Seoul has unveiled a package of measures, including a 24-hour education channel, to try to curb soaring spending by parents on private after-school education.
The market for private tutoring in Asia's fourth-largest economy is estimated to be worth about US$10 billion. After housing and food, it is often the third largest item on the family budget.
The phenomenal growth of spending on private educational institutes, or hagwon, has led to criticism that children from poorer families are being disadvantaged because they do not have access to the same high-quality institutes.
'We focused on drawing up measures for students with fewer financial resources but who have a strong will to succeed in getting into the universities they wish to attend,' said Deputy Education Minister Ahn Byung-young in announcing the government plans.
Under the proposals, the state-run satellite channel EBS will be transformed into a round-the-clock video classroom. Other measures include introducing an evaluation system for teachers to raise the quality of teaching in the public sector, reducing the number of students in a class and offering multi-level classes.
But the measures have already come under fire from parents, students and interest groups who point out that previous administrations tried to introduce similar proposals, to little effect.
