Last year, an 82-year-old woman made headlines as the oldest student to take South Korea’s notoriously difficult college entrance test. We know that she prepared diligently for it — by not missing a day of high school — but how did she actually pursue her education at such age?
Prioritizing education
South Korea has one of the world’s best education systems, and with an aging population, it comes as no surprise that the nation supports institutions that facilitate the education of senior citizens. Since the 1970s, a variety of groups — senior citizen associations, religious communities and private organizations — have reportedly begun providing learning opportunities for adults, and by the 2000s, the government had stepped up with comprehensive welfare packages that saw the rise of educational institutions catering to older members of the population.
- Kim Jeong-ja, last year’s viral test-taker, attended Ilsung Women’s Middle and High School, one of the institutions that welcome women over 40 who did not complete their education earlier in life.
- Established in 1952, Ilsung is the first institution of its kind in the country, with nearly 90% of its students aged in their 70s and 80s. It also has a notable success rate, with 100% of its graduates qualifying for university for 18 consecutive years.
- Ilsung is reportedly among 42 similar institutions nationwide. Altogether, they offer free education to more than 6,600 students annually.
Second chances
Many of South Korea’s elderly women students missed out on education due to the socioeconomic conditions of post-war Korea, family responsibilities and gender biases. Schools such as Ilsung offer a second shot at getting their diploma.
- Born under Japanese rule in 1941, Kim never had the chance to attend school as the Korean War broke out just five years later. She returned to school in 2018.
- Speaking to the Korea Herald, Lee Bok-ja, 63, said she was admitted to high school after secretly taking the…
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