International Schools in Seoul: The Complete Guide

South Korea has roughly 45 accredited foreign schools, and about 20 of them are in Seoul. Many other schools that call themselves "international" are unaccredited academies, so check a school's status before you apply. Korean law limits who can enrol, which makes your visa the first thing to sort out.

Who can enrol

Foreign schools are set up for foreign families, and schools check residence status as part of every application. Common eligible visas include E-1 (professors), E-2 (foreign-language instructors), E-7 (specialist professionals), D-8 (corporate investors) and F-2 (long-term residents). Other visa types may need extra documents or special approval, so confirm with the school before you move.

Korean nationals can generally enrol only if they have lived abroad for at least three years. Korean students are capped at 30% of a school's enrolment, or up to 50% with approval.

Fees

Expect to pay roughly USD 20,000 to 40,000 a year at an established international school. Korean state schools cost far less, but few of them are set up for children who do not speak Korean.

Curricula

American and IB programmes are the most common in Seoul, and British-curriculum schooling is available too, for example at Dulwich College Seoul. A few schools offer Montessori or other alternative approaches in the early years.

Where the schools are

Schools are spread across the city. Yongsan International School is in Yongsan, Seoul Foreign School in Seodaemun, Dwight School Seoul in Mapo and Dulwich College Seoul in Seocho. These districts have plenty of English-speaking families and Western shops and services.

Songpa, in the south-east, has a smaller and newer group of schools. Bundang, just outside Seoul, is a newer suburban area where housing near school can cost less than in central Seoul.

Seoul traffic is heavy, and a school on the far side of the city can add several hours of driving a week. Many families choose the school first and then look for housing nearby.

Korean language

Most international schools in Seoul teach some Korean, even where English is the main language of instruction. If you want a school with no Korean at all, your choice will be narrower. Plenty of families are happy for their children to pick up Korean alongside English.

Universities and teachers

Most graduates go on to universities in the US, UK and Australia, and the established schools have university counselling teams for those routes. Schools will support applications to Korean universities too, though usually with less specialist help.

Seoul's schools recruit Western teachers without much difficulty. Ask any school about teacher turnover, since a high rate can point to wider problems.

Admissions timeline

Most schools open applications in the autumn, with deadlines between October and December. Assessments and offers usually follow between November and March. Seoul's schools are less oversubscribed than those in Singapore or Hong Kong, though the popular ones do fill. Some multinational employers have arrangements with particular schools, so ask your HR team.

How to start your search

Confirm that your visa allows enrolment, then decide which part of the city you will live in, then narrow by budget and curriculum. Seoul's expat parent groups are active and are a good place to ask current families about a school.

Frequently asked questions

Can Korean children attend international schools in Seoul?

Only in limited cases. Korean nationals generally need to have lived abroad for at least three years, and Korean students are capped at 30% of enrolment, or up to 50% with approval.

When should we apply?

Apply in the autumn before the year you want to start. Most deadlines fall between October and December, with offers between November and March.

How much do international schools in Seoul cost?

Established schools charge roughly USD 20,000 to 40,000 a year in tuition. Check each school's fee schedule for application, building and bus fees.