Effective Date: October 1, 2026
Key Changes: The revised Education Agency Act includes infants as subjects for private tutoring. Therefore, individual private tutors and tutoring centers teaching infants must report to the relevant education (support) office. Previously, private tutoring for infants was excluded from the reporting requirements.
Scope of Impact: This applies to individual tutors providing in-home lessons (English, art, music, play classes, etc.) for infants, and tutoring centers that accept infants. It also applies to those who previously only taught students in elementary school and above and are now starting to offer infant classes.
Preparations - Individual private tutor reporting is done to the education support office of the place of residence. Basic documents include the application form, final academic transcript, and consent form for criminal background checks for sexual offenses, and you must also report the tutoring subjects, location, and fees. - If the tutoring subjects, location, or fees change after reporting, you must file an amendment report within 15 days. - The reporting deadline or any grace period for those already providing tutoring for infants ⚠️ requires checking the original document. Please check the notice from the relevant education support office first.
## 2. Prohibition of Infant Enrollment/Division Examinations and Level Tests, Conditions for Permissible Assessments
Key Changes: For cram school establishment/operation managers, supplementary instruction center managers, and individual tutors, it is prohibited to administer exams or evaluations with the purpose of recruiting infants or assigning them to level-based classes. The Enforcement Decree has broadly defined the scope of the prohibition.
- Written, oral, practical, and interview exams
- Evaluations utilizing results of verifying specific abilities or career data
- Evaluations that rank abilities for recruitment/class assignment
What is Permitted as an Exception: Only observation/interview-based diagnostics to assist educational activities are permitted after registration. However, conditions apply. - Requires prior consent from parents (in writing or electronic format). - The purpose and method of the diagnostic assessment must be disclosed to parents in advance. - Results must be conveyed in narrative form and should not display scores, rankings, or pass/fail status.
Preparations: You should review the level test sheets used during admissions consultations, class assignment criteria, and pass notification text templates. If you wish to continue diagnostics after registration, it is safer to prepare new consent forms and narrative result guidance documents.
## TL;DR: Fines and Reporting Rewards
Administrative Penalties: Violations of the regulations prohibiting examinations and evaluations of young children will be assessed based on the number of violations.
| Number of Violations | Administrative Penalty | |---|---| | 1st | 1,000,000 KRW | | 2nd | 2,000,000 KRW | | 3rd | 3,000,000 KRW |
Whistleblower Reward: There is now a basis for providing rewards within budget to individuals who report violations. This means the possibility of enforcement starting with reports from parents has increased.
Review Deadline: The government will re-examine the validity of this regulation by January 1, 2029.
## Administrative Agent Office Services
Hwang Yoon-sang Administrative Agent Office prepares and submits individual private tutoring instructors and tutoring center establishment/alteration registration forms to the education support office. In cases where you receive advance notice of administrative penalties, we prepare statements of opinion and draft written objections to the imposition decision.
## Summary
- As of October 1st, individual private tutoring instructors and tutoring centers that teach young children are also subject to education office registration.
- Examinations, interviews, and level tests for the purpose of recruiting or dividing young children are completely prohibited, and observation, interview, and diagnostic assessments after registration can only be conducted with the consent of the guardian.
- Violations incur administrative penalties of 1,000,000 KRW for the first offense, 2,000,000 KRW for the second offense, and 3,000,000 KRW for the third offense, and a whistleblower reward system is also in operation.
There are three days left until implementation. Please check the registration documents and consultation form.
*This article is an administrative trend guide compiled by Hwang Yoon-sang Administrative Agent Office based on publicly available information. The applicability of individual cases requires verification with the relevant authority.*