Education Fever: Korean Parents' Aspirations for Their Children's Schooling and Future Career

Korean parents set high academic expectations for their children. Utilising Takeuchi's and Clark's theoretical framework and Q methodology, this study explores Korean parents' "education fever" as aspiration for their children's schooling, and how socio-economic status influences this phenomenon. Thirty-six parents in Busan, South Korea, participated in sorting 47 Q statements. The four resultant factors are interpreted as "Autonomy Supporters" (middle income), "Study Supremacists" (high income), and "Apologetic Supporters" and "Value Enthusiasts" (both low income). "Autonomy Supporters" support whatever their children want and focus on extra-curricular activities, while "Study Supremacists" believe that hard work guarantees quality education and employment. "Apologetic Supporters" feel guilt for being unable to support their children, and "Value Enthusiasts" believe that character and value education is most important. Each type represents a form of "overheated," "cooling down," and "cooling out" educational aspiration and educational stratification phenomenon.