[Voices of Japanese Parents Abroad_Korea Vol.3] Child-Rearing and Education in Rural Korea

Satoko is raising five children in Haenam, a rural area in southwestern South Korea. Parenting in regional towns comes with realities quite different from those in large cities. In this article, we spoke with her about the local education environment and her everyday experiences of raising children across cultures in a rural setting.

Limited Choices and Strong Community Ties

―Could you tell me about the nursery school/kindergarten system and how to choose one in rural Korea?

There are nursery schools and kindergartens, and you can choose. In our family, our eldest son started nursery school at the age of 2, and our other children started around 8 months old.

Kindergarten enrollment starts at age 4. In rural areas like Hainam, there are hardly any private facilities, so most children attend kindergartens attached to public elementary schools. The programs are separate from the elementary school, but they sometimes participate in field trips with the entire elementary school.

In urban areas, there are various options, such as private nursery schools that offer English classes and physical education classes taught by native speakers. Multicultural centers also offer "international understanding education" where Japanese, Vietnamese, Chinese, and others teach their respective cultures (origami, games, costume experiences, etc.).

In rural areas, there are no such facilities, and there are few facilities in general, so there are almost no options. Even if you look at the program content and think it's good, there are limitations, such as it being too far away and the school bus not coming.

―How much do nursery schools and kindergartens cost?

In Korea, the government provides "child-rearing expenses." When children start attending daycare or kindergarten, the facility automatically receives the childcare expenses. Therefore, parents don't pay childcare or education fees.

Water bottles and other necessities used at kindergarten are given as gifts for enrollment, so parents basically don't have to pay anything. Toothbrushes and toothpaste used at the school are sometimes provided through support from agricultural cooperatives, so in rural areas, kindergarten is practically free.

On the other hand, daycare requires a lot of preparation. For example, you need to bring bedding for naps, dishes, diapers, baby wipes, towels for everyone to use, toilet paper (you might need to bring 10 rolls each), and so on.

Children playing on the beach (Photo provided by Satoko)

Well-Rounded After-School Learning — Expanding Children's Horizons Through Free Programs

―Could you tell us about the curriculum and after-school programs at local schools?

At the elementary school level, there is a program called "Pangafsup" (after-school classes) for first graders who do not have afternoon classes. In Hainan, this is offered free of charge, and students can take classes such as 3D pen art and new sports twice a week. In addition, they can also take free learning materials using electronic devices. On Saturdays, students can choose to participate in activities such as soccer, table tennis, horseback riding, and pottery. These are also all free. My eldest son is taking pottery.

―How involved are parents in kindergarten and school?

There are quite a few opportunities for parents to be involved. At the kindergarten, there are parent-participation classes once every few months, and recently there was a session where students learned how to use tablets and programming.

There is also an organization similar to a PTA called "Hapmofe" (parents' association). Here, parents can give their opinions on school management and programs, and participate in awareness-raising seminars where they can hear from educators about how to deal with teenagers. There are also club-like gatherings where parents can deepen their interactions with each other, such as when a chef comes and they make hamburgers. Participation is optional, but surprisingly many parents do participate.

Parental participation is mandatory at the sports day. There are events for parents after the children's competitions, which helps to foster a sense of community.

Nurturing “Another Language” at Home — Thoughts on Japanese Language Education

―How do you approach Japanese language education for your children at home?

We try to speak to them in Japanese as much as possible, but the words they have learned are basically Korean, so Korean is dominant. They can understand what is being said, but my second son, for example, doesn't seem to understand much anymore.

We are trying to keep them using Japanese so that they can converse with their grandparents in Japan, and we believe it is important not to let them come to dislike Japanese. Occasionally, we show them Japanese manga (such as Naruto) to create opportunities for them to be exposed to Japanese. I feel that their Japanese will actually improve when they have an environment where they can use it, such as when we return to Japan.

Children out for a walk (photo provided by Satoko)

[Overseas Parenting Column - South Korea]
Vol. 1: Giving Birth in South Korea (5 Parts)
Vol. 2: Proper Postpartum Care in South Korea
Vol. 3: Parenting and Education in Rural Areas
Vol. 4: The Reality of South Korea's Declining Birthrate
Vol. 5: Beloved Children in South Korea

Family Dialogue・Column