“One million won per school uniform,” Busan Private Elementary School announced shocking uniform prices 

The given reasons are “custom design” and “wish for wealth, honor, health and longevity.” 

On the 9th, the JoongAng Ilbo reported a notice about the prices of school uniforms delivered by a private elementary school in Busan to parents. New uniforms are to be worn by freshmen from this school year, with 1.05 million won in total (jacket, pants, shirt) for male students and 1.07 million won in total (jacket, dress, shirt) for female students. Among the additional options are bow tie (20.000 won), vest (70.000 won) and cardigan (98.000 won). Female students include frill (20.000 won), pants (230.000 won), vest (70.000 won), and cardigan (98,000 won).

In response to the “overpriced” uniform criticism, the school said, “It is made by hand to suit each student. The embroidery embroidered (on the school uniform) by a famous hanbok designer was specially made with the wish for wealth, honor, health, and longevity.”

According to the Busan Metropolitan City Office of Education, the upper limit on the school uniform price in Busan this year, set by the School Uniform Purchase System, is around 314.000 won. This is a 2% increase from last year, agreed unanimously by officials from 17 metropolitan and provincial offices of education across the country after discussions. 

While the elementary school set a three times higher price for the uniforms, there is no basis for sanctions. However, as parents protested, the school inspector said, “We will hold a meeting with the parents on the price of school uniforms of the school in question for their opinions. I understand that the meeting is planned to be held around the middle of this month, but there is not much time left until the new school year where the students have to wear a school uniform,” said the inspector.

Source: wikitree