Go So-young, "I hardly go to academies" reappears in graduation photos

As actors Ko So-young and Jang Dong-gun appear together in photos from an international school graduation ceremony, the stories Ko So-young publicly shared last year regarding her children's education are being revisited. The reason a simple photo of their recent whereabouts has captured so much attention is clear. Rather than the star couple's outing itself, Ko So-young's candid remark, "They hardly go to academies (hagwons)," resonates deeply with the current interests of parents.

Graduation photos reignite education discussions

The graduation photos released on the 12th show Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young alongside dancer Poppin' Hyun-jun's family. Poppin' Hyun-jun celebrated his daughter's middle school graduation, writing, "I can't believe she's already graduating middle school," and shared several photos taken at the scene. The location in the photos is known to be SSI Art & Design, an international school specializing in arts and design located in Seocho-gu, Seoul, with middle school tuition reported to be around 23 to 25 million KRW per year.

However, there is a line that must be drawn here. Although the photos were released, specific details such as whether Jang Dong-gun and Ko So-young's children are actually enrolled or what grade they are in have not been officially confirmed. Therefore, the core of this news is not about digging for private information about the children. Rather, it lies in how the parents' appearance at this public event aligns with the educational philosophy Ko So-young herself previously disclosed.

Ko So-young, who spoke of "learning how to do things alone"

Last year, Ko So-young appeared on the YouTube channel 'Study King Hong Jin-kyung' and spoke relatively honestly about her daily routine and parenting style. She mentioned that she values the time when children return from school, providing them with snacks and being there the moment they look for their mother upon entering the house. When Hong Jin-kyung asked about driving them to academies, Ko So-young laughed and explained, "They hardly go to academies," noting that even when she tried sending them, the children would get distracted or wander off to convenience stores.

This statement is being brought up again because Ko So-young's choices show a different texture from the common "Daechi-dong style" private education image. She did not say she was giving up on their studies. She mentioned that while she used to dote on them excessively, she now aims to teach them "how to do things alone." Her approach is closer to respecting the time for children to move on their own rather than heavily relying on private education, which is why this graduation photo is being read as more than just a simple update on a celebrity's life.

A line of verification more important than celebrity family updates

The education of celebrities' children always becomes an easy topic of conversation. The moment school names, tuition fees, or neighborhoods are mentioned, interest grows rapidly, but that interest does not serve as a substitute for fact-checking. In this case, what can be confirmed is that graduation photos were released, the couple was present at the scene, and Ko So-young previously emphasized care within daily life and independence over academies on a broadcast.

Therefore, the next point to observe is not private speculation, but Ko So-young's own public activities. Recently, she has been gradually opening up about her family, daily life, and return to work through YouTube and broadcasts. If these photos continue to be consumed, the reason lies not in the prestige of the international school, but in the words Ko So-young herself left behind. The short sentence, "They hardly go to academies," serves as a reminder that there is no single way to explain the method of raising children.