ID :
37138
Tue, 12/23/2008 - 14:29
Auther :
Shortlink :
https://oananews.org//node/37138
The shortlink copeid
S. Korea`s illiteracy rate drops by one-third since 1970
SEOUL, Dec. 23 (Yonhap) -- Close to 1.7 percent of South Korean people do not
know how to read and write the Korean language, close to the level of advanced
countries, the country's state-run language institute said Tuesday.
According to a survey by the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL), an
estimated 620,000 out of 37 million South Korean adults cannot read or write.
These respondents said they have difficulties when filling in documents at public
affairs offices or banks, or in understanding product user's manuals and medical
prescriptions, the NIKL said.
The latest illiteracy rate finding is a decrease of about 5.3 percentage points
from the last study in 1970 when 7 percent of the population was evaluated as
illiterate, the NIKL said.
The study also showed big differences according to gender and age.
Women's illiteracy rate was 2.7 percent, much higher than that of men's at 0.5
percent. Almost all in their twenties to forties were able to read and write, but
some 20 percent of elderly people, particularly those in their seventies, were
not.
The survey indicates 98.3 percent of South Koreans can read and write, having a
minimum ability to manage everyday life.
The figure is slightly lower than that of advanced nations, who recorded an
average literacy rate of 98.6 percent last year, according to the Human
Development Report from the U.N. Development Programme. The U.N. report said that
82.4 percent of the global population is literate.
The 'semi-illiterate,' who can read but cannot understand the meaning of a
sentence or a story, account for 5.3 percent, or some 1.9 million people in South
Korea, the institute added.
"The government and the NIKL plan to expand education on the Korean language to
promote basic literacy skills," said the institute. "In particular, we will
introduce Korean education programs focusing on immigrants and multicultural
families to help them adapt to Korean society."
The survey canvassed 12,000 adults and has a 0.89 point margin of error.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
know how to read and write the Korean language, close to the level of advanced
countries, the country's state-run language institute said Tuesday.
According to a survey by the National Institute of the Korean Language (NIKL), an
estimated 620,000 out of 37 million South Korean adults cannot read or write.
These respondents said they have difficulties when filling in documents at public
affairs offices or banks, or in understanding product user's manuals and medical
prescriptions, the NIKL said.
The latest illiteracy rate finding is a decrease of about 5.3 percentage points
from the last study in 1970 when 7 percent of the population was evaluated as
illiterate, the NIKL said.
The study also showed big differences according to gender and age.
Women's illiteracy rate was 2.7 percent, much higher than that of men's at 0.5
percent. Almost all in their twenties to forties were able to read and write, but
some 20 percent of elderly people, particularly those in their seventies, were
not.
The survey indicates 98.3 percent of South Koreans can read and write, having a
minimum ability to manage everyday life.
The figure is slightly lower than that of advanced nations, who recorded an
average literacy rate of 98.6 percent last year, according to the Human
Development Report from the U.N. Development Programme. The U.N. report said that
82.4 percent of the global population is literate.
The 'semi-illiterate,' who can read but cannot understand the meaning of a
sentence or a story, account for 5.3 percent, or some 1.9 million people in South
Korea, the institute added.
"The government and the NIKL plan to expand education on the Korean language to
promote basic literacy skills," said the institute. "In particular, we will
introduce Korean education programs focusing on immigrants and multicultural
families to help them adapt to Korean society."
The survey canvassed 12,000 adults and has a 0.89 point margin of error.
brk@yna.co.kr
(END)
