Best boarding schools in South Korea 2025

South Korea's boarding schools offer a distinctive educational experience, blending rigorous academics with cultural immersion. These institutions cater to students from around the world, providing a structured environment conducive to learning and personal growth.

Academic Year and Curriculum in South Korean Boarding Schools

The academic year consists of two semesters: March to July and late August to February, with breaks in between. Students typically begin primary education at age 6, receiving comprehensive instruction in Korean, mathematics, and other core subjects. English language education starts formally in the third grade, although foundational lessons begin earlier.

Secondary education continues the focus on academic discipline and includes a diverse curriculum encompassing:

• Mathematics

• Korean and English

• Sciences

• Social disciplines

• Music and fine arts

Classes are generally held in the same room, with specialized spaces for subjects like physics and chemistry. The school week consists of six 45-minute lessons per day, Monday through Friday, with optional additional classes as needed.

Esther Diaz

Education specialist, career coach and consultant. She worked for Inspired Education Group and directed the admissions department at the International School san Patricio Toledo.

What would you say is the most important when choosing a Spanish school?

This is the quality of support and work of the management, the opportunity to study at IB, the prestige of the school and the percentage of successful completion of the diploma stage of IB, recommendations for further universities. It is worth considering the national "recruitment" of campus students, opportunities for extracurricular development and activities, the availability of medical services and consultations, opportunities for language immersion. Is education at the chosen school based on the values you share? Is the school a close-knit community? Is academic support good?

High schools in South Korea offer specialized tracks in natural sciences, languages, arts, and more. The education is intensive, and students often engage in self-study and additional classes, allowing them to prepare for university entrance exams.

Top Boarding Schools in South Korea

• Branksome Hall Asia: An extension of Canada's Branksome Hall, located on Jeju Island, it offers the International Baccalaureate program. Catering to students from age three, the middle and high school programs are exclusively for girls, with a significant percentage of international students.
• Taejon Christian International School: Established in 1958 as Korea's first international IB school, TCIS in Daejeon emphasizes critical thinking and technological integration, accommodating foreign students in a family-like residential setting.

Tuition fees for international students vary based on factors such as school location, ranking, educational programs, and extracurricular activities. On average, costs range from $16,000 to $32,000 per academic year.

Prospective students must obtain an educational visa and submit translated and notarized academic records, along with copies of their birth certificate and parents' passports. Most schools accept applications throughout the academic year, either on a competitive or general basis, depending on the institution.

Education in South Korea combines high technology with traditional Eastern thinking. Great attention is paid to following rules and maintaining order. The secret to the success and productivity of South Korean students lies in the fact that they begin learning as early as the preschool level: by the age of 2-3, they are already learning to read, studying math, English, and receiving homework assignments.

Studying in elementary and middle schools is compulsory for all students, with a duration of education of 9 years. High schools offer pre-university program, lasting for three years, and designed for those who are interested in pursuing education at a university. According to statistics, almost 98% of students decide on entering university. Secondary education in South Korea involves heavy workloads: teenagers attend additional private lessons, engage in independent work, and spend a total of up to 16 hours a day studying. This helps students achieve high results.

Elementary, middle, and high schools are located in separate buildings and are not connected to each other organizationally.

A unique aspect of the South Korean education system is that teachers are frequently transferred from one school to another. This ensures that they can work with different children, preventing the emergence of "weak" and "strong" schools.

Students are prohibited from using mobile phones during lessons: they leave all their devices in designated compartments before classes begin.

Schools in South Korea are classified into public and private. Private schools charge fees for studying. Generally, all secondary educational institutions can be classified into three types:

• Local,
• Foreign,
• International.

The South Korean Ministry of Education has developed a national curriculum that all schools, including private ones, are required to follow. Independent (autonomous) educational institutions often adjust their curriculum and set their own admission criteria, thereby increasing competition.

Compared to public schools, private ones have more state-of-the-art facilities and equipment. No matter what school type a student chooses, the quality of education is high everywhere. South Korea is not distinguished with a great number of educational institutions with a full board basis, which stipulates a residential campus, social-medical infrastructure and provision of food for the child. Most of the boarding houses are located in the major cities of the country, the most top and famous - in Seoul. Children, who represent more than 20 different nationalities, study in boarding schools in South Korea.

Private boarding schools are classified in several types:

• private boarding schools - preparation for admission to the top universities of the world,
• specialized boarding schools - sports, scientific, creative, etc.,
• religious boarding schools - historically founded by religious groups, but now accept students of all religions and denominations.

Most boarding schools are based on American or British curricula - IB, American Curriculum, Advanced Placement, UK National Curriculum, GCSE, A-Levels, BTEC, etc. All subjects are taught in English, but Korean is always included in the program as an optional subject. Usually, teachers in such schools are native speakers with experience of working in the UK or USA.

The advantage of private schools is their striving to make learning comfortable, effective and interesting: for this purpose, the latest equipment and modern technologies, laboratories, thematic studios, unique sports facilities are used. Also students are provided with hot meals on a daily basis. In most schools, a transfer is organized from home to school and back by their own bus.

• High-quality education.
• Modern and diverse technical equipment.
• Strong academic focus on IT, natural sciences, and exact sciences.
• Well-developed infrastructure.
• High chance of admission to South Korean or foreign universities.
• High level of preparation and self-discipline, allowing students to compete equally with local applicants.
• Financial assistance for higher education.
• Benefits in obtaining scholarships, while studying at a university.
• Safety and a high standard of living.

When selecting an educational institution in South Korea, it is important to consider:

• The availability of accreditation and an educational license,
• The school's prestige,
• The diploma awarded upon graduation (ideally, it should be of an international standard),
• The teaching methods and additional subjects offered,
• The teaching staff,
• The school's building and infrastructure,
• The organization of additional services such as accommodation, meals, transportation, and medical care.