Secondary and sixth form tuition at Seoul international schools runs roughly KRW 18 million to KRW 46 million per year in 2026. Premium international schools sit at about KRW 38 million to 46 million (USD 27,000 to 33,000), the upper mid tier at KRW 28 million to 38 million, and the mid tier at KRW 18 million to 28 million. Secondary is where fees peak, so the headline figures in our Seoul international school fees guide reflect this stage closely. The fuller Seoul city guide covers schools, neighbourhoods and admissions in detail.
Seoul has a high cost international school market with an important eligibility quirk: most foreign schools restrict places to children holding a foreign passport or with significant time spent overseas, which shapes the choice before fees even enter the picture. Among eligible families the secondary spread is wide, with a flagship sixth form place near KRW 46 million sitting alongside capable mid tier schools at well under half that figure. At senior level the difference is mostly the breadth of IB Diploma and Advanced Placement subject choice, faculty depth and university counselling, so the secondary fee gap is large enough to reshape the relocation budget.
The bands below are tuition only and are taken directly from the tier structure in our Seoul fees guide, with secondary placed at the upper part of each school's range. Treat them as planning ranges. The exact fee depends on the school, the year group and whether the child is in lower secondary, the IGCSE years or the sixth form.
| Tier | Annual tuition (KRW) | Annual tuition (USD) | Illustrative schools |
|---|---|---|---|
| Premium international | KRW 38M - 46M | USD 27,000 - 33,000 | Seoul Foreign School, Seoul International School, Korea International School Seoul, Yongsan International School, British School Seoul |
| Upper mid international | KRW 28M - 38M | USD 20,000 - 27,000 | Asia Pacific International, Dwight School Seoul, Seoul Academy, GSIS Seoul |
| Mid international | KRW 18M - 28M | USD 13,000 - 20,000 | Smaller international and bilingual schools and certain niche providers |
| Korean state (limited eligibility) | KRW 0 - 5M | USD 0 - 3,500 | Korean state schools, limited eligibility for expat children depending on visa class |
School names indicate the fee tier and are illustrative, not a ranking. The IB Diploma or Advanced Placement sixth form year is the highest published fee at almost every Seoul international school, so a family entering at middle school should budget for a rising tuition line. Eligibility rules mean some schools are only open to foreign passport holders.
Model sixth form tuition against the full cost of place across up to three schools and other stages.
Three things move the senior number in Seoul. The first is eligibility and provider, since the premium foreign schools such as Seoul Foreign School and Seoul International School cluster at the top and restrict entry by passport or time abroad. The second is the year group, where the IGCSE years and the IB Diploma or Advanced Placement sixth form sit at the top of every school's scale. The third is fee inflation, which ran at roughly 4 percent across Seoul schools in the recent cycle, so a place priced today will cost materially more across a five year secondary stay. Budget at least 4 percent annual inflation in forward planning.
Headline tuition is only part of the picture, and the senior years carry the heaviest add ons. The lines to plan for are a one time registration or enrolment fee of KRW 1.5 million to 4 million, school bus at KRW 4 million to 7 million per year, which is near essential given Seoul distances, uniform at KRW 800,000 to over 1 million, external exam entries at KRW 1.5 million to 3 million in the IGCSE, IB and Advanced Placement years, plus trips and activity fees. Our Seoul fees guide sets out the line items in full, and the relocation cost calculator places them inside a complete family budget. To weigh Seoul against another posting, the fee comparison tool models several cities at once. For verified parent perspectives as they arrive, see Seoul international school reviews.
Secondary and sixth form tuition runs roughly KRW 18 million to KRW 46 million per year in 2026. Premium international schools sit at about KRW 38 million to 46 million (USD 27,000 to 33,000), the upper mid tier at KRW 28 million to 38 million, and the mid tier at KRW 18 million to 28 million.
Not always. Most premium foreign schools in Seoul restrict places to children holding a foreign passport or with significant time spent overseas, so eligibility should be confirmed with each school before fees are even considered. A small number of schools are more open.
Expect a one time registration fee of KRW 1.5 million to 4 million, school bus of KRW 4 million to 7 million per year, uniform of KRW 800,000 to over 1 million, and external exam entries of KRW 1.5 million to 3 million in the IGCSE, IB and Advanced Placement years.
Most premium international schools run a full secondary and sixth form, including Seoul Foreign School, Seoul International School, Korea International School Seoul and Yongsan International School, alongside Dwight School Seoul and other mid tier options. The named schools are illustrative of the tier rather than a ranking.
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