[Edaily Reporter KIM EUNG-TAE ] As the domestic education market stagnates due to a declining school-age population, education companies are turning their attention to the Latin American market. With significant potential demand for education, particularly among the middle class, and a strong preference for Korean culture—fueled by the popularity of K-Beauty and K-Pop—these companies are seen as seeking new growth opportunities by establishing a foothold in Latin America.

According to the education industry on the 12th, major domestic education companies are accelerating their business expansion and network building efforts targeting the Latin American market. DAEKYO is taking the most proactive steps. Last year, DAEKYO wound down its U.S.-based “Eye Level Hub” and “DAEKYO India” subsidiaries, but in May of this year, it established “Ecuador Eye Level.” iA, Inc. is a learning center that operates customized online and offline self-directed learning programs, and Ecuador Eye Level recently kicked off its full-scale market penetration by hosting its first global math competition locally. It is also working to build a local network with educational institutions in the Guayaquil region of Ecuador to expand its business.
DAEKYO’s strategy is to use Ecuador as a strategic hub to target the entire Latin American region. A DAEKYO official stated, “Based on our operational experience in Ecuador, we will comprehensively review the educational market environment, business potential, and suitable local partners in each country to continuously seek new business opportunities in Latin America.” As the search for suitable partners in Ecuador is proceeding smoothly, the company plans to use this country as a base to expand its business throughout Latin America.
Cheonjae Education, which operates a business providing artificial intelligence (AI) digital educational materials, is eyeing the Latin American market as a new frontier for global expansion following its success in Asia. Analysts suggest the company is seeking new avenues in overseas markets after its business expansion in Korea was limited when the legal status of its “AI Digital Textbook” (AIDT) was downgraded from a textbook to an educational resource. Chunjae Education participated in a global education event held in late June, where it showcased its AI digital education solutions to officials from the ministries of education of major Latin American countries, exploring opportunities to enter those markets.
Edtech company i-Scream Media CO., LTD. has also joined the push into the Latin American market. The company participated in a Latin American regional education conference held at the Paraguayan National Congress this month, where it introduced “Lumitichi,” its proprietary AI edtech classroom platform. Lumitichi is a platform where AI generates lesson activity content based on materials provided by teachers, enabling students to participate in class by expressing their answers and thoughts. An i-Scream Media CO., LTD. representative stated, “Lumitichi is a scalable platform capable of using AI to transform each country’s curriculum and existing content into lesson materials,” adding, “Based on a cooperative model for developing a national education platform in Paraguay, we plan to expand our business reach to other countries in Latin America.”
The reason education companies have begun focusing their efforts on entering the Latin American market is largely due to the growing demand for education, particularly among the middle class, in a region with a substantial school-age population. According to the United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), the number of school-age children and youth in Latin America and the Caribbean is estimated to be approximately 180 million. Analysts note that, given this large school-age population, there is a growing trend to supplement the limitations of public education infrastructure with private education, creating a favorable environment for Korean education companies to pioneer the market.
The Hallyu wave is also cited as a positive factor. As favorability toward Korean culture as a whole—centered on K-Beauty and K-Pop—has increased, resistance to the Korean-style education system and technology has diminished, making market penetration significantly easier.
An official in the education industry stated, “Latin America is a region rich in growth potential and business opportunities for the education market,” adding, “The popularity of the Korean Wave is another positive factor that could influence Korean education brands and businesses.”