Korean Education Decoded

최근 글

Hi, I’m Jobak.

I’m an assistant professor at a private university in South Korea. My background is in education statistics and measurement — basically, I use data to figure out what actually works in education (and what doesn’t).

I’m currently pursuing a second PhD in AI, because apparently one wasn’t enough punishment.

What This Blog Is About

Korea’s education system is famous worldwide — for better or worse. Everyone has opinions about it. Helicopter parents, cram schools, SKY university obsession, the CSAT exam that stops air traffic.

But most of what you read about Korean education in English is either surface-level journalism or dry academic papers. I wanted something in between: data-driven insights written like a human being actually wrote them.

Here, I write about:

  • Education Research, Decoded — Breaking down Korean education studies into plain English. Does private tutoring actually work? Does moving to Gangnam boost grades? I dig into the data.
  • Academic Life in Korea — What it’s really like being a professor here. The hiring process, the politics, the hustle.
  • Personal Finance — How a humanities PhD builds wealth in a country where housing prices move faster than salaries. Military savings, real estate, and the occasional existential crisis about the Korean won.

My Background

  • PhD in Education (Statistics & Measurement)
  • Currently pursuing PhD #2 in Artificial Intelligence
  • Assistant Professor at a private university (Cheonan, South Korea)
  • Former Republic of Korea Air Force Officer (ROTC Class 131, Anti-Aircraft Artillery)
  • Husband, father of one son

Why “Korean Education Decoded”?

Because Korean education is endlessly fascinating, widely misunderstood, and I happen to have both the data access and the lived experience to write about it honestly.

Also because my wife said I need a hobby that doesn’t involve checking apartment prices.

Get in Touch

Questions, feedback, or research collaboration inquiries — leave a comment on any post or reach out via the contact form below. I read everything.

— Jobak