Ahn Chang-ho, chair of South Korea's National Human Rights Commission, warned on Monday that the country's extreme early private education culture endangers children's physical and mental well-being. In a statement ahead of Children's Day, he called it a serious violation of children's rights, depriving them of play and rest. Citing UNICEF data, he noted Korean children rank high in academics but low in health metrics.
Ahn Chang-ho, chair of the National Human Rights Commission of Korea, issued a statement on May 4, 2026, a day before Children's Day, condemning so-called "entrance exams at age 4 and 7" as a serious violation of children's rights. He stated, "Children should grow not according to the speed of competition, but through the depth of time in which they are respected."
Citing a UNICEF report, Ahn noted that Korean children rank fourth in academic achievement among 36 OECD and EU countries but 28th in physical health and 34th in mental health. "While our children could be leading in terms of competition, this shows that they are not sufficiently protected in terms of life stability and safety," he said.
Ahn cautioned against lowering the age of criminal responsibility for juveniles, arguing that expanding punitive measures would not curb youth crime and could increase stigma. He called for prevention through early intervention, social support, and rehabilitation.
He also addressed child abuse, with about 40 children dying annually, urging better detection and support systems. On rising accusations against teachers, Ahn said, "Children’s rights and teachers’ authority should not be viewed as opposing forces. Only when teachers’ rights are respected can those of children also be fully protected." The education ministry announced plans last month to ban rote learning for children under three.
