People with disabilities may obtain an education in special schools as well as special and general classes within general schools. In 2005, a total of 58,362 students with disabilities received special education. Of this number, 23,449 students were given instruction in special schools, and 34,913 were mainstreamed in special and general classes in regular schools.

As of 2006, there were 143 special schools for persons with disabilities in the nation. These included seven for emotionally disturbed students, 12 for students with visual impairments, 18 for students with hearing impairments, 18 for students with physical disabilities and 88 for students with limited mental development.

With an increasing awareness of the needs of people with disabilities, there is also a growing effort to mainstream them in general schools. More and more general schools are appointing special education support staff and building facilities for students with disabilities. In order to accommodate students who have chronic problems, the government is also promoting the establishment of hospital schools.

To improve the quality of special education, the government established the Korea Institute for Special Education in 1994, which has been responsible for conducting research on special education and enhancing public awareness of the needs of those with disabilities.

The Korea National Open University (KNOU) provides working youths and adults with four-year university programs in humanities, the social sciences, the natural sciences and education. Classes are broadcast through diverse media including the Internet, cable TV, radio, video and audio recordings.

An average of 100 courses are offered per semester on the Open University Network, the KNOU-TV channel, which reaches every part of the country via cable and satellite broadcasting. Thirty-minute TV lectures are broadcast 16 hours per day on average. KNOU broadcasts thirty-three 30-minute radio courses, while offering online courses as a means of checking student attendance.

Those who complete the required credit units receive the same type of degree as graduates of regular universities. Other types of special education programs include training programs offered by the government and private organizations. Subjects taught in these programs range across various vocational and technical skills, with the goal of assisting young people and adults in their job performance or leisure activities.