Schools in Seoul: international schools, Korean public schools and what Americans pay

Most American families in Seoul pick an international school, and the sticker shock is real: tuition at the best-known schools tops USD 30,000 a year once you add the won and dollar portions together. Korean public schools are free and an option for younger kids, and DoDEA schools are only for military families.

The short version

• Korea had 38 foreign schools as of September 2024, mostly in Seoul. Most teach in English, and most follow an American curriculum [1].
• Foreign schools are mainly for foreign children. Korean nationals need to have lived abroad for more than three years, and domestic students are capped at 30% of enrollment (up to 50% where local rules allow) [1].
• At Seoul Foreign School and Seoul International School, 2026-27 tuition is billed partly in won and partly in US dollars [2][3].
• DoDEA's Seoul schools closed on June 14, 2019 [4]. DoDEA schools in Korea now sit on bases south of Seoul and are for command-sponsored families, with space-available spots that aren't guaranteed [5].
• Korean public elementary and middle schools are compulsory and run on a 6-3-3 system [6].

USD conversions use the Federal Reserve H.10 rate of October 30, 2026 (USD 1 = KRW 1,333.99) [7].

International schools: the main option for Americans

Korea's foreign schools are licensed by local education offices. The Ministry of Education's International School Information site (isi.go.kr, in English) lists each school's contact details, start dates and location [1].

Because of the Korean-nationality cap, your US passport matters. If one parent is Korean and your child also holds Korean citizenship, check with the admissions office early, since that child may count against the domestic quota.

Schools we checked

YISS says it's open to all nationalities but gives priority to foreign families living in Korea, and families must meet the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's eligibility rules [8].

Seoul Foreign School: 2026-27 tuition

Seoul Foreign School publishes its 2026-27 fees with a won portion and a dollar portion for each grade [2]:

New students also pay an application fee of KRW 450,000 (about USD 340), a registration fee of KRW 650,000 (about USD 490) and an entrance fee of KRW 5.5 million (about USD 4,120), all non-refundable. The optional round-trip bus is KRW 4.2 million (about USD 3,150) a year [2].

Seoul International School: 2026-27 tuition

Seoul International School, in Seongnam, also splits tuition between won and dollars [3]:

On top of that: a KRW 500,000 (about USD 375) application fee, a one-time KRW 4 million (about USD 3,000) registration fee for new students, and an optional KRW 3 million (about USD 2,250) bus fee [3].

Those totals depend on the exchange rate, since part of the bill is in won. If your salary is in dollars, a stronger won makes school pricier.

How admissions work

1. Shortlist by commute. Seoul traffic is no joke. Families often choose the school first and the apartment second.
2. Apply early. Popular grades fill up, especially for August starts. Most schools start in August and end in early June, like back home [2][8].
3. Gather records. Expect to send transcripts, recommendations, standardized test results and passports.
4. Ask about employer support. Some expat packages include a school allowance. Get it in writing before you sign.
5. Budget for one-time fees. Registration and entrance fees can add several thousand dollars in year one.

Korean public schools

Korean public schools follow a 6-3-3 system: six years of elementary school, three of middle school and three of high school. Elementary and middle school are compulsory [6]. Enrollment for foreign children goes through the local Office of Education; in Seoul that's the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and its district offices [6].

What's different from back home:

• The calendar. The Korean school year starts in March, not in late August or September.
• Language. Classes are in Korean. Younger kids usually pick it up fast; teens have a much harder time.
• Academic pressure. Many Korean students spend evenings at private academies (hagwon). Your child doesn't have to, but expect classmates to be busy.
• Lunch. School lunch is a hot Korean meal, not a cafeteria pizza line.

Public school can work well for an elementary-age child in a family that plans to stay several years. For a high schooler who needs US transcripts and AP or IB courses for college, an international school is usually the safer bet.

DoDEA schools: military families only

For about 60 years the Department of Defense ran schools for military kids, including Seoul American High School, at the Seoul School Complex on Yongsan Garrison in the heart of the city. The final bell rang on June 14, 2019, as US forces moved south under the Yongsan Relocation Program [4].

DoDEA schools in Korea are now on bases outside Seoul. At Osan Air Base, for example, DoDEA runs Osan Elementary School (K-5, with Pre-K) and Osan Middle High School (6-12) [5]. Command-sponsored military and federal civilian families are guaranteed a place. Non-command-sponsored dependents can only apply for space-available enrollment, which Osan describes as extremely limited and not guaranteed, and the whole family must be in Korea before applying [5].

If you're a civilian with no defense connection, DoDEA isn't a realistic option. Plan on an international school.

College applications from Seoul

International school counselors handle US college applications every year, so your kid won't be the first. A few American-specific points:

• FAFSA still applies. US citizens abroad file it like everyone else.
• In-state tuition is tricky. Most public universities look at where the student or parents are domiciled. Living in Seoul can cost you in-state status, so check your home state's rules early.
• Testing. Use the College Board's test center search to find SAT dates in Seoul, and ask your school about AP exams. Seats go early.
• Korean universities are an option too; foreign and international school students applying to them may need extra Korean history and language lessons [1].

Want to compare notes with parents at these schools? Ask in our community group for Americans in South Korea.

Sources

1. KOTRA Invest Korea Ombudsman: School system for foreigners (PDF, September 2024 data)
2. Seoul Foreign School: Tuition and fees, 2026-27
3. Seoul International School: Tuition and fees, 2026-27
4. US Army: Final bell rings for Yongsan schools (June 2019)
5. Osan Air Base: School registration prep
6. Incheon Metropolitan City: Education for foreign residents
7. Federal Reserve: H.10 foreign exchange rates
8. Yongsan International School of Seoul: Admissions FAQ

Keep reading

• The US military community in Seoul
• Moving to Seoul as an American: visa routes
• Learning Korean in Seoul
• Student loans while living abroad