Chungdahm Learning is a private student education company in South Korea,[1] with over 130,000 students across more than 200 schools.[2] Chungdahm Learning has schools, and services operating in North America, South America, China, Japan and Vietnam.[3] Chungdahm Institute (CDI), a subsidiary of Chungdahm Learning, is an English language hagwon (private after-school academy) program.[4]

Chungdahm Learning
Native name
청담러닝
Company typePublic
KRX: 096240
IndustryEducation
Founded1998 (1998) in Seoul, South Korea
FounderYoung Hwa Kim
Headquarters
Seoul
,
South Korea
Number of locations
200+
BrandsChungdahm Institute, April Institute, i-Garten, Quick Chinese
RevenueUSD 129 million (2016)
Number of employees
  • FTEs: 420 (2016)
  • Instructors: 1,300 (2016)
Websitecompany.chungdahm.com

History

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Chungdahm Learning was founded in 1998 by CEO Young Hwa Kim, starting as Chungdahm Institute (CDI) and incorporating in 2002.[5] Chungdahm Learning focuses on teaching English as a second language through test prep, critical thinking, and literature content modules.[6][7][8][9] Chungdahm's methodology implements the use of smart classrooms using tablet PCs and smart textbooks, a first in Korea.[5]

It launched April Institute to target younger elementary school students in 2007 and was listed on the KOSDAQ market in 2008. In 2012, Chungdahm Learning acquired CMS Education (Creative Math & Science). In 2013, Chungdahm 3.0, a smart learning solution, was launched to operate Smart Class at CDL schools.[10] In April 2014, Chungdahm announced plans to partner with Knewton to incorporate adaptive learning into its curriculum.[11] Chungdahm entered into partnerships with Apax Holdings and EGroup in 2016 to expand Chungdahm's market presence into Vietnam.[12]

In 2022, Chungdahm and CMS began functioning together under the Creverse brand.[13]

Controversy

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In 2015, a group of former CDI teachers won recognition as full-time employees by the Supreme Court of Korea entitling the teachers to unpaid severance pay and other benefits.[14][15] Chungdahm Learning was found to have run a scheme treating foreign teachers as independent contractors instead of employees in contravention of the Labor Standards Act, thereby saving costs by not paying severance contributions to pension or health insurance.[14]

Also in 2015, an employee of an April branch of Chungdahm Learning denied a job application from a person of color on the basis of race, asserting that their customers preferred Caucasian teachers.[16] Park Kyung-ha, a spokeswoman for Chungdahm, admitted that the job posting was against the guidelines of CDI and the branch owner offered an apology and promise to not post discriminatory job listings in the future.[16]

References

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  1. ^ "Chungdahm Learning's operating profit may quadruple this year". Pulse. June 28, 2017. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  2. ^ "Chungdahm Learning". Archived from the original on 2017-12-15. Retrieved 2017-12-15.
  3. ^ "Chungdahm, Egroup partner to teach English in Vietnam". VOV. June 13, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  4. ^ "Chungdahm Learning". Chungdahm Learning. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  5. ^ a b "Chung Dahm Learning". Teach Away. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  6. ^ "우리 아이가 만날 미래". Innovation Lab. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  7. ^ "[CEO & CEO] 청담러닝 김영화 대표 "난 스마트러닝 밖에 모른다"". MK. January 11, 2015. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  8. ^ "[교육기업]청담러닝 김영화 대표 "다양한 컨텐츠로 K-러닝 마켓 개척에 주력"". Donga. April 2, 2013. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  9. ^ "About Chungdahm Learning". Teach in Korea. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  10. ^ "Chungdahm at a Glance". Chungdahm Learning. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  11. ^ "Chungdahm Learning and Knewton Plan to Develop Adaptive Learning Products in South Korea". Knewton. April 9, 2014. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 4, 2018.
  12. ^ Hong Nhung (May 20, 2017). "Key Requirement". Vietnam Economic Times. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  13. ^ "크레버스 - 융합사고력 플랫폼". www.creverse.com (in Korean). Retrieved 2022-03-04.
  14. ^ a b "Hagwon lawsuit calls time on independent contractors". 2015-06-17. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
  15. ^ Paul Kerry (January 13, 2015). "Teachers headed for final court battle over employment status". The Korea Herald. Retrieved November 13, 2017.
  16. ^ a b "Chungdahm April under fire for 'whites only' recruitment ad - The Korea Observer". The Korea Observer. 2015-03-30. Retrieved 2017-11-07.
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