Open from 10p to 2a: Thank you GNP!
In an effort to curb Private English Education costs in South Korea, the Grand National Party (the conservative arm of the Korean government and the political party President Lee Myung-bak was elected from) wants “hagwon(s) [to] be banned from offering lessons to students after 10 p.m.”
Just like prohibition in the United States from 1920 to 1933, the Korean education consumers will find another way to get their “drug.” In the case of Koreans, they have two very large addictions (well at least two that are overtly obvious): alcohol and even bigger than that and definitely more healthy, “Education!” This new proposal is similar to telling Korean old men they can’t drink anymore. Obviously, there would be an even larger protest if the latter proposal was ever put forward!
So, why will I be opening from 10p to 2a in my English Consulting Business? While English Private Lessons make up only a small percentage of Real English Consulting‘s overall revenue, it still represents a significant sum to many. It now appears, it may increase even moreso. The parents of children and students who I’ve taught will do almost anything in order to make sure their children have a great future (at least one where they will not have regret not having tried).
Instead of legally going to Hagwons now after 10p, parents will do what they’ve traditionally done in the past if the proposal goes into effect: find other ways of getting their children the needed education to compete in this even more competitive landscape of 6.7684 billion people (as of July 2, 2009 according to the U.S. Census Bureau). I’ve heard they already pay at least 500,000 won or more beyond the legal limits for their pre-school kids to get a proper pre-school education.
So…
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Hagwon Advice… « 브랜든 나 ’s Living in Korea Guide in English | The Real “South” Korea Said,
July 3, 2009 @ 9:43 pm
[...] it was the swine flu that hit the industry financially. The industry will bounce back though. Also, there’s a move by the GNP party (basically the Republican party in Korea) to reduce private ed…. The pay though is still around the same…not more, not less. If you want to make more, you [...]