Middle school students in Korea have low happiness due to an education system focused on academics. To address this, vocational classes were introduced in 42 schools in 2013 and then expanded to all schools by 2016. These classes, taught by companies and vocational teachers, aim to develop personality and social skills by providing step-by-step hands-on experiences in morning and afternoon sessions to complement the academic curriculum. However, some argue this approach does not replace direct experience and may not sufficiently motivate students given Korea's reliance on private after-school academies.