The South Korean Ministry of Education is actively working to cut down on unnecessary administrative tasks in schools, a move dubbed as reducing 'fake work.' On March 19, the ministry announced that teachers would no longer be required to provide justifications for tardiness or leaving early if such actions do not disrupt their educational activities. This initiative aims to ease burdens on educators and allow schools more autonomy in implementing diverse educational practices, especially in an era defined by technological advancement.

The Ministry's commitment to improving administrative efficiency stems from consultations held with educators and experts since December of last year. Upcoming reforms will target obsolete practices and encourage the allocation of resources towards innovative education rather than redundant paperwork. For instance, schools previously had to apply adult public service reward criteria to in-school awards, leading to unnecessary documentation. The ministry is set to provide guidance to rectify this, and they are advocating for the development of online submission systems to alleviate excessive paperwork in processes like middle school admission applications.

Additionally, the Ministry of Education is looking to reduce the workload associated with school finances. It has been noted that the current requirements for budget expenditure documentation are burdensome, leading to unnecessary overhead for schools. Thus, the ministry will reform related budgeting rules to ensure efficiency. Further, they plan to enhance professional training for teachers by optimizing mandatory courses, focusing on pedagogical expertise, and removing any overlap in legal mandatory education requirements. Overall, these measures signify a shift towards modernization and efficiency in South Korea's educational system, responding to the challenges posed by contemporary demands.