SPECIFIC FEATURES AND PEDAGOGICAL INNOVATIONS OF THE PRIMARY EDUCATION SYSTEM IN SOUTH KOREA: AN ANALYTICAL REVIEW

Abstract

Primary education is the foundational stage of cognitive and social development. The South Korean education system, consistently ranking at the top of international assessments (PISA, TIMSS), offers a unique model of integrating high academic standards with moral upbringing. This study aims to analyze the specific structural, pedagogical, and technological features of the South Korean primary education system and identify transferable strategies for developing educational frameworks. A qualitative systematic review and document analysis were conducted. Data sources included policy documents from the South Korean Ministry of Education, OECD reports, and peer-reviewed pedagogical literature. The findings indicate that the system relies heavily on a 6-3-3-4 structural model with a highly integrated curriculum in the early grades. Moral education is deeply embedded into daily routines. Furthermore, the teaching of exact sciences introduces complex spatial geometry and multi-step logical problem-solving early in the curriculum. The system relies on formative assessment (portfolios) rather than numerical grading in early years and is supported by a 100% digitalized SMART classroom infrastructure. While the formal system is highly effective, it is heavily supplemented by the private "Hagwon" system, which creates a dichotomy between academic excellence and student well-being. The integration of life skills, practical ethics, and advanced logic provides a highly applicable model for modernizing curricula in transitioning education systems, such as Uzbekistan's.