The government pledged Tuesday to take stern disciplinary measures against unlicensed English immersion camps run by private and state-run universities here.

The Ministry of Education said it would check all schools across the country, close unregistered programs, and impose severe punishment against schools that keep breaking the rules.

The announcement came amid a growing number of English-learning boarding camps that are emerging as alternatives for students who cannot afford to go overseas for language training.

Under the law, only licensed private institutions or colleges can teach students English outside of school hours when asked to do so by central and regional governments.

But more than 20 colleges here have been running English camps for youths during summer vacation, charging each student up to 3 million won ($2,690), according to Rep. Jeong Jin-hoo of the Justice Party.

Jeong on Tuesday released the list of schools running such unauthorized English courses. He made the report after conducting an online survey and analyzing data submitted by the Education Ministry.

Included on the list are leading private universities such as Korea University and Sungkyunkwan University. The two schools charge 2.98 million won and 2.97 million won, respectively, for a three-week program for primary and secondary students, according to his report.

Gyeongsang National University has been running a three-week program with a 1.69 million won fee for middle school students. Other state-run colleges and international private secondary schools, including Jeju National University and Korea International School in Jeju, are also on the list, he reported.

“It’s very disappointing that not only private, but state-run schools are taking advantage of students, running summer English camps to make some money off of them,” Jeong said, urging the government to take immediate action.

By Oh Kyu-wook (596story@heraldcorp.com)