Busan Japanese School

The Busan Japanese School is in Suyeong District, Busan, South Korea. The campus is located at 11 Millak-ro 19beon-gil, Millak-dong, Suyeong-gu. It is about 12 kilometres from central Busan and lies near the Gwangan Beach coastal area.

The school provides elementary and middle school education as a single integrated program. It operates as a private, small-scale school serving these levels.

The school is a private, integrated elementary and middle school (小中一貫教育校) run under the auspices of the Japanese government and local authorities.

There is no published, dedicated SEN provision listed. The school employs teachers dispatched from Japan's Ministry of Education along with local Japanese and Korean teachers who deliver the curriculum.

Japan. The school was established by the Busan Japanese Association under approval by the Japanese and Korean governments.

No religious affiliation is listed for the school.

The official start of the school year is in April. Daily start/end times are not published publicly; parents should contact the school for exact hours.

A school bus service operates, with routes managed by the school. Enrollment outside the standard bus routes is possible, but the school-bus cost applies. Monthly operating costs include the bus service. Contact: +82-51-753-4166.

The Busan Japanese School comprises an elementary division and a junior high division and follows the Japanese national curriculum. The curriculum is aligned with Japan's Course of Study for core subjects and moral education, with local materials incorporated and Korean language and English taught as dedicated programs. Admission qualifications require meeting several criteria, including the need to receive Japanese education, Japanese language ability at grade level, intent to pursue higher education in Japan, guardian residency and bus policy, Busan Japanese Association membership, financial ability, and compliance with laws; foreign Korean nationals must have resided overseas for at least three years, and entrance tests/interviews are conducted. Enrollment requires submitting documents such as enrollment forms, applicant files, enrollment certificates, identity documents, and proof of financial status, with an eligibility review by the school operations committee and potential capacity limitations. Entrance-related fees are 130,000 won for tuition, 50,000 won donation, and 250,000 won facilities usage; ongoing fees include a monthly school operating fee of 570,000 won and PTA dues of 10,000 won per family.

Busan Japanese School supports social-emotional learning through a school-wide anti-bullying policy that states bullying is not tolerated and every student is valuable. The policy includes rights-based education and aims to develop students' self-esteem and moral understanding across activities. A School Anti-Bullying Countermeasures Committee leads prevention, early detection, and response, with members including the principal, deputy principal, and classroom/teacher staff. The school uses structured practices such as weekly student information exchanges, annual student surveys (three times per year), and education consultations to identify concerns early. The policy emphasizes collaboration with families to support student wellbeing and address issues holistically.

The school does not publicly disclose information regarding Special Educational Needs (SEN) provision. Published materials do not describe any SEN program, specific SEN staff, or the kinds of SEN the school can support. The Admissions FAQ indicates general staff with English, Korean, and other subjects, but does not publish SEN-specific services. No SEN policy or dedicated SEN facility is described in publicly accessible materials. The absence of published SEN details means SEN provision is not publicly confirmed.

The language of instruction is Japanese, and the school operates as a private, integrated elementary–middle school in Busan. English language instruction is provided by teachers dispatched by the Japanese Ministry of Education and by local Japanese and Korean teachers, including English. The materials do not describe a dedicated EAL program or EAL staff beyond these general English-teaching assignments. Because of this, EAL-specific provisions are not described in publicly accessible materials.

Mental wellbeing is supported through the anti-bullying policy, which aims to create a safe, rights-based environment and to develop students' self-esteem and resilience. The policy emphasizes moral education and emotional growth across all educational activities. The School Anti-Bullying Countermeasures Committee coordinates prevention, early detection, and response to incidents. The school uses weekly student information exchanges and annual surveys to monitor wellbeing and identify concerns early. The policy also calls for collaboration with families to support students' wellbeing.

Safeguarding is addressed by an explicit anti-bullying policy that defines bullying and outlines staff and parental responsibilities to protect students. It establishes a School Anti-Bullying Countermeasures Committee to manage safeguarding efforts. The policy details procedures for early detection, investigation, and resolution of incidents, including engagement with families and ongoing care for those affected. It emphasizes creating a school culture that does not tolerate bullying and actively supports victims and addresses perpetrators with guidance and follow-up. It also describes regular information exchanges and surveys to monitor students and identify safeguarding concerns.

1. Initiate contact and arrange a tour. To begin the admissions process, contact Busan Japanese School by email or phone. The deputy principal provides detailed responses to inquiries, and if a campus visit is desired, a visit date can be scheduled. This initial step establishes whether a tour and a discussion about enrollment fit your family's needs.

2. Review eligibility for non-Japanese applicants. Admissions can be considered for students regardless of nationality, provided several conditions are met: there is a recognized need for receiving Japanese education in the student's current or future academic plan; Japanese language ability should be at or above the level of the student's grade; the student intends to pursue higher education in Japan; the guardian resides with the student and can ensure safe attendance; the guardian is a member or supporting member of the Busan Association; the family can meet admission and ongoing tuition obligations; there is compliance with education-related laws; and the family agrees with the school bus co-operation policy.

3. Understand the school bus policy and out-of-route options. The school operates a bus service as a general policy, but enrollment is possible even from areas outside the bus routes. If you choose not to use the bus, you will be responsible for paying the bus operation costs as a co-management arrangement. This ensures flexibility in commute planning while maintaining the school's transportation framework.

4. Plan textbooks and educational materials. If you are coming from abroad, you must obtain textbooks from the Overseas Children Education Promotion Foundation before departing. For other entrants, textbooks should be procured through the consulate annually while enrolled. This ensures students have the required instructional materials aligned with their enrollment.

5. Learn about staff and instructional composition. The teaching staff includes instructors dispatched by Japan's Ministry of Education as well as Japanese residents and Korean teachers who handle English, Korean, and arts subjects. This mixture supports a bilingual or multilingual learning environment aligned with the school's educational aims.

6. Note the dress expectations for daily life and ceremonies. There is no strict daily uniform requirement, but students are expected to dress in a respectful manner for ceremonial events such as the entrance and graduation ceremonies. This approach balances everyday comfort with ceremony-specific etiquette.

7. Consider mid-year admission timing and planning. Admissions consultations are handled on an ongoing basis. However, for junior high students nearing high school entrance exams, near-term admissions may be challenging, so early consultation is encouraged to align timelines and planning with school schedules.

8. Be prepared for enrollment fees. At the time of offer, families pay the following: an admission fee of 130,000 KRW per student; a donation of 50,000 KRW per family; and a facility donation of 2,500,000 KRW or the equivalent amount in Japanese yen (250,000 JPY). These fees are non-refundable in many cases and are due upon acceptance.

9. Understand monthly operating expenses and PTA dues. Each month, families are responsible for the school operating fee of 570,000 KRW (including bus operation costs) and a PTA fee of 10,000 KRW. These recurring costs cover school operations and parent association activities.

10. Review post-middle-school pathways the school notes. For students completing middle school, recent outcomes include admissions to several Japanese and international institutions, such as Kaisei High School, Seibu Gakuen Bunri High School, Tokyo Gakugei University Affiliated High School, Hibiya High School, Waseda University Senior High School, Busan International Foreign School, and other listed universities/high schools in Japan. This information illustrates typical higher-education trajectories observed among graduates.

There is no scholarship program described in the admissions information. No details about scholarships or financial aid are published in the provided materials; families should rely on the stated enrollment and monthly fees when planning finances.

The admissions information does not publish a formal waitlist or applicant pool policy. For current availability and next steps, contact the school's office to discuss space and timing.