How do you enrol a child in a public school in South Korea in 2026?

Start with the public school assigned to your registered Korean address or contact the metropolitan or provincial office of education (교육청) for that region. Study in Korea, the government study portal, directs foreign families to the local education authority for entry qualifications because grade rules and document checks differ by level and by whether records come from abroad.

Seoul families often work through the school near their gu (urban district) address and may use Seoul's multicultural education support channels for entry counselling. Gyeonggi, Busan, and Incheon run their own intake desks, so a process that worked in Gangnam may not copy exactly in Changwon or Daejeon. International fee schools are a separate track with their own admissions offices: see international school costs.

Immigration and school offices usually expect the child's passport, proof of family relationship, complete prior school records, and evidence that the household has a lawful place of stay in Korea. Finish register your address and obtain the Residence Card (foreigner registration card) before you assume the school can finalise the file. Records not in Korean or English commonly need a notarised Korean translation; verify the translation standard with the receiving school rather than guessing.

Bring vaccination or health records if the school requests them, and ask whether mid-year entry is allowed for your grade level. The school reviews age, prior attendance, and subject history when placing a child. Request a written placement decision and ask how Korean language support, remedial classes, or multicultural programmes work at that campus. Support intensity varies by school budget and neighbourhood demand.

Treat school enrolment as part of the same month as housing and immigration, especially if both parents work. Neighbourhoods popular with foreign families, such as parts of Seocho, Yongsan, or Haeundae, can fill primary places quickly, so scouting best places for families before you commit to a jeonse or monthly rent contract often saves a mid-year transfer.

After admission, update your paperwork after moving checklist with school bus routes, lunch programmes, and after-school care (방과 후) fees. Public tuition is low compared with international schools, but uniforms, meals, trips, and hagwon (private academy) costs still hit the household budget.