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Japanese School in Seoul

South Korea, Seoul

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· Reviewed by · B2C Marketing Manager

Independently researched by doris.
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The school at a glance
Fees Fees not listed
Ages Not listed
Bus Service No
Academic offering
Curriculum Japanese Curriculum
Introduction

The Japanese School in Seoul is a private Japanese international school located in the Sangam‑dong area of Mapo‑gu, Seoul (11 World Cup buk‑ro 62‑gil). It operates kindergarten (幼稚部), elementary and lower‑secondary/middle school departments and follows the Japanese curriculum; its kindergarten handbook states that programmes are based on Japan's ministry guidelines and the school is recognised by Japan's Ministry of Education as providing a curriculum equivalent to schools in Japan. Japanese is the language of instruction across the school; the school's published materials also describe English conversation lessons for pupils and opportunities to engage with Korean culture. The campus relocated to Seoul's Digital Media City area in 2010 and the school publishes departmental handbooks and admissions guides online; these materials describe standard pupil health checks and routines and note the availability of a commuter school‑bus service. The school is operated under the Seoul Japanese School management committee (SJC).

11 World Cup buk-ro 62-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul, South Korea

The Essentials

Location
The Seoul Japanese School is located in Mapo District, Seoul, in the Digital Media City (DMC) area. The campus sits in the Sangam-dong neighborhood and moved to its current DMC site on September 27, 2010, from Gaepo-dong. The campus is near World Cup Stadium and is accessible by public transport.

Stages
The school provides Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School programs.

Type
The school is a Japanese international day school serving children of Japanese citizens in Korea. It is co-educational.

Additional learning support
Korean language classes are part of the curriculum. No explicit SEN provisions are listed publicly.

Country affiliation
The school is affiliated with Japan and follows the Japanese Ministry of Education (MEXT) curriculum.

Religious affiliation
No religious affiliation.

School day structure
The school follows a standard Japanese day-school pattern with morning classes and a midday break; exact daily hours are not published publicly. Attendance is via walking, school bus, or public transport.

Bus service
A school bus service is available and is organized by the Seoul Japanese School Parents Association with school staff support. Buses originate from Ichon in Yongsan District and from Sangam-dong in Mapo District; monthly fees apply; stops are not published for safety.
Diving Deeper

Governance and Ownership
The school is established by the Seoul Japanese Club (SJC) and operated by the Seoul Japanese School Administration Committee. It is classified as a private school in Korea and follows the Japanese Ministry of Education curriculum for Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle School levels. The school serves children of Japanese citizens residing in South Korea and is located in Mapo District, Seoul (current address: 11 World Cup Buk-ro 62-gil, Mapo-gu, Seoul). It was established on May 8, 1972 and moved to its current Digital Media City location on September 27, 2010.
Fees
Application fees

- Entrance / admission fee: KRW 500,000 (one-time, payable at enrolment).

Tuition fees by year group (amounts shown as monthly school fees where available)

- Kindergarten (幼稚部) – Year-group breakdown:
- Younger class (年少): KRW 460,000 per month.
- Middle / older kindergarten classes (年中・年長): KRW 420,000 per month.

- Elementary school (小学部): KRW 300,000 per month.

- Middle school (中学部): KRW 300,000 per month.

Other recurring/one‑off school charges

- Meal / lunch fees: charged separately (amount not published in the sources consulted).
- Textbook / materials fees: charged separately.
- Facility / building maintenance or reconstruction levy: an example line item reported as KRW 50,000 per month in community summaries.
- Heating/cooling charge (air‑conditioning): an example line item reported as KRW 20,000 per month in community summaries.
- PTA fee: an annual PTA fee reported in community summaries (example: KRW 30,000 per year).
- Event/activity fees (excursions, school events) and other incidental charges: charged as required; specific per‑event amounts are not published in the sources consulted.

Billing schedule and payment terms

- Tuition and recurring school fees are presented in the sources as monthly charges; invoices are commonly issued on a monthly or term basis depending on the school's internal billing practice. The community sources note monthly tuition figures and indicate regular monthly collection.
- Payment method reported in community summaries: bank transfer (bank remittance).

Boarding / dormitory fees

- No boarding or dormitory charges are published in the sources consulted. The school is reported as a day school for the children of resident Japanese families.

Refund information

- No formal refund policy for tuition, entrance fees, or other charges was publicly available in the community sources reviewed. Refund rules (if any) were not published in the public summaries consulted.

Fee payment options

- Bank transfer (wire/bank remittance) is specifically mentioned as an accepted payment method in community summaries. Other payment methods (credit card, cash) are not detailed in the sources reviewed.

Notes on source coverage and limitations

- The Japanese School in Seoul (ソウル日本人学校) is an established full‑day Japanese school in Seoul. The monetary figures above are drawn from local community and school‑info summaries that publish fee breakdowns; an official, detailed public fee schedule from the school was not located in the sources consulted. For context about the school's existence and location, see general school listings.

Search summary (what was found and what was not located)

- Community and third‑party school‑information pages report an entrance fee of KRW 500,000 and monthly tuition figures of KRW 460,000 / 420,000 for kindergarten levels and KRW 300,000 for elementary and middle school, plus separate charges for meals, textbooks, PTA and small monthly facility/utility levies; these community pages are the source of the numeric values used above.
- A formal, published, itemized fee schedule from the school itself (showing term‑by‑term invoicing rules, exact refund policy, and a comprehensive official list of accepted payment methods) was not found among the publicly accessible pages consulted. The sources used are community and school‑info summaries rather than an official school fee schedule.
Academics

Japanese School in Seoul teaches Japanese Curriculum.

Curriculum
The Japanese School in Seoul provides Japanese-language education for Seoul's Japanese expatriate community from kindergarten through middle school (幼稚部; 小学部 grades 1–6; 中学部 grades 7–9). The curriculum follows the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology (MEXT) Courses of Study, with core subjects including Japanese language, mathematics, science, social studies, moral education, physical education, and the arts; English is taught as a foreign language and Korean language classes are offered to support local context. The full scope includes project-based learning and standard classroom instruction aligned with Japanese standards, preparing students for continued study in Japan. The school calendar mirrors the Japanese academic year, typically starting in mid-April and divided into three terms. Upon completion of middle school, graduates receive a diploma/certificate recognized as equivalent to Japanese junior high education, facilitating entry to Japanese high schools or other pathways. The campus is located in Mapo District, Seoul, and moved to Digital Media City in 2010.
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
The Seoul Japanese School's mission describes nurturing resilient, globally minded children. It aims to develop autonomous, self-reliant students and to foster kind, respectful relationships and perseverance toward personal goals. Public materials describe social-emotional development through these aims rather than listing a separate SEL program. Explicit SEL programs, staff, or dedicated initiatives are not publicly disclosed in the available materials. The mission emphasizes compassionate interactions and social growth as core to student life.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
The School Overview describes Kindergarten, Elementary, and Middle divisions and a staff composed of government-dispatched teachers and teachers employed by the School Management Committee. Public materials do not disclose any formal SEN provision, specialist SEN staff, or a SEN program. Korean language and English conversation classes are provided as special courses. It is not specified whether the school operates as a specialist SEN institution. The school does not publicly disclose detailed SEN capabilities.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
Korean language and English conversation classes are offered as special courses to reflect overseas school characteristics. There is no explicit information about dedicated EAL staff or programs beyond those language classes. The curriculum is based on the Ministry of Education guidelines, with Korean language and English conversation added to reflect overseas school characteristics. No published details on additional EAL services are available. Therefore, EAL support is described only through the Korean language and English conversation classes.

Mental Wellbeing
There is no publicly disclosed information about formal mental wellbeing programs. The available materials emphasize social relationships and character development rather than a dedicated wellbeing program. There is no mention of a school counselor, wellbeing team, or mental health services in the accessible materials. Any wellbeing initiatives are not publicly disclosed in the sources consulted. The school's materials do not publicly disclose mental wellbeing provisions.

Safeguarding
There is no publicly disclosed information about safeguarding and child protection policies in the accessible materials. Public materials emphasize the international curriculum and staff composition rather than safeguarding procedures. The school is described as recognized by Japanese and Korean authorities, which implies oversight but does not detail safeguarding policies. No explicit safeguarding staff or policies are listed in the available sources. Therefore, safeguarding provisions are not publicly disclosed in the consulted materials.
Parent Experience

History
The Japanese School in Seoul was established on May 8, 1972, to serve the children of Japanese citizens residing in South Korea, beginning with 33 students in kindergarten and primary grades. By 2005, enrollment had grown to 403 students across kindergarten, elementary, and middle school levels. The school is recognized by Japan's Ministry of Education as teaching a curriculum equivalent to schools for the same ages in Japan. The campus moved to Digital Media City in Mapo District on September 27, 2010, from its Gaepo-dong campus in Gangnam. The school is established by the Seoul Japanese Club (SJC), with governance handled by the Seoul Japanese School Management Committee.

Community
The school community consists of children of Japanese citizens residing in South Korea and is located in Mapo District, currently at Digital Media City. The curriculum includes Korean language and English conversation classes in addition to the standard Japanese program, and the school actively engages in exchanges with local Korean schools. The school emphasizes developing an international perspective and cross-cultural understanding among students. The Embassy of Japan in Korea has hosted safety seminars for Seoul Japanese School parents, highlighting active parental involvement in the community.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
Parent involvement at the Seoul Japanese School is organized through the Seoul Japanese School Management Committee (MC), rather than a traditional PTA. The MC was established by the Seoul Japanese Club (SJC) in October 1970 and began operating as the school's management body when the school opened in 1972. The school is legally classified as a private school under Korean law, with governance focused through the MC in coordination with the SJC. Parental engagement is supported through regular parent notices and meetings related to school operations, including the Bus Users Association and its general meetings. In December 2024, the Embassy of Japan in Korea collaborated with the school to host safety seminars for parents, illustrating active parental involvement in safeguarding and community matters. The Bus Users Association holds general meetings to coordinate transportation and related issues.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
The Japanese School in Seoul operates three divisions: kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Facility photos show dedicated spaces for each division, including an entrance area and spaces labeled for elementary/middle school and for kindergarten. The curriculum follows the Japanese Ministry of Education guidelines, with Korean language and English conversation taught as specialized components. The school also facilitates exchanges with local Korean schools. Students access the campus mainly by walking or school bus.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Step 1 — Initial inquiry and eligibility check: The first contact is by phone with the vice-principal to begin the admissions discussion. During this call, you will confirm basic eligibility and receive the Information Sheet for admission inquiries. Having your child's age and current schooling details handy will help the staff determine whether you should proceed to the next step. (Note: fees are not discussed at this stage; this step focuses on eligibility and gathering initial information.)

2. Step 2 — Submit information and eligibility confirmation: Complete and send the Information Sheet for Applicants. The school may ask additional questions about nationality and residency status. If eligibility cannot be confirmed, admission may be screened or declined after review. If acceptance follows, expect enrollment-related fees to be due at that time, and tuition is invoked by grade level (see fees notes below). The school communicates the next steps once eligibility is established.

3. Step 3 — Planning arrival and document submission: When the plan to relocate to Korea is set, inform the vice-principal of your intended arrival date and discuss a schedule for receiving and submitting documents. You will also decide on the initial attendance date and any documents that may need to be emailed in advance if the arrival date is near the start of a term. This step ensures a smooth onboarding timeline and minimizes delays.

4. Step 4 — Preparations in Japan and documentation flow: In Japan, withdraw from the current school and coordinate with the Overseas Japanese Education Foundation to obtain textbooks for the elementary and middle grades, if applicable. Gather required school supplies and refer to the grade-specific admission guides for itemized preparation lists. This step aligns your materials with the destination school's expectations and avoids last-minute gaps.

5. Step 5 — Arrival in Korea and on-site onboarding: After arriving in Korea, visit the school to receive and submit admission documents; the first attendance day can serve as the submission day if all items are ready. If the arrival date is close to the term start, some documents may be emailed in advance to speed processing. For elementary and middle-grade entrants, withdrawal from the current school provides an enrollment certificate and a textbook-distribution certificate; you should obtain sealed copies of the enrollment record and health/dental forms from the current school. The textbook-distribution certificate is used to obtain textbooks from the Overseas Japanese Education Foundation.

Fees (summary linked to admission steps): The enrollment fee is typically around 500,000 KRW and is paid upon acceptance, with initial registration required. Monthly tuition varies by grade: kindergarten generally around 420,000–460,000 KRW, while elementary and middle grades are around 300,000 KRW per month. Additional fees may apply for items such as textbooks, supplies, and events; payments are commonly made by bank transfer. For the 2025–2026 period, these fee ranges are reflected in publicly shared cost breakdowns for the school and its families.

Waitlist
There is no published waitlist or pool system described in the official admissions flow. Admissions are described in terms of eligibility review and space availability, with no separate waiting pool noted.
School Events
The school has not added events
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