Homeschooling in South Korea
Homeschooling in South Korea exists in legal limbo—neither explicitly legal nor formally prohibited.
South Korea's legal framework does not explicitly permit or prohibit homeschooling. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (Article 68) establishes compulsory education from ages 7 to 15 and imposes penalties on parents who fail to send children to school, but homeschooling is not specifically addressed in legislation. The South Korean government announced plans to legalize homeschooling in 2008, but the process has stalled. Families who homeschool typically operate in a legal grey area, relying on administrative discretion and inconsistent local enforcement.
Quick Reference
School Days
-
No minimum
Hours Required
-
No minimum
Subjects
0
required
Notification
No
n/a
Key Requirements at a Glance
- Compulsory education spans ages 6-15 covering 6 years elementary and 3 years middle school (초중등교육법 Article 2).
- Guardians must ensure child school enrollment and attendance (초중등교육법 Article 17).
- Penalties for compulsory education non-compliance include fines up to 3 million KRW (초중등교육법 Article 68).
- Ministry of Education oversees via regional offices; no homeschooling approval process.
- Out-of-School Youth Support Act (2014) aids dropouts but not homeschoolers.
- Constitution Article 31 affirms parental education duty but subordinates to state school system.
- No amendments as of 2026 legalizing homeschooling.
Legal Framework
South Korea's education framework rests on: (1) Constitution Article 31 (right to education and parental duty); (2) Framework Act on Education (교육기본법); (3) Elementary and Secondary Education Act (초·중등교육법) — establishes 9 years of compulsory schooling: 6 years primary (초등학교) plus 3 years lower secondary (중학교); (4) Act on the Support for Out-of-School Youth (학교밖청소년지원법) — provides support and benefits to out-of-school learners; (5) Youth Welfare Support Act (청소년복지지원법) — additional welfare frameworks; (6) Geomjeong-goshi (검정고시) examination system administered by Provincial/Metropolitan Offices of Education — provides the GED-equivalent pathway for primary, middle, and high school qualification. Homeschooling is not formally authorised under the Elementary and Secondary Education Act, but the Out-of-School Youth framework plus 검정고시 effectively enables home-based study leading to recognised credentials. Responsible authority: Ministry of Education (교육부, MOE).
Filing Requirements
What to file
n/a
When
n/a
Where
n/a
How to submit
n/a
What to include
- • n/a
No national notification process; local education offices may inquire about non-attendance.
How to Get Started
- 1
Withdraw from school if enrolled
- 2
Develop personal curriculum aligned with national standards
- 3
Maintain attendance and progress records
- 4
Monitor local education office communications
Pros & Cons
Pros
- ✓Parental control
- ✓Customized learning
- ✓Minimal bureaucracy
Cons
- •Legal risk
- •No diploma path
- •Social isolation
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Last updated: 2026-04-26 · KR homeschool law guide