Korean Dictionary
How to say "Private Academy" in Korean
“Private Academy” in Korean is 학원 (pronounced "hagwon").
학원
hagwon
Usage & Context
A private educational institution offering supplementary classes. Hagwons are extremely popular in Korea for test preparation. Students attend hagwons after school for additional instruction.
Example Sentence
학원에 다니고 있다.
I attend a private academy.
How to use 학원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “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 "hock" in "hockey." The second syllable, 원 (won), sounds exactly like the English word "won" (as in, 'I won the game'). Put it together as HAHK-won, with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
A parent talking about their child's after-school activities.
우리 아이는 수학 학원에 다녀요.
My child goes to a math hagwon.
A student complaining to a friend about their workload.
학원 숙제가 너무 많아서 잠을 못 잤어.
I couldn't sleep because I had too much hagwon homework.
Observing a trend in children's education.
요즘은 초등학생들도 영어 학원에 많이 가요.
Nowadays, even elementary school students go to English hagwons a lot.
Cultural Context
Hagwons are a massive part of the South Korean education system, often seen as essential for academic success, especially for college entrance exams (수능, Suneung). Students frequently attend multiple hagwons after regular school hours, sometimes until late at night. This intense schedule is a common theme in K-dramas depicting student life, highlighting both the pressure and the competitive spirit. It's not just for academics; there are also hagwons for arts, music, and sports.
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 끝나고 만나자
Let's meet after hagwon.
학원 숙제
hagwon homework
Related Expressions
학원비
hagwonbi
hagwon fees
과외
gwaoe
private tutoring
입시 학원
ipsi hagwon
college prep hagwon
보습 학원
boseup hagwon
supplementary hagwon
More School Life Words
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