The question of whether we should require students to wear school uniforms in K-12 schools has been a hot topic ever since 1983 when the Ministry of Education ended its mandatory nationwide school uniform requirement. Subsequently, schools and their respective PTAs have had the choice of whether to require their students to wear uniforms.

However, even after the rule was scrapped, most schools in Korea have required uniforms. In a census conducted by the Ministry of Education in 2013, over 95% of schools nationwide had uniforms. This, however, does not mean that school uniforms are perfect—they are far from it.

People in favor of school uniforms raise two main arguments: uniforms can reduce classism within school boundaries, and wearing uniforms helps students focus on schoolwork rather than focusing on fashion. Although they are great arguments at face value, they fall weak on three points.

First, school uniforms are expensive. In a study conducted by the Gyeonggi Provincial Office of Education, the average cost of school uniforms per year is over 280,000 won. This may be a significant additional cost to those that may be struggling to get by, especially since children and teenagers generally need new sets of clothes every year.

Secondly, with the rise of fast fashion and cheap clothing, it has become increasingly harder to link wealth with clothing. The average cost of clothes in the 1980s in Korea was about the same as today. Adjusted for inflation, however, that means that a shirt that cost 20,000 won in 1980 would have cost approximately 98,000 won in 2021. Thus, it is reasonable to argue that clothing has become cheaper, more focused on individual styles, and less of a show of wealth.

Thirdly, school uniforms are uncomfortable. A study conducted at one high school by the Korean Youth Press in 2018 showed that 65% of the students were dissatisfied with their school uniforms mostly due to them being uncomfortable. This is mainly because school uniforms are poorly designed and follow strict seasonal guidelines. For example, you may not be able to wear a summer uniform in the 30-degree heat of late May because it is “not summer yet.”

Why can’t students show a bit of fashion sense in school? It is not like they are going to wear uniforms forever, and I believe that allowing casual clothing would help students to become more independent. Instead of inheriting a set of clothes that they have no say on, students would have the choice of what to wear. Some might prefer trousers over skirts or jackets over long-sleeved shirts.

School uniforms have been ubiquitous at schools throughout the country for the past few decades. However, it can be argued that the costs of keeping mandatory school uniforms now outweigh the benefits. Although uniforms may have helped to reduce classism in the past, school uniforms have always neglected students’ choices. Allowing students to choose their clothing for school can bring out the uniqueness of individual students and may even help to keep unnecessary clothing costs down.