Korean Dictionary
How to say "Hagwon (Private Academy)" in Korean
“Hagwon (Private Academy)” in Korean is 학원 (pronounced "Hagwon").
학원
Hagwon
Usage & Context
The hagwon (학원) is one of the most defining features of Korean education. These private academies offer supplementary instruction in subjects ranging from math and English to arts and sports. Most Korean school-aged children attend at least one 학원 after school. The Daechi-dong neighborhood in Seoul is famous for its dense concentration of high-powered 학원.
Example Sentence
학교 끝나고 학원에 가요.
I go to the hagwon after school.
How to use 학원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Hagwon (Private Academy)” is 학원, romanized as Hagwon.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 학원.
Pronunciation Guide
The first syllable, 학 (hak), sounds like "hak" in "hack." The second syllable, 원 (won), sounds like "won" in "one." Pronounce it smoothly as "hak-won."
More Example Sentences
A parent talking about their child's after-school schedule.
우리 아이는 매일 학교 끝나고 수학 학원에 가요.
Our child goes to a math hagwon every day after school.
A student complaining about their heavy workload.
학원 숙제가 너무 많아서 잠을 잘 못 잤어요.
I couldn't sleep well because there was too much hagwon homework.
Discussing trends in private education beyond academic subjects.
요즘은 예체능 학원도 인기가 많아요.
Nowadays, arts and sports hagwons are also very popular.
Cultural Context
The '학원' system is a cornerstone of Korean education, deeply ingrained in daily life. From elementary school to high school, most students attend multiple '학원' for subjects like math, English, science, or even arts and sports. This intense supplementary education system reflects the high academic pressure and fierce competition in Korea, particularly for university entrance, often leading to long study hours for students.
Editorial note
We review entries like 학원 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
학원에 가다
to go to a hagwon
학원 숙제
hagwon homework
학원비가 비싸다
hagwon fees are expensive
Related Expressions
과외
gwaoe
private tutoring
입시
ipsi
university entrance exam
사교육
sagyeoyuk
private education
학원비
hagwonbi
academy tuition fee
More Education Words
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