KAPTS 2026 International Conference

In celebration of the 10th anniversary of the Korean Association of Private Tutoring Studies, the 2026 International Conference was successfully concluded thanks to the dedication, commitment, and active participation of everyone involved.

When Senior Advisor Jun-Eon Park first suggested during the 2025 editorial meeting that we should host an international conference to commemorate the 10th anniversary, our initial reaction was, “Could we really manage something of that scale?”

Despite our doubts, Academic Committee Chair Only Jeon encouraged us to take the first step by reaching out to Professor Mark Bray, a leading authority in the field of private tutoring research and comparative education. He proposed that we contact him directly, meet him in person, and share our vision for the conference.

Following this initial discussion, Chair Jeon reached out to Professor Bray by email. He kindly replied, and we were able to greet him through a preliminary Zoom meeting in December. Soon after, we confirmed our plans and arranged a three‑day visit to Hong Kong, where we met with Professor Mark Bray and Professor Ora Kwo in person. During this visit, we introduced the Korean Association of Private Tutoring Studies and expressed our strong commitment to hosting the 2026 international conference.

Through intensive meetings over the course of those three days, Professor Bray graciously agreed to deliver the keynote address. He also offered his support by helping us connect with leading scholars from various countries who would later join the conference as presenters.

Thanks to these efforts, the international conference—from January through its conclusion in April—proceeded smoothly without a single issue. It became a truly meaningful event for all members of KAPTS. The hundreds of emails exchanged with scholars abroad, along with the valuable presentation materials and manuscripts they generously shared, greatly enriched both the conference and our journal, The Journal of Private Tutoring Research.

We extend our deepest gratitude to all presenters, discussants, participants, and sponsors—both domestic and international—whose time, commitment, and generous support made this conference possible. Your contributions made this 10th‑anniversary conference truly exceptional.

Above all, this conference was made even more meaningful through our close collaboration with KAPTS. Their support, shared vision, and active engagement strengthened every stage of the planning process and enriched the academic depth of the event. The partnership between every researcher not only contributed to the success of this year’s conference but also laid the foundation for continued cooperation in advancing research on private tutoring and shadow education.

We look forward to building on this valuable relationship and creating further opportunities for joint scholarship, dialogue, and international exchange in the years ahead.