October 18, 2025Open Access

Resilience and volatility in lifelong learning participation: A crisis-response analysis of South Korea’s 18-year journey (2007-2024)

Key Points

Participation rates in lifelong learning fluctuated significantly, with a peak of 41.7% in 2019 and a drop to 28.5% in 2022 as a result of COVID-19.
Data from the Korean Survey of Lifelong Learning Individual Participation showed rates varied from 29.8% in 2007 to 33.1% in 2024, indicating complex dynamics beyond linear growth.
The study applied crisis-response analytical frameworks, revealing differential vulnerability patterns in education during periods of stability and crises.
Findings emphasize the need for building crisis-resilient systems in adult education to counteract volatility and support lifelong learning.

Abstract

This longitudinal study examines the volatility and crisis resilience of adult lifelong learning participation in South Korea over an 18-year period, elucidating complex dynamics that transcend simple linear growth patterns. Drawing on nationally representative data from the Korean Survey of Lifelong Learning Individual Participation (KEDI, 2007-2024) covering 99,327 adults, this study applied crisis-response analytical frameworks to elucidate participation fluctuations. Empirical analysis revealed significant volatility with participation rates fluctuating from 29.8% (2007) to 33.1% (2024), experiencing peaks of 41.7% (2019) and dramatic declines during the COVID-19 pandemic (40.0% to 28.5%, 2020-2022). While generational and regional disparities demonstrated convergence during stable periods, they exhibited expansion during crises, revealing differential vulnerability patterns. These findings challenge prevailing assumptions about linear progress in lifelong learning development and underscore the critical importance of building crisis-resilient adult education systems.

Read Full Paperexternally

Ask AI

Mark Helpful

Bookmark

Relay

View Full Paper