14% of high schoolers went abroad in 2007

Written by Writer on Thursday, October 23rd, 2008

14% of high schoolers went abroad in 2007

Nearly 14 percent of high schools in Seoul sent students abroad for their annual excursion last year, according to data released by a ruling party lawmaker yesterday.

The average cost for an overseas trip was 690,000 won ($490) per student last year as the destinations were mostly China or Japan, but several elite schools specializing in foreign language education chose European countries and charged much more. Hanyoung Foreign Language High School’s trip to France last year, for instance, cost 2.6 million won per person.

“Considering that more than 1,000 high school students in Seoul couldn’t pay tuition fees last year, schools must take extra care to keep students from feeling out of place,” said Rep. Kim Sun-dong of the ruling Grand National Party.

Of the 299 high schools in the capital, 41 chose school trip destinations outside the country. Including elementary and middle schools, the figure came to 63, up from 55 in 2006, according to the city’s education authorities.

“A total of 63 schools — 41 high schools, four middle schools and 18 elementary schools — sent students abroad last year,” said Lim Young-sun, a Seoul City school inspector.

“Sixty-nine schools including 43 high schools and 21 elementary schools had said that they were planning overseas trips this year.”

As the Korean won lost over a third of its value this year, the trips are expected to get much more expensive.

By Kim So-hyun

(sophie@heraldm.com)