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Lycée Français de Séoul

South Korea, Seoul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English, French
Fees ₩10,290,000 - 16,200,000
Ages 3 - 18 years
Pupil numbers 559
Type Co-educational
Opened 1974
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum French Curriculum
Taught languages English, French, Korean
Strengths Sport, Visual and Creative Arts, STEM
Clubs Arts and Creative, Cultural and Language, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Primary School, Secondary School
Introduction

Lycée Français de Séoul (LFS) is a French international day school located in the Seorae Village district of Seoul, offering education from age 3 to 18 under the French curriculum accredited by the French Ministry of National Education. The campus sits in a residential area known for its French community and has easy access to Seoul public transport. LFS provides a complete pathway from Kindergarten through High School, with bilingual options including a French-English American International Section starting in early grades. Students engage in a broad range of arts, sports and cultural activities, including clubs in art, theater, cooking and language circles. The school also supports Cambridge English exams on site. With around 550+ students and instruction in multiple languages, LFS fosters multilingual learning and cross-cultural engagement.

7, Seorae-ro, Seocho-gu, Seoul 06581, Republic of Korea

The Essentials

Lycée Français de Séoul has 559 pupils, instruction in English, French.

Location

The Lycée Français de Séoul (LFS) is in Seorae Village, Seocho-gu, Seoul (7 Seorae-ro, Seocho-gu 06581, Republic of Korea). The campus sits in a residential, international district just south of the Han River, near the Gangnam area. The surrounding area is popular with international families and offers easy public transport access. There are public paid parking options a short walk from the school.

Stages

LFS offers education from Petite Section (early childhood) through Terminale (the final year of lycée), covering ages roughly 3 to 18. The school provides a fully French-accredited program across all levels.

Type

The school operates as a day school offering a French curriculum; boarding facilities are not provided. The institution emphasizes a multilingual, international environment and serves students of all nationalities.

Additional learning support

For elementary students who do not speak French, LFS runs a Bridge Class (CP to CM2) with a dedicated teacher, small groups (6–10 students), and 3 hours of daily instruction to help integration into the regular program. After Bridge Class, ongoing French support (FLE/FLScO) continues to assist progression, and there is additional language support in secondary.

Country affiliation

LFS is part of the AEFE network (Agency for French Education Abroad) and operates under the French Ministry of National Education.

Religious affiliation

No religious affiliation is indicated; LFS operates as a secular French international school.

School day structure

Primary students typically attend 8:30 am to 3:15 pm, with Wednesdays shorter (8:30 am–11:30 am). Secondary timetables vary by class and can extend to about 6:10 pm depending on options. The school week runs Monday to Friday.

Bus service

The school provides a dedicated bus line linking the embassy area to LFS (route passes through Itaewon, Yongsan, Hannam-dong). Public transport options are also available: subway access via Express Bus Terminal or Seocho stations, and multiple bus stops near the campus (e.g., green buses 13 in front of LFS; buses 10, 14, 21 and blue 142 stop along Seorae-ro).
Diving Deeper

Boarding Arrangements

The Lycée Français de Séoul is a day school and does not offer boarding facilities for either underage students or adults relocating to South Korea. Families should arrange local housing, as finding a host family is the parents' responsibility.

Uniform Requirement

There is no school uniform. However, sport uniforms in LFS colors are mandatory for all students from kindergarten through Terminale. The sport uniforms are supplied by World School, and the ordering guide is available to parents on EDUKA Documents after logging into the parent account.

Food Options

The school provides meals prepared on site by CJ Freshway in a renovated cafeteria. Canteen registration is required for different age groups, with options for daily meals or fixed-day plans; menus include country-themed options and Korean dishes twice a month, and a nut-free policy applies; menus are published via the Pronote app.

Governance and Ownership

LFS operates under an agreement between the Parents' Association (APE) and the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE). The APE Board and the Headmaster (as AEFE representative) share governance responsibilities, and LFS participates in the AEFE network as an accredited school under the French Ministry of National Education.
Fees

Annual tuition at Lycée Français de Séoul ranges from KRW 10,290,000 to KRW 16,200,000 for 2026/27.

Application & registration fees

- Application (frais de dossier) at submission of a first application: KRW 300,000.
- First Registration Fee (Droit de Première Inscription, DPI) charged after acceptance and payable within the term indicated on the invoice: KRW 3,500,000. The DPI is charged once per pupil and is not refundable or transferable.
- Re‑registration fee (due at each annual re‑registration): KRW 300,000. Re‑registration fees are not refundable.

Tuition fees — annual amounts by cycle and tariff (amounts in KRW)

- Primary (maternelle & élémentaire):
- Filière classique — normal tariff: KRW 13,920,000.
- Filière internationale — normal tariff: KRW 15,690,000.
- Programme passerelle — normal tariff: KRW 14,920,000.
- Reduced tariffs (eligible families) for the above primary categories are: KRW 10,290,000 (classique), KRW 12,060,000 (internationale), KRW 11,290,000 (passerelle).

- Collège:
- Filière classique — normal tariff: KRW 19,240,000.
- Filière internationale — normal tariff: KRW 21,340,000.
- Reduced tariffs: KRW 14,250,000 (classique) and KRW 16,350,000 (internationale).

- Lycée:
- Filière classique — normal tariff: KRW 21,690,000.
- Filière internationale — normal tariff: KRW 24,260,000.
- Reduced tariffs: KRW 16,200,000 (classique) and KRW 18,770,000 (internationale).

Per‑term (trimester) breakdown — how term payments are calculated

- The school invoices tuition for the full school year but offers, on request at registration, an option to pay by trimester according to the invoicing schedule of 40% / 30% / 30% of the annual tuition (first payment due by 1 September, second by 1 January, third by 1 April). The per‑term KRW amounts below are calculated from the annual tuition using that 40%/30%/30% payment split (these per‑term figures are therefore arithmetic calculations of the annual fees and follow the school's trimester payment percentages).

- Primary — Filière classique (annual KRW 13,920,000):
- Term 1 (40%): KRW 5,568,000.
- Term 2 (30%): KRW 4,176,000.
- Term 3 (30%): KRW 4,176,000.

- Primary — Filière internationale (annual KRW 15,690,000):
- Term 1: KRW 6,276,000.
- Term 2: KRW 4,707,000.
- Term 3: KRW 4,707,000.

- Primary — Programme passerelle (annual KRW 14,920,000):
- Term 1: KRW 5,968,000.
- Term 2: KRW 4,476,000.
- Term 3: KRW 4,476,000.

- Primary — Reduced tariffs (examples):
- Classique (annual KRW 10,290,000): Term 1 KRW 4,116,000; Term 2 KRW 3,087,000; Term 3 KRW 3,087,000.

- Collège — Filière classique (annual KRW 19,240,000):
- Term 1: KRW 7,696,000; Term 2: KRW 5,772,000; Term 3: KRW 5,772,000.

- Collège — Filière internationale (annual KRW 21,340,000):
- Term 1: KRW 8,536,000; Term 2: KRW 6,402,000; Term 3: KRW 6,402,000.

- Lycée — Filière classique (annual KRW 21,690,000):
- Term 1: KRW 8,676,000; Term 2: KRW 6,507,000; Term 3: KRW 6,507,000.

- Lycée — Filière internationale (annual KRW 24,260,000):
- Term 1: KRW 9,704,000; Term 2: KRW 7,278,000; Term 3: KRW 7,278,000.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Invoicing: tuition and other fees are billed in Korean won (KRW). Invoices indicate the payment due dates. Families are personally responsible for all invoices.
- Payment timing and possible instalments: the school invoices the year and payment in full is due before the start of the pupil's school year; on registration or re‑registration families may request payment by trimester with the following schedule: first instalment due by 1 September (40% of annual tuition), second by 1 January (30%), third by 1 April (30%).
- Currency and method: all invoiced amounts must be paid in Korean won (KRW) by bank transfer to the school's HANA BANK account. Each payer has an individual account number appearing on the invoice and on the family finance portal; no cash payments are accepted. Any bank charges are payable by the family.
- Late payment: if payment is not made within 30 calendar days after the invoice due date (or an instalment is not honoured within 30 days), a late‑payment indemnity of 5% per annum on the outstanding amount will be applied pro rata to days of delay. Non‑payment can lead to removal of the pupil and legal action; persistent unpaid balances can prevent re‑registration.

Boarding (internat)

- The school does not provide boarding facilities; LFS is a day school only and does not offer an internat. No boarding fees apply.

Other costs and charges

- School meals (cantine): the canteen is mandatory for maternelle and élémentaire on specified weekdays and is charged as a yearly forfait. Example annual canteen amounts listed include KRW 1,420,000 for mandatory canteen for maternelle & élémentaire (other canteen options and schedules and differing amounts apply for international strand, bus users, collège and lycée; canteen charges are invoiced as separate items).
- Activities, AES/SES, camps and extracurricular services: these are billed separately under a distinct regulation and are not included in tuition; costs depend on the activity or camp chosen.
- Exams and certifications: for enrolled pupils the national examinations (Diplôme National du Brevet, Baccalauréat) and specified Cambridge English certifications are included in the school's fees; external candidates pay exam fees (examples: non‑LFS candidate DNB KRW 160,000; épreuves anticipées / bac for external candidates have listed amounts).
- School supplies and uniforms: Maternelle supplies and large elementary supplies are included as stated; however, canteen, sport uniforms and the mandatory uniforms for applicable levels, small supplies for collège and lycée, optional certifications and some external exam registrations, travel outside Korea, AES/SES and optional services are not included and are charged separately. Parents should budget separately for sportswear, school uniform items, optional trips outside Korea, and extracurricular activity fees.
- Other occasional charges: lost or damaged textbooks, optional external certifications (not included in the list of included exams), preparation for post‑secondary applications or external competitions, and optional school trips outside Korea may incur additional separate charges.

Refunds, cancellations and changes of enrolment

- Application fees and DPI are not refundable. Re‑registration fees are not refundable.
- Tuition and canteen fees: the year is divided into three trimesters. In the event of arrival or departure during the school year, tuition and canteen fees are calculated on a trimester basis and any started trimester is due in full (no pro rata for partial trimesters). Courses, outings or activities that cannot take place will not be refunded. In case of force majeure the school will endeavour to maintain teaching but tuition and other fees will not be refunded.
- Founder shares: where applicable only to families with a founding share, the reimbursement of a founding share follows a specific procedure and is subject to conditions; refunds of these shares are processed to the original payer on written request.

Fee payment options and practical notes

- Accepted payment method: bank transfer in KRW to the HANA BANK account assigned to each payer (individual account number supplied on the invoice and on the family finance portal). No cash payments are accepted; families bear any bank charges.
- Invoice timing and finance contact: invoices are issued by the school's finance service and the payment due date appears on each invoice. For finance queries the school's finance email is provided on the school's finance information pages.

(End of fees overview)
Academics

Lycée Français de Séoul teaches French Curriculum for students aged 3 to 18.

Curriculum

The Lyce9e Frane7ais de Se9oul provides a comprehensive education from kindergarten to high school. The American International Section (SIA) begins in CP (Grade 1) and offers a bilingual Frenchnglish pathway across primary and secondary; in elementary, parts of the program are taught in English, and in secondary, a portion of the History-Geography curriculum is taught in English, with additional courses in American language, literature, and culture. LFS is the only school in South Korea to offer this bilingual Frenchnglish program. Cambridge English exams are administered on site for LFS students and external candidates, with two sessions each year. The school welcomes students from non-French-speaking backgrounds through a Bridge Class that alternates with the regular class, enabling students to learn French while keeping up with the standard program. Six languages are taught at LFS.

Exam Results

The Baccalaureate pass rate is 100%.

Higher Education Progression

The education prepares students for the Baccalaureate and for higher education in France and around the world. The school is accredited by AEFE and by the French Ministry of National Education for all levels from kindergarten to high school.
Parent Experience

History

Lycée Français de Séoul traces its origins to 1974, when the French Primary School of Seoul opened in Itaewon under the aegis of a Parents' Association (APE). In 1981 the school moved to Seorae Maeul after a house was donated to the APE. The school expanded in 1986 to accommodate more primary students, and in 1998 a four‑story Kaewhasan building was added to support the secondary program. A convention with the Agency for French Education Abroad (AEFE) was signed in 2002, and the school was renamed Lycée Français de Séoul. A major expansion culminated in the 2019 grand opening with new classrooms, libraries, gyms and other facilities, and in 2024 the school celebrated its 50th anniversary.

Community

Lycée Français de Séoul maintains a close‑knit, multilingual community in the Seorae Maeul district of Seoul. The school emphasizes close management and a detailed knowledge of each student that enables parents to participate in the educational mission. As part of the AEFE network, LFS students benefit from international projects, competitions and exchanges that broaden their learning. The community also engages with nearby organizations that contribute to school life, including the Institut Français de Séoul, Seorae Accueil, Cercle Franco‑Coréen and the Seorae Global Village Center.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)

The Parents' Association (APE) is the governing body that represents LFS parents. All parents are members automatically once a child is enrolled and tuition is paid. It is a non‑profit entity registered in France and in Korea and it manages the school, its buildings, staff, finances, service contracts and strategic investments. The APE Board has nine elected members who serve two‑year terms and elect a President, a Vice‑President, a Treasurer and a Secretary; the President represents LFS at official events and chairs the Board and the General Assembly. The Association holds an annual General Assembly to present accounts, and parent representatives sit on the LFS Council (governing pedagogical matters) as well as the Primary School Council to advise on school life and trips. The Management Board, made up of APE members and school leaders, meets monthly to oversee human resources, financial regulation and contracts.
Facilities

Facilities Overview

The school provides a multilingual and multicultural environment with students from many nationalities. It offers a comprehensive French and international education from kindergarten through high school and is accredited by the French Ministry of National Education. It is part of the AEFE network and represents 30 nationalities, with six languages taught. The American International Section starts in CP, providing a bilingual French-English pathway; English is used in parts of the elementary curriculum and in some secondary courses. The school offers more than 40 extracurricular activities and reports a 100% Baccalaureate success rate.

Academic Facilities

The school provides a full education from kindergarten through high school (Terminale). The American International Section starts in CP, providing a bilingual French-English pathway with portions of the elementary curriculum taught in English and English-influenced content in secondary History-Geography and related language and culture studies. Bridge Class supports students who speak little or no French, helping them access the full French curriculum. Entry to the secondary level requires at least a B1 level in French. The school is a Cambridge English Exams center with two on-site examination sessions each year and is accredited by the French Ministry of National Education.

Extra Curricular Facilities

There are more than 40 extracurricular activities. The school also arranges trips and outings as part of the learning program, including cultural performances, theatre, museum visits and other educational experiences.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual

The school provides Extracurricular Activities (AES) for PS to Terminale, with activities led in French, English or Korean. Activities cover artistic, cultural and educational programs that complement classroom learning and include opportunities for group projects and sports competitions. AES and SES registrations occur twice a year on Eduka, and new students are encouraged to register when they arrive. The program supports development through class projects and educational events.

Arts & Creative

Arts and creative activities include arts and crafts (origami, drawing and painting, etc.), theatre and theatre improvisation, and music activities such as choir, clarinet, flute, ukulele and violin. These activities are offered in French, English or Korean and are part of the AES catalog.

Cultural & Language

Cultural activities include English book club, K42nex, kids cooking, theatre, theatre improvisation and Web Radio LFS. LFS is a Cambridge English exam center with two on-site sessions held each year.

Social & Hobbies

Students participate in sports competitions between schools. The AES catalog includes athletics, basketball, ballet, fencing, fitness, soccer, table tennis, Taekwondo, yoga, mini tennis and gymnastics.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing

Sports activities promote physical health and wellbeing, with offerings including athletics, basketball, ballet, fencing, fitness, soccer, table tennis, Taekwondo, yoga, mini tennis and gymnastics. Before-class childcare is available from 8:00 to 8:30 for PS to CM2, and after-class services include homework supervision (3:30-4:30) and French as a Foreign Language (FLE) for CP to CM2.
Languages

Language Provision

From age 3, all students are exposed to French, English and Korean. The General English Program (PARLE) provides 3 hours of English per week in CP–CE1, increasing to 4 hours from CE2 onward, with some regular subjects taught in English. The American International Section (SIA) offers 5–10 hours per week of English, with content taught in English and some subjects taught in English; SIA is accessible to students who meet language criteria. In middle and high school, PARLE continues (4 hours per week in middle school, 3 hours in high school), while SIA provides almost 10 hours weekly of English (4 hours of English, 4 hours of American language and literature, and half of History-Geography taught in English). Korean language study is compulsory from CP to CM2 (1 hour per week, increasing to 2 hours from CE2 to CM2) and becomes optional in secondary, with additional levels (Introduction, Consolidation, Advanced). German or Spanish are offered in secondary, with Latin available as an option. The school is a Cambridge English examination center since 2009, offering five levels of Cambridge certificates; DELF Prim and DELF Scolaire are available for French language, TOPIK for Korean, DELE for Spanish, and Goethe for German. Also available is CNED distance learning as an official option for completing French programs under certain conditions.

Bilingual Teaching

The school offers a bilingual French–English pathway through the American International Section (SIA). In elementary (CP–CM2), part of the curriculum is taught in English, and in secondary, portions of the History-Geography curriculum are taught in English, with additional classes in American language, literature and culture. LFS is the only school in South Korea to offer this bilingual French-English program.

Immersion Programs

Bridge Class is designed for non-French-speaking elementary students, with a dedicated teacher providing 3 hours per day of French instruction to help them join the regular class. Students in Bridge Class attend alongside their regular class and progress is monitored with DELF Prim assessments. Bridge Class exists within the AEFE network to ensure continuity of French education across schools.
Reputation

Awards

100% pass rate at the Baccalaureate exam.

Accreditations

The school is accredited by the French Ministry of National Education for all levels from Kindergarten to High School in South Korea. It is part of the AEFE network.
Admissions

Admissions

1. Enrollment is open throughout the year, subject to availability. The school is classified as a Foreign School under Korean regulations and accepts students of all nationalities. Enrollment is limited by the number of places and is not automatic. A valid residence visa is required, and admission is reserved for students whose schooling aligns with the levels and programs offered. 2. Prepare the required documents to be submitted. The CNED remote mode does not replace on-site schooling and distance follow-up requires significant parental autonomy. 3. Sign into Eduka, create your account, and complete the application form. Attach all required documents and submit. The review cannot proceed without the payment proof for the application fee. 4. Your file will be processed within two weeks (excluding school holidays) provided it is complete. 5. Some applications may require an interview with the family and the child and/or French language tests; you will be notified by email if this is the case. 6. You will receive a confirmation email, and the First Registration Fee (DPI) invoice will be sent by email within two weeks (excluding school holidays). The invoice will also be available in the Eduka account; your child's place is confirmed once the DPI is paid. 7. Tuition fees are invoiced at the beginning of July and must be paid before the start of the school year. 8. Welcome to LFS! 9) Your application will not be processed unless all documents are submitted. 10.

Scholarships

Funds for Exceptional Financial Aid support LFS students in difficult financial circumstances by covering education-related costs such as cafeteria meals, exam fees, school trips, and psychologist sessions. Since the fund's creation, it has helped more than 45 students. Donations can be made via Hana Bank, and donors may benefit from a 10% tax deduction. The school also encourages involvement through Friends of LFS and supports student projects, events, and equipment investments. The school earned the EFE3D Level 3 sustainability label, reflecting ongoing sustainability improvements.
School Events
The school has not added events