School trip costs at Seoul schools vary by as much as 17 times between institutions, revealing stark polarization. Analysts attribute the gap to a bifurcated structure in which long-term overseas programs and short-term domestic trips are tallied together.
According to education officials on Wednesday, an analysis of 2025 school trip data disclosed on the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's information portal "Open Seoul Education" showed that the cost disparity was most pronounced at the elementary school level.
The top 10 elementary schools by cost mostly organized four-night, five-day trips to destinations such as Southeast Asia. The most expensive case was a four-night, five-day Southeast Asia trip costing 2.895 million won ($2,100) per student. Other high-cost programs also featured overseas itineraries in the 2.5 million to 2.7 million won range.
In contrast, the bottom 10 schools mostly organized one-night, two-day domestic trips to regions including South Chungcheong, Gyeonggi and Gangwon. The least expensive case was a one-night, two-day trip in Gyeonggi at 169,000 won, with many low-end programs staying in the 200,000 to 300,000 won range for short domestic trips.
As a result, elementary schools show a structure in which per-student costs differ by more than 17 times, as long overseas programs and short domestic trips are tallied side by side.
Middle schools showed a similar pattern. Top-tier schools mainly organized two-night, three-day trips to Jeju Island, with costs around 1 million won. Lower-tier schools predominantly offered programs centered in Gangwon priced in the 300,000 won range.
High schools also showed clear gaps between overseas and domestic itineraries. Three- to four-day trips to Japan, Hong Kong and Taiwan cost between 1.7 million and 1.9 million won, while two-night, three-day domestic trips to regions such as Gangwon stayed in the 300,000 to 400,000 won range.
Across all school levels, whether a trip goes abroad or stays domestic has emerged as the key variable driving cost gaps. Trip length and the use of air travel have further widened the burden differences between schools.
Some schools reduced student burdens by securing partial subsidies through local government support programs. However, observers point out that such measures have limits in bridging the gap between overseas programs costing millions of won and domestic trips costing hundreds of thousands of won.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it provides subsidies to ease the burden on low-income students. According to the office, last year a total of 2.618 billion won was distributed to 5,452 students — including basic livelihood recipients, single-parent families and households earning less than 60% of the median income — at an average of 480,000 won per student.
Support is provided once per school year per grade, covering actual expenses up to 500,000 won. The office also said it provides administrative and financial support including distributing field trip manuals, training safety personnel, offering auxiliary staff, and supporting advance site visits and transportation.
