“We have decided to freeze tuition next year as well in an effort to share the financial difficulties of parents and students and encourage students not to give up their studies due to financial problems,” President Lee said. “Because Korea is suffering from an economic crisis, raising tuition would be fatal to students and parents.”
However, many other universities including Yonsei University, Sogang University and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies announced they will increase tuition as much as three percent.
The number of four-year universities that froze its tuition this year have declined from 2009, according to the Ministry of Education, Science, and Technology. Out of 200 four-year universities, 73 froze its rates, compared to 166 last year.
In addition to freezing tuition, Ewha set aside 3 billion won last year for scholarships and introduced the Tuition Ombudsman Service. The service supports students who need help with academic expenses, those who live on a minimum wage or those from households under bankruptcy.“The school pays the interest on academic loans for eligible students, provides scholarships and offers loan counseling.
It helped 111 students last semester and 171 for all of 2009. The Office of Student Affairs plans to continue the service this semester.
Students welcomed the tuition freeze. “I am happy to hear this news. Freezing the tuition really decreases the burden for both me and my parents,” said Kwon Soo-young (Social Science, 2). “My friends also welcomed this news. I believe everyone would.”