More Koreans Embrace e-Learning

A recent survey by the Ministry of Knowledge Economy and the National IT Industry Promotion Agency showed that the government's efforts to promote e-learning are already beginning to bear fruit. Since 2004, when the government first established a legal framework to nurture the e-learning sector, the field has grown at an average rate of nearly 10 percent. In 2010 it was worth 2.25 trillion won, a 7.4 percent year-on-year increase.

The number of businesses operating in the e-learning sector posted a 13.2 percent increase to 1,549. In particular, many publishing companies are looking to e-learning as a lucrative opportunity and are putting more and more textbooks and reference books online. The number of employees in the e-learning sector rose 3.5 percent to record 23,468; however, 43.6 percent of all businesses surveyed cited a labor shortage as an obstacle to business activities in this area. This suggests training programs are needed.

Of individual respondents aged 3 or older, 49 percent had taken advantage of e-learning programs in 2010. E-learners accounted for 74.4 percent of the primary and secondary students and 41.2 percent of the respondents in their forties-this last figure was up 9.5 percent from 2009. Thirty-eight percent of the respondents used e-learning to study foreign languages, and the Internet was the most popular method of delivery as opposed to broadcasting or mobile devices.

Of the businesses in the survey with at least 300 employees, 62.8 percent had made use of e-learning for a year-on-year increase of 2.1 percent. Businesses used e-learning mainly to educate their employees about job duties (90.5 percent). Of those businesses that had adopted e-learning, 55.1 percent reported a cost savings.

The number of educational institutions that use e-learning increased slightly to 81.4 percent. These now include 88.7 percent of primary schools and 79.7 percent of middle schools. Meanwhile, 77.6 percent of government and public agencies had adopted e-learning as of last year, including all Korea's central government ministries.

In March MKE announced a revised plan to promote the e-learning sector. The new plan aims to improve the business environment, advance the technology, nurture skilled personnel, encourage the wider adoption of e-learning, and open up overseas business opportunities.

Source: MKE