The purpose of this study lies in the development of human resources required by the knowledge-based society through the empirical survey of the influential factors, having an effect on the learners\' satisfaction with distance learning, and the enhanced quality of instructional service which would lead to an improved academic performance by learners.
To this end, this study utilized a questionnaire survey participated by 203 students of K University in the Chungnam province, who were enrolled as lifelong education students and took classes of distance learning. The data collected were analyzed, using the statistical program of SPSS Ver. 13.0.
According to the results of the study, the effect of distance learning factors on the students’ satisfaction with distance learning, was found to be affected by such factors as system and teachers\' capability.
As such, it was found that our distance learning system has its own limits, and it was also proven that the system requires diversified efforts to be made without delay. In the meantime, the new environment accompanied by distance learning was proven to necessitate a new management capability of instruction to be equipped by teachers. In other words, teachers, who can be likened to a conductor of the whole instruction, should give duly attention to not only their quality of lectures, but to the promotion of interaction between teachers and students through instructional design.
Key words : distance learning, lifelong education, learners\' satisfaction