Lessons on school and life from a K-drama

Like the characters, many students here tie happiness to scholastic success, but it’s not healthy

- Amelia Teng

"Our day starts early. We raise our voices before daybreak. We already feel worn out as we begin our day, but we keep plugging away, believing in 'no pain, no gain' "We pursue higher income, education and grades in order to enter high society. That's where Korea stands today." These are the lines uttered, through a haze of exhaustion, by the main character of popular South Korean television series Crash Course In Romance, which ended its run on March 5.

The 16-episode drama was far from being just a romantic comedy though.

It took a stab at South Korea's fiercely unrelenting education system through the lives of a humble banchan (side dish) shop owner and her daughter on the cusp of college admission.

Together, they navigate the merciless world of the country's private academies, known as hagwon, and face intense competition, all in a bid to clinch a place at a renowned university.

Obstacles they face include a group of ambitious mothers who commit questionable acts just so their children can stay ahead of their peers.

At the ages of 18 and 19, the teenagers try their best to please their parents by studying day and night in the lead-up to the College Scholastic Ability Test, a nationwide examination that high school students take at graduation.

But some, when pushed to their limit, break down mentally - even to the point of committing suicide.

All this is a portrayal of the education system in South Korea, which is culturally different from Singapore in many ways. Yet certain aspects of their students' experiences may resonate with some in Singapore.

Parents in both countries invest heavily in their children's education, with many turning to the private tutoring industry to gain an advantage.