By Jane Han
Staff Reporter

When the back-to-school season comes around, moms and dads say they're the ones getting butterflies in their stomach ― not exactly over their childrens' academic futures, but the overpriced school uniforms they have to buy again.

``Every year, I have to purchase two sets of fall/winter and spring/summer uniforms for my two children, one in the ninth grade and one in 11th,'' said Kim Soo-ee, a parent leader of the Seoul YMCA. ``I'd better have a high budget or my girls will be upset.''

Kim said her younger daughter's uniform set, including a full suit with one extra vest and skirt with three collared shirts, came out to a little over 350,000 won.

``That sounds like a reasonable price,'' said a spokeswoman of Skoolooks, one of the popular local uniform makers, explaining that parents usually spend about 300,000 to 400,000 won per child to ready their wardrobe.

She said many consumers complain that uniforms are overpriced, but the reality is different.

``We've cut down our line of margin as much as we can to reduce the price burden on customers, but we still have basic costs to pay,'' she said, exemplifying high-quality textiles, stylish designs and a guaranteed after service.

However, parent groups say that the makers are taking advantage of the seasonal rush by unjustly raising prices and passing on marketing costs to consumers.

``The boy and girl brands that these companies are fronting demand a lot of money and what can we say? We're ending up paying for their appearance,'' said Kim, who is a leading member of the community group's campaign for fair pricing.

Last year, after the Fair Trade Commission reprimanded the top three domestic uniform manufacturers for collusion, prices were temporarily brought down. However, observers say the fixed-pricing situation is repeating itself again.

``It's difficult for me to find any price variations because all of them are offering me the same range. This isn't right,'' said Choi Kyung-ae, another member of the YMCA.

She said if she and her son chose a significantly lower-level brand, prices become a bit friendlier.

``But that would require sacrificing quality,'' said Choi, lamenting that there is no middle range brand that can offer both a decent level of price and choice.

The National Statistics Office said early this month that the national average of uniform prices went up about 3-4 percent in 2007 compared to the previous year.

jhan@koreatimes.co.kr

Originally Posted by Bastet When I was in grade school my mother put me into Catholic school. It saved my mother a ton of money by having to get me a uniform. And if it's treated right then it can be used the following year or if outgrown, can be sold back to the school. Was I reading right that the styles change every year? Because if that is true then it's pretty expensive. What kind of say do the parents have in the schooling of their children in Korea? Is it publicly ran and managed by a school board? Or is it private?