Competitive Society: Reflections from the Educational System of South Korea
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Abstract
This study aimed to explore the ideas of South Korean students within a society known as one of the world's most highly competitive educational nations. It investigates expectations from various perspectives of individuals and society that reflect the South Korean educational system. The research methodology employs netnography, involving participatory observation on social media and informal interviews. The informants comprised four South Korean students who shared their experiences within the competitive environment of South Korean education.
The study identified a concept illustrating the transformation of human relationships from friendships to rivalries, and abnormal daily behaviors arising from social conditions that exert pressure on education. It applies compressed modernity theory to analyze South Korea's educational society, which aims to establish standards of success for individuals, thereby fostering rapid economic growth through government policy, family institutions, and the environment. Over time, this has shaped a society steeped in a culture of competition across all facets of life, including education, work, and daily living.
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