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Korea Foreign School

South Korea, Seoul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ₩27,300,000 - 28,300,000
Ages 6 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 121
Type Co-educational
Opened 2007
Bus Service Yes
Academic offering
Curriculum IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum
Taught languages Korean, Spanish
Typical class size 15
Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Service and Sustainability
Clubs Academic and Intellectual, Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Lifestyle and Wellbeing
Stages Primary School, Middle School, High School
Introduction

Korea Foreign School (KFS) is a non-profit, coeducational day school in Seoul, founded in 2007, serving Grades 1–12. In Grades 1–5, students follow the IB Primary Years Programme (PYP), built around inquiry and six transdisciplinary themes. From Grade 6 onward, KFS offers Cambridge International programmes, including Lower Secondary and Upper Secondary with IGCSE assessments and Cambridge Advanced (AS & A Levels) as well as the AICE Diploma for high school students. The school supports English language development through ELL services, including WIDA MODEL assessment and targeted support such as push-in, pull-out and an intensive English course. Weekly clubs run on Wednesdays and examples of the clubs in the school include Robotics, Model UN, Chess, and Football.

509 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

The Essentials

Korea Foreign School has 121 pupils, typical class sizes of 15, instruction in English.

Location

Located at 509 Yeoksam-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06185, Republic of Korea. It sits in the Gangnam district, a central business and expatriate area in Seoul. The campus is accessible by major transit routes in southern central Seoul; directions from Incheon Airport use COEX Mall with a 15‑minute walk to the school.

Stages

Korea Foreign School offers the IB Primary Years Programme for Grades 1–5 and Cambridge International Programme for Grades 6–12. Cambridge qualifications include the Cambridge AICE Diploma for high school.

Type

KFS is a foreign school registered with the Korean Ministry of Education and is fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC). It operates as an IB World School (PYP) and a Cambridge International School (Secondary).

Additional learning support

KFS provides English Language Learner (ELL) support for students who speak a language other than English at home. Placement is determined by the WIDA MODEL assessment; services include push‑in, pull‑out, and an ELL Intensive program, with schedules adjusted as needed.

Country affiliation

No country affiliation is listed; KFS is registered with the Korean Ministry of Education as a foreign school.

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation is listed.

School day structure

The school day runs from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday to Friday.

Bus service

A school bus service operates in multiple districts: Gangnam-gu, Seocho-gu, Yongsan-gu, Songpa-gu, Mapo-gu, Itaewon-dong, Hannam-dong. Bus fees are non‑refundable, and a Transport Information Form is required for bookings and route changes.

Fees

Annual tuition at Korea Foreign School ranges from KRW 27,300,000 to KRW 28,300,000 for 2026/27.

Application and enrolment charges

- Application fee (new students): KRW 300,000 (non‑refundable).
- Registration fee (new students): KRW 500,000 (non‑refundable).
- Capital development fee (new students): KRW 4,000,000 (non‑refundable).
- Timing: the application fee is paid at the time of application; once a place is offered families generally have 15 days to accept and, in most situations, the application and registration fees are required to be paid within one week of acceptance.

Annual tuition and per‑term breakdown (by grade group)

- IB Primary Years (Grades 1–5): KRW 26,000,000 per year.
- Cambridge Secondary (Grades 6–12): KRW 27,000,000 per year.
- School calendar: the school year is divided into two semesters. Using that division, the corresponding per‑semester amounts are:
- Grades 1–5: KRW 13,000,000 per semester (annual KRW 26,000,000 ÷ 2).
- Grades 6–12: KRW 13,500,000 per semester (annual KRW 27,000,000 ÷ 2).
(These per‑semester figures are arithmetic divisions of the published annual tuition and are presented as the term breakdown consistent with the school's two‑semester academic year.)

Additional refundable fees (may apply depending on services used)

- Learning support (where applicable): KRW 5,000,000.
- English Language Learners (ELL) support (where applicable): KRW 5,000,000.
- Bus fee (annual): KRW 3,600,000.
- Lunch fee (annual): KRW 1,800,000.
- Cambridge examination fees (Grades 10–12): KRW 525,000–KRW 1,200,000 depending on grade.
- Graduation fee (Grades 5 and 12): KRW 50,000–KRW 100,000 depending on grade.

Additional non‑refundable and other one‑time fees

- Application fee (new students): KRW 300,000 (non‑refundable).
- Registration fee (new students): KRW 500,000 (non‑refundable).
- Capital development fee (new students): KRW 4,000,000 (non‑refundable).
- Replacement fee (returning students): KRW 1,000,000.
- Technology fee (returning students): KRW 300,000.
- Supply fee: Grades 1–5 KRW 100,000; Grades 6–12 KRW 50,000.
- Textbook fee: KRW 72,000–KRW 495,000 depending on grade.

Sibling discount

- A 5% tuition discount applies for each additional child enrolled.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Application and early enrolment payments:
- Application fee is required at application submission.
- Following an offer of a place, families are generally given 15 days to accept; application and registration fees are normally due within one week of acceptance.
- Bank details are provided for KRW and USD payments; parents should include the child's full name in transfer details to ensure correct matching. The school lists KEB Hana Bank with separate KRW and USD account numbers and a SWIFT code for international transfers.
- The school's publicly posted material does not set out a detailed multi‑installment tuition schedule or specify public credit‑card acceptance terms; the documented, confirmed payment method is bank transfer to the listed KEB Hana Bank accounts. The application and tuition pages provide the bank account numbers and SWIFT code for payments.

Refund information and withdrawal terms

- Refunds: tuition and refundable fees are eligible for refund in accordance with the school's published refund schedule.
- Notice: a one‑month notice before the child's last day of attendance is required to process a withdrawal and refund.
- Discounts: any discounts applied (for example sibling discounts) are excluded from refunds and are deducted from refunded amounts.
- Temporary absences: tuition and additional fees are not reduced or refunded for temporary leaves (travel, sickness, etc.).
- Timing of refunds: for operational reasons refunds may be paid in installments over a period of up to six months after withdrawal.

Boarding

- Boarding is not applicable. Students are required to be in full‑time residence with at least one parent or a legal guardian; there is no boarding programme listed.

Uniforms and other ancillary costs

- Uniforms are purchased from the school‑designated supplier (ELITE UNIFORM, Gangnam branch). No uniform price list is published on the publicly available pages.
- Other ancillary costs that families should budget for include the bus and lunch fees, textbooks, supplies, technology fee, and examination fees (listed above).

Confirmed fee payment options (as published)

- Bank transfer to KEB Hana Bank (KRW account and USD account provided). SWIFT code KOEXKRSE is listed for international transfers; include the child's full name in transfer details.
- No public documentation on the school pages confirms acceptance of credit/debit card payments for tuition; the referenced payment instructions show bank transfer details as the primary method.

If you need these figures placed into your database fields exactly as shown above, the principal load‑bearing fee lines and the bank account entries are supported by the school's published fee schedule and admissions pages.
Academics

Korea Foreign School teaches IB (PYP), IB (MYP), IB (DP), British Curriculum for students aged 6 to 18.

Curriculum

Korea Foreign School offers the IB Primary Years Programme for Grades 1-5 and the Cambridge International Curriculum for Grades 6-12. In the PYP, learning is inquiry-based within six transdisciplinary themes (Who We Are; Where We Are in Place and Time; How We Express Ourselves; How The World Works; How We Organize Ourselves; Sharing the Planet), guided by a Programme of Inquiry and UbD-based planning, with literacy and mathematics integrated. PYP subjects include English, Maths, Science, Social Studies, Performing Arts, Physical Education, Art, Korean, Spanish, Design, and Technology, and students complete two NWEA MAP assessments each year. Cambridge Lower Secondary (Grades 6-8) includes English, Mathematics, Science, Global Perspectives, Korean, Art and Design, Coding, Physical Education, and Service Learning; Cambridge Upper Secondary (Grades 9-10) adds Spanish and College and Career Readiness and offers Cambridge IGCSE assessments; Cambridge Advanced (Grades 11-12) provides AS/A Levels and related options. Graduation pathways include a KFS Diploma through internal assessments (23 credits, Service Learning, Global Perspectives Research) and the Cambridge AICE Diploma via external examinations; many students complete both, with the AICE requiring at least 7 credits across AS/A Levels. KFS is accredited by WASC and is an IB World School and a Cambridge International School.

Student Teacher Ratio

Approximately 1:5.

Exam Results

Diplomas: KFS Diploma (internal assessments) and Cambridge AICE Diploma (AS/A Levels) through external exams; Cambridge IGCSE assessments are offered in Grade 10.

Higher Education Progression

Graduates have access to global university admissions; the school emphasizes international qualifications (IB and Cambridge) widely recognized by universities worldwide.

Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)

Safety and Wellbeing is a core value in Korea Foreign School's guiding statements, and the school promotes a safe, inclusive learning environment with an emphasis on building positive relationships and the wellbeing of all learners.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)

KFS provides Learning Support for students with learning needs and an English Language Learners (ELL) program; Learning Support carries an additional fee, and the school does not publicly disclose information about the specific SEN categories it can support or whether it is a specialist SEN institution.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)

KFS offers English Language Learners (ELL) support with placement based on the WIDA MODEL assessment, and provides push-in, pull-out, or ELL Intensive services for eligible students (additional costs may apply).

Mental Wellbeing

Mental wellbeing is addressed through the Safety and Wellbeing value and Student Learning Outcomes that include effective self-management, interpersonal skills, and wellbeing, complemented by on-site health services with a first-aid–certified nurse for basic care.

Safeguarding

Korea Foreign School has a formal Child Protection Policy aligned with the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child, with mandatory staff safeguarding training, clear reporting procedures, and the option to contact school counselors or administration; in serious cases, suspected abuse or neglect may be reported to the appropriate child protection authorities.

Admissions

Admissions

1. Admissions Process: Eligibility check and initial planning. All prospective families must first complete an application form, and there are two eligibility paths: Category 1 (at least one parent holds a foreign passport) or Category 2 (has Korean citizenship and has stayed outside Korea for 1095 days). Age eligibility is aligned with grade placement rules, with standard and exceptional admission paths described. Prepare to provide passport copies and, if applicable, ARC or Korean residence documents, and ensure you understand the required age window for the target grade.

2. Complete the Application and Gather Documents. The application form can be obtained by visiting the school, contacting the Admissions Office by mail, fax, or email, or downloading from the site. The completed form must include a student photo and other documents specified by the school, and it should be returned to the Admissions Office by mail, fax, or in person. You may fax to confirm receipt and bring originals to the interview date. An application fee of 300,000 KRW per child is required when applying and should be remitted to the school's bank account with the transfer receipt attached.

3. Pay the Application Fee and Submit for Review. The non‑refundable application fee is 300,000 KRW per child and must be paid at the time of application. The transfer receipt should be attached to the application documents. The fee covers all administrative assessment and processing. After submission, the admissions committee reviews the application based on age, space availability, and prior school records.

4. Admissions Committee Review and Interview/Placement. Following the review, the school may invite the child for an interview and a placement assessment to determine grade placement and any English Language Learner (ELL) needs. Families will be notified of interview dates. Originals of prior school records and a passport copy must be submitted at least one week before the interview to proceed.

5. Decision and Acceptance; Space Availability. The school makes an admission decision after reviewing assessment results and prior records. Families receive an official Acceptance Letter from the School Principal if accepted. In most cases, the family has 15 days to accept the offer, and within one week of acceptance, the application fee and registration fee should be paid in full.

6. Post-Acceptance Steps and Residency Requirement. After acceptance, complete payment of the required fees within the stated timeframe. The school requires students to be in full-time residence with at least one parent or a legal guardian. Financial aid applications are considered only after admissions is complete, and additional steps may apply if pursuing aid.

7. Start of Attendance and Contacts. Once all fees are settled and enrollment is confirmed, families coordinate enrollment and start dates with the Admissions Office. If you have questions, you can contact the school via the published admissions channels.

Scholarships

3) Scholarships: Financial aid is available for new and existing Korea Foreign School families. Tuition assistance is available beginning in 1st grade. The Financial Aid Application must be completed by the deadline, and the required financial information must be submitted to be considered. The student's admissions application may be a prerequisite for aid processing, and the student application fee is waived for families applying for financial aid.

Waitlist

2) Waitlist/Pool: There is no published waitlist or pool system described in the school's published admissions information. Admissions decisions are described as dependent on age eligibility and the availability of spaces, and an interview/placement assessment may follow the application review. No formal waiting list policy is stated.

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