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Korea International School - Seoul

South Korea, Seoul

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The school at a glance
Instructs in English
Fees ₩18,850,000 - 21,090,000
Ages 3 - 11 years
Pupil numbers 1150
Type Co-educational
Opened 2000
Bus Service Yes
Part of
Korea International School
Academic offering
Curriculum American Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach
Taught languages English, Korean, Mandarin
Typical class size 19
Strengths STEM, Academic Enrichment, Outdoor Education
Clubs Arts and Creative, Social and Hobbies, Community and Service
Stages Early Years, Elementary
Introduction

Korea International School (KIS) Seoul Campus serves students from Pre-K to Grade 5 in the Gaepo-dong area of Gangnam, Seoul, offering an international education in English. The school uses a play-based, Reggio-inspired curriculum in its Early Years, where young learners explore concepts through discovery and play. From Kindergarten to Grade 5, students engage in project-based learning grounded in U.S. Common Core standards for mathematics, English language arts, and social studies, with specialist classes in Korean, Chinese, music, PE, library, art, design, and STEM. KIS Seoul hosts a variety of after-school clubs twice yearly, spanning creative arts, coding, LEGO, sports and more, plus Saturday events geared to broad interests and skills. Furthermore, the campus sits amidst trees, parks and river paths, supporting opportunities for outdoor education and local exploration.

This campus is part of Korea International School

408 Gaepo-ro, Gangnam District, Seoul, South Korea

The Essentials

Korea International School - Seoul has 1,150 pupils, typical class sizes of 19, instruction in English.

Location
Korea International School Seoul Campus is located in Gaepo-dong, Gangnam-gu, Seoul, within an urban neighborhood surrounded by parks, wooded areas, hiking trails and river paths. The school is accessible by local subways and city buses, and there is parking available for families who drive.

Stages
The Seoul Campus serves Early Years through Elementary, offering programs from Pre-K (age 3) to Grade 5 (age 11). Older students typically transition to the KIS Pangyo campus beyond Grade 5.

Type
KIS Seoul Campus is a co-educational day school.

Additional learning support
The school offers a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) that includes individualized Learning Support Plans (LSP) for students who need tailored assistance or extension, as well as an English as an Additional Language (EAL) program and partnerships with outside specialists for services such as educational psychology or speech therapy. A full-time school counselor supports social-emotional learning.

Country affiliation
Korea International School in Seoul follows an international education framework and is accredited by U.S.-based and regional bodies; it is not affiliated with a single national system.

Religious affiliation
The school has no religious affiliation; it operates as a secular international school.

School day structure
The school day for all students begins at 8:20 a.m. and ends at 3:00 p.m., with a lunch period and recess scheduled daily. On half-days, dismissal is at 11:30 a.m.. Children have daily snack and recess periods, and lunch times vary by grade.

Bus service
KIS Seoul Campus offers a school bus service with routes covering many areas within Seoul and surrounding districts. The school coordinates this transportation for daily school access; details and routes are available through the school’s transport office.
Diving Deeper

Uniform Requirement
The Seoul Campus uses a school uniform. The uniform items for JK–G5 include a House T-shirt, PE shirt, PE pants, hoodies, a beanie, a ball cap, a water bottle, a stainless mug, and other accessories such as a color-block eco bag; uniforms are available through the uniform store linked from the campus site.

Food Options
The campus cafeteria is operated by Kizmeal, providing nutritionally well-balanced meals with international and halal options.

House System
There is a house system for JK to G5, with a House T-shirt as part of the uniform.

Governance and Ownership
KIS Seoul Campus is part of Korea International School. KIS was established as the manifestation of Y.B. Min's vision. The school is fully accredited by WASC, is a member of EARCOS, and a founding member of the Association of International Schools in Asia.
Fees

Annual tuition at Korea International School - Seoul ranges from KRW 18,850,000 to KRW 21,090,000 for 2026/27.

Application and Entry Fees

* Application processing fee: KRW 400,000 (non-refundable).
* Registration fee: KRW 400,000 (non-refundable, payable upon acceptance).
* Entrance fee: KRW 4,000,000 (non-refundable, charged to new students enrolling in Kindergarten or higher, or when promoted to Kindergarten).
* Book deposit: KRW 200,000 (refundable, subject to book return conditions).

Tuition Fees (per year)

* Pre-K / Junior Kindergarten: KRW 18,850,000 per year.
* Grades K–5: KRW 21,090,000 per year.
Tuition is billed annually rather than per term.

Billing Schedule and Payment Terms

* Returning students: a re-enrollment deposit of KRW 3,000,000 is applied toward tuition.
* New students must pay tuition and fees within two weeks of admission notification.
* Tuition installment plans (full, two-payment, or four-payment options) are available with set due dates during the year.

Other Required or Optional Fees

* School bus (round-trip only): KRW 3,400,000 per year.
* Elementary School technology fee (Grades 3–5): KRW 200,000 per year.

Refund Information

* Tuition and bus fees are partially refundable based on the official early-withdrawal schedule and dates.
* Application, registration, entrance fees, and technology fees are non-refundable.
* Book deposit is refundable if books are returned in good condition and withdrawal procedures are completed on time.

Fee Payment Options

* Payments are made by bank wire transfer. Tuition is paid in KRW (with a USD component indicated by the school), while all other fees are paid in KRW only.
Academics

Korea International School - Seoul teaches American Curriculum, Reggio Emilia Approach for students aged 3 to 11.

Curriculum
Korea International School – Seoul Campus offers an English-medium curriculum from Pre-K to Grade 5. In the Early Years (Pre-K and Junior Kindergarten), learning is play-based and influenced by a Reggio-inspired approach, focusing on inquiry, social development, and early literacy and numeracy. From Kindergarten through Grade 5, the school follows a U.S. standards-based curriculum aligned with the Common Core, covering English Language Arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. Students also attend specialist classes in Korean, Chinese, art, music, physical education, library, design, and STEM, which are integrated into the weekly timetable. Assessment is ongoing and classroom-based, with no external examinations at this campus. Students typically transition to another KIS campus for middle and high school education after Grade 5.

Academic calendar
Wellbeing

Social and Emotional Learning (SEL)
KIS Seoul Campus states that social and emotional development is supported through a school-wide counselling programme and classroom-based practices. The campus employs a full-time school counsellor who works with students individually and in small groups. Social-emotional topics are addressed through age-appropriate classroom lessons, teacher guidance, and counsellor-led activities. Teachers collaborate with the counsellor to support student wellbeing as part of daily school life.

Special Educational Needs (SEN)
KIS Seoul Campus provides support through a Learning Support programme and follows a Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS). Support is delivered through Learning Support Plans (LSPs), classroom accommodations, and targeted small-group or individual instruction. The school states it can support mild to moderate learning needs, but it is not a specialist SEN school. Services such as speech or occupational therapy may be accessed through external providers, coordinated with the school. Admission depends on whether the school can reasonably meet a student’s needs.

English as an Additional Language (EAL)
The school provides a dedicated English as an Additional Language (EAL) programme for students who require additional language support. EAL instruction is delivered by specialist staff during the school day, either in small groups or through in-class support. The programme focuses on developing academic English needed for classroom learning. Placement and level of support are based on language assessments conducted by the school.

Mental Wellbeing
Mental wellbeing support at KIS Seoul Campus is primarily provided by the school counsellor, who supports students with emotional regulation, peer relationships, and school adjustment. Counselling services are available for individual students as needed, and parents may be consulted as part of the support process. Teachers and administrators work with the counsellor to monitor student wellbeing. The school does not publicly disclose details of external mental health partnerships beyond referral coordination.

Safeguarding
KIS Seoul Campus has formal child protection and safeguarding policies, as outlined in its Parent and Student Handbook. All staff are required to follow safeguarding procedures and reporting protocols. The school designates specific staff members responsible for child protection matters. Safeguarding expectations are communicated to staff, students, and families as part of school policy documentation.

Safeguarding Policy
Parent Experience

History
Korea International School (KIS) was founded in 2000 by YBM Education, a Korean education group, with the aim of providing an English-medium international education in South Korea. The Seoul Campus was established to serve younger students and now focuses on Early Years and Elementary education. Over time, KIS expanded to include additional campuses, including Pangyo and Jeju, while maintaining a shared governance structure. The Seoul Campus has remained a day school, supporting students in their early stages before transition to upper-grade campuses within the KIS system.

Community
The KIS Seoul community includes families from a range of national and cultural backgrounds, reflecting its international enrolment. The school calendar includes community gatherings, seasonal celebrations, and school-wide events that bring students, parents, and staff together. Cultural activities are incorporated into classroom learning and school events, often linked to Korean traditions and international themes. Parents are regularly invited to participate in events hosted on campus.

Parent Teacher Association (PTA)
KIS Seoul Campus has an active Parent Teacher Association (PTA) that supports community engagement and school events. The PTA organizes activities such as seasonal celebrations, cultural events, staff appreciation initiatives, and parent social gatherings. It also helps coordinate parent volunteers for school functions and classroom support activities. PTA meetings provide a forum for parents to share feedback and stay informed about school initiatives. Participation is open to all parents, and activities vary from year to year based on community interest.
Facilities

Facilities Overview
KIS Seoul Campus is the Korea International School elementary campus located at 408 Gaepo-ro, Gangnam-gu, Seoul 06324. It serves Pre-K through Grade 5. The campus is designed as a small, cohesive community with an early years program and an elementary program that uses project-based learning. The elementary program follows US Common Core standards in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social Studies, and offers specialist classes in Korean, Chinese, Music, PE, Library, Art, Design, and STEM. The campus provides outdoor education through its natural environment setting, and the library houses over 10,000 books with a Book-A-Day program and regular author visits and reading events.

Academic Facilities
The Seoul Campus delivers PK-5 education with an early years program and an elementary program aligned to US Common Core in Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Social Studies. Specialist classes are offered in Korean, Chinese, Music, PE, Library, Art, Design, and STEM. World languages include Korean (twice weekly for PK-5) and Mandarin Chinese (weekly for PK-5). The program emphasizes global citizenship, diversity, and inclusion, reflecting a community comprising nearly 20 nationalities. The campus sits in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, at 408 Gaepo-ro, with easy access by subway and bus.

Extra Curricular Facilities
KIS Seoul Campus provides After-School Clubs and Saturday events for Pre-K through Grade 5; the co-curricular program focuses on authentic opportunities to learn, grow and succeed beyond the classroom. Club offerings include creative clubs, STEM-focused clubs, and active movement/sports clubs, with two sessions of 10 weeks each throughout the year. Saturday Events include hikes and BBQs, musical Saturdays, arts Saturdays, language Saturdays, and sport-focused Saturdays. The activities are designed to reinforce KIS Core Values and personal excellence through diverse student interests.
Extra-Curricular Activities

Academic & Intellectual
The school offers after-school clubs in two sessions of 10 weeks each for Pre-K through Grade 5. Club options include coding, robotics, LEGO, and Science clubs. There are creative clubs such as doodling club, nature art club, mandala coloring club, and paper dolls club, along with active movement/sports clubs like gymnastics, fencing, movement, trail blazers, running, and soccer.

Arts & Creative
Creative clubs include doodling club, nature art club, mandala coloring club, and paper dolls club. The Extracurricular section lists Saturday events with arts-focused activities. These programs run alongside STEM and movement clubs.

Cultural & Language
Saturday Events include language Saturdays. Language Saturdays are part of the co-curricular offerings.

Social & Hobbies
The school offers After-School Clubs for two sessions of 10 weeks each, covering a wide range of student interests. Active movement and sports clubs include gymnastics, fencing, movement, trail blazers, running, and soccer. Saturday Events feature sport-focused Saturdays with soccer, basketball, cross country running, hiking, gaga ball, and Gaelic football.

Lifestyle & Wellbeing
The campus is described as located in a park-like, wooded area in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, with opportunities for Outdoor Education through the natural surroundings. Saturday Events include Hike and BBQ, along with sport-focused and other themed Saturdays such as arts, language, and science Saturdays.
Languages

Language Provision
KIS Seoul offers Korean and Mandarin Chinese as world language options for PK–Grade 5. Korean is taught twice weekly from PK through Grade 5, and Mandarin Chinese is taught once weekly from Kindergarten through Grade 5. English is the language of instruction for core subjects, with English Language Arts aligned to the US Common Core standards, and English for Speakers of Other Languages provides language support for learners. The Seoul Campus library houses over 10,000 English-language books and includes mother-tongue resources in Korean, Chinese, and Arabic.
Reputation

Accreditations
• Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) – KIS Seoul is fully accredited by WASC, a U.S. regional accreditation body that evaluates schools on standards including teaching quality, student support, and continuous improvement.

• East Asia Regional Council of Schools (EARCOS) Membership – The school is a member of EARCOS, a regional organization that supports professional collaboration and development among international schools in East Asia.

• Association of International Schools in Asia (AISA) Founding Member – KIS is listed as a founding member of AISA, a network of international schools promoting educational development and exchange across Asia.
Admissions

Admissions
1. Online application submission
Families begin by completing the online application form through the KIS admissions portal and paying the non-refundable application processing fee. Required documents typically include the child’s passport, academic records (if applicable), and immunization and health forms. Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, subject to space availability.

2. Document review and eligibility check
The admissions team reviews submitted documents to confirm age eligibility, grade placement, and whether the school can meet the student’s learning needs. For students transferring from another school, previous school reports are required. The school may request additional documentation if clarification is needed.

3. Assessment and school visit (if required)
Some applicants may be asked to complete an age-appropriate assessment or participate in an informal observation, particularly for elementary grades. This helps the school understand the student’s academic readiness and English language proficiency. Parents may also be invited to visit the campus, either in person or virtually.

4. Admission decision and offer
If an offer is made, families receive a formal admission letter outlining tuition fees, required deposits, and payment deadlines. Acceptance is confirmed once the registration and entrance fees are paid within the stated timeframe. Places are not held without payment.

Scholarships
KIS Seoul Campus does not publicly disclose any scholarship or financial aid programmes.

Waitlist
KIS Seoul Campus operates a waitlist when grade levels are full. Students on the waitlist are considered only for the academic year they applied for. If a place becomes available, families are contacted in order of suitability and space availability; waitlist placement does not guarantee admission.
School Events
The school has not added events
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