ISSN : 1229-0718
The Department of Education data on students' physical examination from 1964 through 1986. and data obtained from individual students' high school records were examined in order to identify height growthpatterns of Korean adolescents. The data from 1960s suggested two peak growth periods, while data from 1979 on suggested only one peak growth period. Several hypotheses were considered as possible explanation for the change in growth pattern. The two most plausible factors responsible for the change were : elimination of high cchool entrance examination which was implemented nationuside in 1978, and rapid growth in per capita in come that has occurred since 1978. The shift from two peak growth periods to one was also accompanied by change to younger maximum growth age.