At the EBS Self-Directed Learning Center in Pocheon, Gyeonggi Province, on the afternoon of January 6, middle and high school students who had finished their school day handed over their mobile phones at the entrance and took their seats, transforming the study hall into a calm atmosphere. Students in athletic wear or casual uniforms watched lectures on tablets or worked through workbooks, while some continued studying with earplugs in or energy drinks by their side.
Public learning centers are changing how students study in areas lacking private education options. With a structure where students hand over their smartphones and sit studying for several hours at a time, both students and parents report experiencing tangible learning effects. A center official said, "Given the regional characteristics where academies and study cafes are scarce, after-school learning environments are inadequate. We focus on blocking external stimuli and building study habits." This center, with a capacity of 60 students, currently has as many as 30 to 40 people on its waiting list due to high demand.
Self-Directed Learning Centers are a public learning support model funded by Ministry of Education special grants, with provincial education offices providing learning devices such as tablet PCs, and EBS supplying content. The purpose is to provide both space and programs to students in areas with inadequate learning conditions. Currently, 48 centers operate nationwide with approximately 2,000 participating students. The government plans to expand this to 100 centers.
The operational approach resembles managed study rooms. Upon enrollment, students undergo career and learning aptitude assessments along with diagnostic tests to establish individual study plans, and learning coordinators check daily whether students follow through. Weekly feedback is also provided, analyzing reasons when plans are not met and suggesting areas for improvement.
On the ground, the consensus is that the centers are highly effective in forming study habits. Yang Min-ho, a high school student, said, "At academies, I would just finish my homework and be done, but here I naturally end up sitting and studying for several hours on my own. Even subjects like Korean history that I never studied separately went up by 10 to 20 points." Yoo Sa-rang, a middle school student, also said, "I can study alone without distractions, and I've developed the habit of making plans. There's less pressure than at academies, so I actually concentrate better."
Effects on reducing private education costs are also emerging. A parent surnamed Im with a high school student said, "Previously, Korean, math, and English academy fees cost around 1 million won per month, but now I've cut most of that. The center is essentially free, so there's no financial burden."
