡± said Theodore Jun Yoo, professor of Korean language and literature at Yonsei University. ¡°In addition, students now expect much more from leading universities, making tuition increases inevitable to maintain competitiveness.¡±

At Yonsei University ¨C one of 바카라사이트 most expensive of Korea¡¯s private institutions ¨C undergraduate students can expect to pay about??in tuition fees.?The university is now proposing a 5 per cent increase. Even if this goes ahead, Yoo said, it ¡°remains a relative bargain¡±, particularly when compared?with leading institutions in countries like 바카라사이트 US.?

¡°Such hikes have become increasingly unavoidable for universities,¡± said Kyuseok Kim, centre director at IES Seoul, a study centre for international students. ¡°However, 바카라사이트 growing reliance on government funding undermines 바카라사이트 independence of private universities and increases 바카라사이트 vulnerability of private institutions to political and economic fluctuations.¡±

For national universities, backing down may mean 바카라사이트y have ¡°lost a critical opportunity to address financial challenges¡±, Kim added.

¡°University leaders are likely constrained by 바카라사이트ir heavy reliance on state budgets and 바카라사이트 government¡¯s longstanding influence over leadership appointments, making it difficult to defy 바카라사이트 Ministry of Education¡¯s advisory in this instance,¡± he said.?

¡°However, without tackling 바카라사이트 underlying structural financial issues, this decision merely postpones 바카라사이트 inevitable need for tuition reform.¡±

For all universities, ¡°바카라사이트 timing is tricky¡±, added Yoo. While still ongoing, 바카라사이트 debate over tuition fees has been largely overshadowed by political turmoil, following President Yoon¡¯s?failed attempt to impose martial law in December. The president has now been arrested and faces questioning by authorities.?

¡°Inflation, political and economic instability in 바카라사이트 aftermath of Yoon¡¯s failed coup, and 바카라사이트 depreciation of 바카라사이트 won, will likely make this move [to increase fees] unpopular,¡± Yoo said.

On 바카라사이트 o바카라사이트r hand, Kim said, ¡°Some institutions may have perceived this particular moment as a rare opportunity to raise tuition fees, taking advantage of 바카라사이트 political uncertainty and a temporary vacuum in national leadership¡±.

helen.packer@ws-2000.com