Dongjak-gu,

of the people, by the people and for the people

  1. home
  2. Living in Dongjak
  3. Education
  4. Foreign Children’s Education
  1. home
  2. Living in Dongjak
  3. Education
  4. Foreign Children’s Education

Foreign Children’s Education

Education of Foreign Children

  • Before entering school, the academic level of the foreign child is evaluated based on his/her academic achievement at their previous school and he/she must be proficient in Korean.
  • If a child is in the protection of an overseas Korean or foreigner enters or transfers to an elementary school in Korea, his/her guardian should submit an Alien Registration Certificate or Certificate of the Entry into and Departure from Korea issued by the Head of Immigration Office to the school having jurisdiction over his/her residence.
  • Elementary school
    • School attendance notification is not issued to a foreign child unless he/she was born in Korea or has Korean citizenship. If a foreign child wishes to enter an elementary school in Korea, his/her guardian may apply for the admission to the head of an elementary school in the school district where his/her residence is located in accordance with Article 19 of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.
    • Students are assigned to schools by the Community Service Center having jurisdiction over their residence. The Head of an elementary school receiving an application shall verify the details of the Certificate of the Entry into and Departure from Korea, or the Certificate of an Alien Registration and determine his/her admission.
  • Middle school
    • A guardian of a foreign child may apply for the admission to the head of a middle school in the school district where his/her residence is located in.
    • The Office of Education having jurisdiction over his/her residence assigns the child to a school through a lottery system.
  • High school
    • In accordance with Article 89-2 of the Enforcement Decree of the Elementary and Secondary Education, admission, transfer, or special admission to a high school is determined by the school regulations. Therefore, the head of the high school assigned by the Office of Education determines admission according to the school regulations.

Special Admission of Foreign Children

  • Preferential allocation to an elementary/middle school (compulsory education) having jurisdiction over his/her residence
    • In case of special admission, a student is preferentially assigned to an elementary/middle school having jurisdiction over his/her residence.
    • Once the guardian of a foreign child visits a school in the school district where his/her residence is located in and applies for special admission, the school conducts a screening or academic evaluation and determines acceptance considering its vacancies.
      In case of special transfer to a multicultural global school, research school, or school with bilingual teachers, special admission is determined after consultation with the head of a school.
  • Determination of grade of special transfer students
    • The foreign school’s Certificate of Registration and Academic Transcript are converted into the Korean school system (12 grades system).
      e.g., If a semester is duplicated due to the difference in the school systems, the student will skip a semester. If the student is one semester ahead, he/she will be assigned to one semester lower.
  • Documents required for transfer admission
    • Application for Transfer Admission, Certificate of Registration (Certificate of Graduation), Academic Transcript (notarized translation), Certificate of the Entry into and Departure from Korea, Certificate of Alien Registration or Certificate of Domestic Residence Statement, Certificate of Family Relations, and Resident Registration

Education for Illegal Aliens’ Children

  • According to the Convention on the Rights of the Child, the Korean government legally guarantees compulsory education (elementary/middle school) of foreigners and illegal aliens in order to respect human rights and to provide equal educational opportunities for the children of illegal aliens.
  • However, admission to middle schools is determined by the head of a middle school. Unregistered aliens should submit documents proving their address (Rental Contract, Residence Confirmation, Written Guarantee of the Neighborhood, etc.).