The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) has unveiled a plan to establish a year-round, one-on-one college admissions counseling system aimed at reducing dependence on private education. The initiative seeks to absorb demand for private admissions consulting into the public education system by building an always-available support structure that offers counseling even after working hours.
SMOE announced its "Comprehensive Plan for Seoul Student Career and College Admissions Support" on Monday. The plan focuses on lowering parents' reliance on private consulting services and closing the gap in access to career and admissions information.
At the core is a one-on-one customized counseling system operating 365 days a year. SMOE will enable students and parents to receive individual counseling at any time through the Seoul Career and College Admissions Information Center, establishing a support structure that provides consultations without time constraints. The move signals that public education will take responsibility for the entire process, from career exploration to college admissions strategy, going beyond simply providing information.
To support this, dedicated teams composed primarily of active teachers will be formed. A 100-member "Seoul Career, Admissions, and Academic Planning Support Group" will handle integrated counseling for middle and high school students' career planning and academic design, while a 114-member "College Admissions Guidance Support Group" will provide specialized university admissions consulting. Both groups will be staffed primarily with teachers who have more than 20 years of admissions guidance experience to ensure professional expertise.
On-site school visits will also be conducted in parallel. A 104-member "High School Credit System MAP Support Group" — a core team of career and academic planning teachers — will visit schools to counsel students, consult with teachers, and assist with course selection and academic planning. From the high school entrance stage, parent briefing sessions and customized counseling will be offered to guide families to begin admissions preparation within the public education system.
Online support will be strengthened as well. The "SEN College Admissions Compass" platform will provide career exploration, grade management, course selection guidance, and university information all in one place. The aim is to ensure students can access admissions information without relying on private websites or consulting services.
SMOE said the plan is intended to alleviate the structure in which disparities in access to admissions information lead to educational inequality. The office aims to reduce dependence on private consulting and build a system that completes career and admissions support within public education, easing the burden on students and parents.
Seoul Superintendent of Education Jeong Geun-sik explained, "Building on the existing 100-member admissions guidance support group, we significantly expanded the High School Credit System MAP Support Group and career counseling functions, increasing personnel to approximately 320. The key to this plan is that we have strengthened it into a comprehensive support system that encompasses career guidance, admissions counseling, and the high school credit system starting from the middle school level, moving beyond a focus solely on college admissions."
