When you start middle or high school, the cost of the school uniform arrives all at once. Earlier this year the government set out to examine uniform prices, prompted by reports that the bill was approaching 600,000 won, and in May the Ministry of Education announced the results of a nationwide survey and its plan for managing prices. Based on those published figures, this article explains the price structure the survey exposed, what changes from the 2027 school year, and the order in which parents of incoming students can check a school's uniform prices. Details may differ by school and by provincial office of education.

The survey covered 5,687 middle and high schools

The Ministry of Education survey looked at all 5,687 middle and high schools in the country. Of these, 95.6% (5,437 schools) require students to wear uniforms. Schools that set no uniform at all are rare, so families of sixth-graders heading to middle school should put uniform costs into their budget.

60.5% of schools have both a formal uniform and casual wear

By type, reports said 60.5% of schools keep both formal and casual types, 26% have formal uniforms only, and 13.5% have casual wear only. The ministry pointed out that many schools keep the formal uniform even after introducing casual wear, which means parents end up buying more items rather than fewer.

Why extra costs appear even with a subsidy

The government's cap on a formal uniform this year is 344,530 won, unchanged from last year. Provincial offices of education and local governments support families within that range, in kind or by voucher. Yet the survey found cases where, even with an average subsidy of about 340,000 won, parents paid up to 570,000 won on top. The reason is that additional items such as casual wear, gym clothes and spare shirts fall outside the subsidy. Support methods and amounts vary by region, so check your own education office's notice first.

The same shirt can cost anywhere from 10,000 to 178,000 won

In the survey the average price of a formal winter shirt was 43,460 won, but the cheapest school charged 10,000 won and the most expensive 178,000 won. Average winning bids were announced as 265,753 won for formal uniforms and 152,877 won for casual ones. It was also disclosed that the top four brands hold 67.8% of the market. The key point is that the price of the same item varies widely depending on the contract a school signed. Comparing unit prices school by school is the surest way to prepare.

From the 2027 school year, five casual-wear items get a price cap

The ministry said it will set price caps on five casual-wear items (hooded jackets, trousers, T-shirts and so on) and apply them from uniform purchases for the 2027 school year. The direction is to steer schools away from formal uniforms, and the caps are to reflect inflation. The exact cap amounts for the five items do not appear in the reports I checked, so please confirm the figures announced by the ministry and your provincial education office. If your child enters school in 2027, it is also worth reading the school's notice to see how it changes its casual-wear purchase plan.

Check a school's uniform prices in this order

The ministry said it would release the results in stages: in May on the websites of the ministry and provincial offices, from June on each school's website with the uniform type, unit prices and purchase method, and in September in the School Information Disclosure system (Schoolinfo). The order is this. First, find the uniform notice on the website of the school your child is assigned to. Second, see whether the same items are disclosed on Schoolinfo; how to use it is covered in the official channels for checking your child's school life. Third, if neither has it, call the school and ask for unit prices by item.

Uniforms are decided through the school council and parent input

Uniforms are generally bought through school-led purchasing, in which the school picks a supplier by bidding, and the design and purchase plan go through deliberation by the school steering committee. If you want fewer items or a casual-wear-centered approach, you can raise it through a parent member or the opinion-gathering process. The route is explained in how school rule changes and parent opinions go through the school steering committee. Uniform rules are tied to school regulations, so one parent cannot change them quickly, but opinions submitted during the consultation period are recorded.

What to do before enrollment

In short, there are five steps. Buying a uniform in a rush just before the entrance ceremony leaves no time to compare, so it is better to look at school notices as soon as they appear. Check the school's uniform type, add up the unit prices by item, confirm your education office's support method and application period, subtract gym clothes you already own or uniforms you can inherit, and buy only what is missing. If your household has a low income, also look at education benefits and education cost support to see whether separate items apply. This article summarizes reported policy and is general information; school prices and support conditions should be confirmed against the official notices of the school and the education office.