The Seoul Education Office has announced a special inspection of tuition fees at private academies and tutorial schools in the city, aimed at reducing the financial burden of private education as the new semester approaches. The inspection, which will run until April 3, targets 720 institutions that charge tuition and other fees for private education. A total of 36 personnel from 11 educational support centers will be deployed for this oversight. The primary focus of the inspections includes identifying illegal tuition hikes, unregistered high-priced short-term classes, excessive charges for other expenses, and compliance with prescribed teaching times.

Last year's special inspection led to the identification of numerous violations, with 183 out of 712 inspected institutions found at fault for 228 violations, the majority being related to unregistered tuition changes. Regulations require that tuition fees be easily visible to students, and violations such as posting false information or charging above the advertised amounts can result in administrative penalties or fines. The notable increase in private education expenses, highlighted in recent surveys, indicates that the nationwide burden of private education is still substantial, prompting the Seoul Education Office to act decisively.

According to a recent survey by the National Data Agency and the Ministry of Education, private education expenses reached an unprecedented level, with the total amount for 2025 estimated at 27.5 trillion won. The average monthly private education expense per student in Seoul was reported to be 663,000 won, significantly higher than the national average of 458,000 won. The high participation rate in private education in Seoul, at 82.6%, underscores the intensifying concern over the financial implications of supplemental learning. The Seoul Education Office expressed hopes that stringent inspections and enforcement actions will lead to stabilizing tuition fees and effectively reducing the overall burden of private education costs.