A substantial number of Korean high school students were found to spend their summer holidays studying in-doors, according to Toz Service Group on Wednesday.

Conducted between July 2 and July 15 targeting 5,800 high school students using Toz Study Center, the survey showed 77 percent of the respondents (4,466) said their way of combating the summer heat was by hitting the books at an air-conditioned study center.


Toz provides customized, cafe-like space for group studies and office meetings.

Those who said they went to the mountains or to the sea marked 11 percent. Another 6 percent said they watched horror flicks for the shivers, and another 6 percent said they ate traditional health-restorative food.

Asked where they spent the most time during summer vacation, 74 percent said at the study center or library while another 12 percent said private educational institutes.

As for the number of hours spent daily on studying, 42 percent said more than 8 hours. Thirty-three percent said 6 to 8 hours, and 15 percent, 4 to 6 hours. Only 10 percent said they spent less than 4 hours.

Summer vacation resolutions were also infused with academic goals. Among the respondents, 73 percent said their resolution for vacation was to catch up on studying for enhanced grades in the coming school term. The next highest percentage of respondents, 11 percent, said they wanted to lose weight.

Korean high schools’ summer vacation is usually for a month between mid-July and mid-August. The exact dates differ from school to school. During the vacation period, schools provide extra classes for those who are academically behind or wanting more guidance for college entrance.

By Lim Jeong-yeo (kaylalim@heraldcorp.com)