<p>^Much if this has to do with cultural differences. The Korean educational system, for instance, is vastly different from the American educational system. In Korea, everyone is vying for the valedictorian position. Not only that, but everyone is trying to get into a single university - Seoul National University. If you don’t get into that one university, you’ll either join the army and serve your required time, or spend another year studying to try to get in next year. Getting in is the American equivalent of a Harvard acceptance. So many people push themselves so hard that if you don’t go to a second school (school from like 4pm to 12 am), then you might as well consider yourself out. There’s a saying: If you sleep more than 4 hours, then you’ll fail.</p>
<p>Now compare it to the American system. The idea here is that no matter what college you go to, its the effort you put into it that’ll determine if you succeed or not. That’s why people don’t commit suicide over not being accepted into their number 1 choice (or not as many). That’s why Asian parents push their children so much. They grew up in a system that pushes them twenty times harder, and they believe that they are lowering the amount of pressure that they are putting on their children.</p>
<p>Asian parents are by no means heartless or cruel. You just have to understand the culture to understand them.</p>