South Korea has experienced enormous economic growth over the last 50 years and now has the 13th largest economy in the world (World Bank, 2012).
During the period 1961–2011, per capita gross domestic product increased from $155 to $22,424.
Much of South Korea’s economic development has been attributed to improvements in its public education system.
South Korean students consistently perform in the top rankings among countries according to international studies such as Trends in International Mathematics and Science Study (TIMSS), and the Program for International Student Assessment (PISA, 2010).