South Korea bans private preschool placement tests starting October

South Korea's education ministry issued a directive prohibiting private academies from conducting placement tests for children in preschool starting Oct. 1. The amendment to the Enforcement Decree of the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes bans all forms of written, oral, practical and interview evaluations, as well as any grading that relies on test scores. An exception allows diagnostic assessments through observation or interview after a child has enrolled, provided parents give consent beforehand.

The regulation also introduces a tiered penalty system, imposing fines of 1 million won for a first offense, 2 million won for a second, and 3 million won for subsequent violations. The measure aims to curb intensive early-childhood private education. The ministry confirmed the policy will be enforced nationwide.