The enrollment rate for each school level in Korea has grown at a rapid pace-a rarity in other countries. Throughout half a century of Korea's education history, the enrollment rate has been almost 100 percent at the high school level. This is mostly thanks to Koreans' typical enthusiasm over education. In addition, the government has continuously carried out policies to expand educational opportunities to meet the demands of the people. However, the kindergarten enrollment rate has not grown that greatly because pre-schooling has only recently been included under school education. Daycare centers (or literally "children's houses" previously served as the major pre-schooling institutions.

The primary school enrollment rate for pre-schoolers reached 92.0 percent in 1970 thanks to the government's efforts during the late 1950s. The middle school enrollment rate for primary school students rose from 66.1 percent in 1970 to 95.8 percent in 1980, and reached 99.9 percent in 1996, which is almost a 100 percent enrollment rate. The high school enrollment rate of middle school graduates reached 99.9 percent in 2005. The middle school enrollment rate was almost 100 percent as of 2005 regardless of the region. This is attributable to the elimination of the middle school entrance exam in 1969 and the 1974 high school equalization policy in which the government removed the right of schools to select students and set rates for school fees.

The enrollment rate of high school graduates into higher education institutions was merely 26.9 percent in 1970, though it rose continuously to 36.4 percent in 1985 and to 51.4 percent in 1995. The enrollment rate of general high school graduates into higher education institutions reached a peak of 90.1 percent in 2003, but then went on a gradual decline. The rate for vocational high school graduates reached 49.8 percent in 2002, implying over half of them entered university. Since then, this rate grew rapidly to reach 67.6 percent in 2005. The higher school enrollment rate of female students kept rising after 1970, reaching 50 percent in 1985 and 90.5 percent in 2003, showing no gender difference in entering higher education institutions. In particular, in all educational levels except for vocational high schools, the enrollment rate is almost the same for males and females, a great move toward gender equity in educational opportunities.

As for high school students, most of those not entering high school institutions choose to be employed. The employment rate of high school students was 37.5 percent in 1965 (31.6 percent for those in general schools and 43.4 percent for those in vocational schools), reached 51.0 percent in 1990 and peaked at 72.5 percent in 1997, but has been continuously declining since then. It was 66.1 percent in 2000, but fell further to 52.3 percent in 2005.