Month: March 2014

Why do Koreans graduate so late from uni?

Image source: Ipsi Myungmoon Jungle-go Im my class of 70 students, only three graduated on time, that is, within the span of 4 years (or 8 semesters). One graduated a semester early by cramming his credits. About half of them graduated after 9 or 10 semesters. Even weighing in the fact that Korean men serve in the military for 2 years, Koreans, both male and female seem to take at least two semesters off prior to graduation. This year, entrants from year 2010 (for women) and from 2008 (for men) should be graduating – but only 10 students from 2010 did, all of them women. At the graduation, there were 10 students who started university between 2004 and 2007. So, where are all those students? What are they doing, burrowed in somewhere, playing Starcraft and League of Legends? You will find them at the library, at the reading rooms, at the hagwons – all cramming for some exam or another. What for? The GRE? Are they all going to grad school? No. They’re preparing to pass several …