Korea’s high school graduation rate and the percentage of adults with a university education are among the highest of OECD countries, according to a recent report, with the nation coming top in the 25-34 age group.

According to the Ministry of Education, Science and Technology, even amid social and economic difficulties, the percentage of students with outstanding academic achievement is among the highest of the 29 countries included in the study for the third year in a row.

Officials said that Korean adults between the ages of 25 to 34 had the highest high school and university graduation rate among OECD countries, at 98 percent and 63 percent, respectively.

The report titled, Education at a Glance 2011, by the OECD also showed that Korean citizens take the biggest burden of academic costs, starting with university tuition and private education, in comparison to other countries.

The study is conducted annually by the OECD and the indicators allow governments to compare their education systems with other countries’.

The graduation rate of Korean high school students was 80 percent, compared to the OECD average of 73 percent. While the graduation rate of higher education stood at 39 percent, which included both university and graduate studies, compared to the OECD average of 30 percent.

By Robert Lee (robert@heraldcorp.com)