Seoul

A Seoul Metropolitan Government publication reproduces an education-office table dated September 2024. It lists SFS with 1,958 pupils, YISS with 1,010, KIS’s Seoul entry with 975, Asia Pacific International School with 800, Dulwich with 700 and Dwight with 620. These are historical reported figures, not current rolls or class sizes, and campus coverage varies between them. ↗

Seoul Foreign School was founded in 1912 and occupies a Yeonhui-dong campus near Yonsei University. It offers British and IB primary routes, followed by IB Middle Years and Diploma programmes. The British primary option does not mean it offers a British curriculum through sixth form. The reviewed SFS profile explains the structure and dated fees. SFS profile

Mainland foreign schools, Seoul’s included, are set up for the children of foreign nationals. Korean law also admits Korean nationals who have lived abroad for a total of three years or more, and children of naturalised citizens whom the local school’s principal, after school-council review, judges unable to continue there (for example, because of limited Korean). Korean nationals admitted on overseas residence may fill no more than 30% of a school’s enrolment capacity, and dual nationals count as Korean. ↗ ↗

At primary level, Seoul Foreign School shows how this works. A child qualifies if at least one parent holds a non-Korean passport; if both parents are Korean, the child needs 1,095 days outside Korea since birth or six semesters of schooling abroad, within the government cap. Families send passports, a notarised English birth certificate (or Certificate of Family Relations), a Residence Card or a Certificate of Entry and Exit, and report cards. Ages 2–5 attend a Learner Readiness Session; ages 6–10 (Grades 1–5) add a teacher recommendation and sit the SFS Admissions Test, which may include an English evaluation. Applications for 2027–28 open in early November 2026, and the application fee is KRW 450,000. ↗ ↗

Jeju Global Education City has different admissions arrangements and includes NLCS Jeju, BHA, SJA Jeju and KIS Jeju. The schools offer different curricula and day or boarding options. Families considering Jeju need a plan for residence or boarding, support and the full journey home. The Jeju guide and reviewed school profiles provide dated details. Jeju guide

Chadwick International opened in 2010 in Songdo, Incheon. Its free-economic-zone setting involves different admissions arrangements from mainland foreign schools, with its own eligibility categories and capacity limits.

Some schools charge tuition in both won and US dollars. The examples below include school-issued SFS rates, secondary 2026–27 listings and older government figures. Converted totals depend on exchange assumptions and are not interchangeable with the original currency portions; a quotation for the correct campus, grade and entry year is the reliable figure.

• Seoul Foreign School (Yeonhui-dong): its 2026–27 Elementary schedule lists partial-day Pre-K at KRW 18,280,000 plus US$7,185; full-day Pre-K 2 at KRW 26,990,000 plus US$8,625; full-day Pre-K 3–4 at KRW 26,740,000 plus US$12,960; and Kindergarten–Grade 5 at KRW 27,285,000 plus US$13,500. The British School uses the same rates; Middle School is KRW 27,930,000 plus US$14,625 and High School KRW 33,370,000 plus US$14,955. Non-refundable application, registration and entrance charges are KRW 450,000, KRW 650,000 and KRW 5.5 million. Annual round-trip bus transport is KRW 4.2 million. Official fees.
• Yongsan International School of Seoul (American/Christian, AP): a secondary 2026–27 listing gives converted tuition of roughly KRW 32.5–38 million, plus KRW 500,000 for application, KRW 1 million for registration and KRW 4.5 million for new-student capital development. ↗
• Dulwich College Seoul (British-to-IB): secondary 2026–27 tuition is roughly KRW 42.7–47.9 million. Korea International School Pangyo is listed at roughly KRW 34.2–46.8 million; confirm the American/AP programme and do not assume an IB Diploma route. Dwight School Seoul, offering the IB continuum, is listed at roughly KRW 28.1–36.4 million. Obtain school-issued schedules for the intended campus and grade. ↗
• Chadwick International (Songdo): a secondary 2026–27 listing gives converted fees of roughly KRW 56.4–65.8 million, before joining charges and other exclusions. ↗
• Seoul International School (Seongnam, founded 1973, American/AP): a secondary compilation gives roughly KRW 30–43 million. The fee year and complete official schedule were not publicly available, so use a direct quotation for budgeting. ↗
• Deutsche Schule Seoul International and Lycée Français de Séoul: the September 2024 government table expresses fees as US$18,200–25,200 and US$8,834–13,510 respectively. These older figures are not current quotations. Compare language, curriculum, eligibility, year group and included services as well as price. ↗

Secondary guides also describe smaller Christian and community schools with lower fee ranges, including estimates of KRW 8–16 million. Those ranges need their year and inclusions confirmed. At any price, check the school’s licence, programme, recognised qualifications, staffing and support; fee level and quality are separate questions. ↗

YISS is on Itaewon-ro, and Deutsche Schule is in Hannam-dong. SIS and KIS Pangyo are in Seongnam, south of Seoul; Chadwick is in Songdo, Incheon. SFS is in Yeonhui-dong. Compare actual journeys from shortlisted homes and confirm bus stops, pickup times and return arrangements after activities. A neighbourhood label does not guarantee a walkable route or a fixed commute.

Jeju is geographically separate from a Seoul day-school search. NLCS offers a British-to-IB route, while BHA offers the IB continuum. Both have boarding arrangements to discuss, but starting ages, gender eligibility and weekend routines differ. Assess travel and supervision before assuming weekly flights suit the family.

Military-connected families should confirm assignment-specific schooling eligibility and options with their education office. Civilian families should compare schools using current programmes, places, support and travel. The old garrison’s location is not a reliable guide to either group’s school choices today.

A historical Chadwick admissions cycle ran from early November to late January, with different assessments by age group; each year’s dates are published separately. Ask whether interviews or tests can be completed remotely and what preparation information the school provides. ↗

A secondary Chadwick listing describes year-round applications for foreign-passport holders. An application window is not a guarantee of a place or compatible courses. For a mid-year move, confirm the grade, subjects and support needed, then obtain joining charges and payment dates in writing. ↗

Current parents can help you understand the school day, communication and travel from particular neighbourhoods. Seek accounts relevant to your child’s age and support needs. Use the school’s written quotation for costs, and ask about language use and inclusion rather than inferring the experience from nationality statistics.

The guide uses published government publications, the completed SFS profile and secondary school listings. The government table is dated September 2024. The more recent secondary fee ranges require direct confirmation, particularly where amounts have been converted between currencies. Source links: Seoul Metropolitan Government

Fee years are identified where recorded. For our source standards, additional profiles and corrections, use the links below. our research standard school directory guides hub corrections