Korea's zeal for education is known around the world, but that exuberance has put a tremendous amount of pressure on its children.<br />Ironically,... many of these kids say they feel healthy.<br />But experts worry about long-term consequences.<br />Connie Kim has the details of the study.<br /><br />Korea is well known for its high education fever, but its schoolchildren feel highly pressured to succeed in the academic world.<br />A report by the Korea Institute for Health and Social Affairs measuring Korean children's academic stress...<br />shows more than 50 percent of children in a 2013 survey scored a 3 or higher out of 4 on the academic stress index... higher than the global average. <br />The index accounts for elements such as children's preschool enrollment and academic achievements.<br /><br />While stress typically takes a toll on a person's health, the report says this isn't the case for Korean children.<br />When asked about their health, an overwhelming 97-percent of the children surveyed said they believe they are in good or average physical health.<br />The research conductor says these seemingly contradictory results reflect the unique Korean characteristic of enduring hardship and the high priority on education.<br /><br /><br />"In Korea, admission to a prestigious university is considered an important milestone. I believe this widespread perception partly shapes students' ability to endure stress and feel physically fine."<br /><br />Psychologists, however, worry that children do not feel the need to relieve stress.<br />That, if left unchecked, could lead to various side effects such as violent behavior or addiction.<br /><br /><br />"There are generally two ways of relieving stress -- calming yourself down or letting it out. For children, it's important that parents acknowledge their stress levels and help them let it out."<br /><br />Writing in a journal or taking the time to enjoy a hobby are recommended outlets, but psychologists say these are just a band-aid on the problem.<br />What's more important, they say, is for Korean society to reflect on its valu
