Korea International School Seoul is the early years and elementary campus of KIS, set in Gaepo-dong in the Gangnam district of Seoul. It gives younger children an English medium American primary education close to central southern Seoul, before they move up to the larger Pangyo campus for the middle and high school years. For families with young children who want to stay in Gangnam rather than commute south to Pangyo, this campus is the relevant choice, and this profile looks at how it works.
Korea International School (KIS) Seoul at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American programme aligned to United States Common Core standards; play based early years and project based primary; English medium, with Korean and Chinese |
| Stages | Early years through Grade 5 (roughly ages 3 to 11). Older students continue at the Pangyo campus |
| Founded | Korea International School was established in 2000; the Seoul campus serves the early and primary years in Gangnam |
| Accreditation | Part of Korea International School, which is accredited by WASC. Confirm campus level details with the school |
| Fee band | Premium band for the city |
| Campus area | Gaepo-dong, Gangnam District, southern Seoul, near parks and the river |
Curriculum and academics
The Seoul campus teaches an American curriculum for the youngest pupils, with a play based, discovery led early years programme and a primary school built on project based learning aligned to United States Common Core standards in English, mathematics and social studies. Specialist lessons in Korean, Chinese, music, physical education, art, design and STEM round out the week, and the school runs an English as an additional language programme and individual learning support for children who need it.
This is an American primary programme rather than an IB World School, so families specifically wanting the IB Primary Years Programme should compare the city's IB schools through our Seoul IB schools hub and the best IB schools in Seoul guide. The KIS approach shares the inquiry and project led feel that many parents associate with the early IB years, but it sits within an American framework that continues into AP at Pangyo, which is worth bearing in mind when you think about the whole journey.
The strength of the Seoul campus is that it offers a settled, child centred primary in Gangnam with a clear route into a large, established secondary school. The trade off is the eventual move to Pangyo, so families should plan for that transition from the outset rather than treat the primary years in isolation.
Comparing Gangnam primary options?
Put KIS Seoul beside the other early years and elementary schools in southern Seoul and see curriculum, language and fees side by side.
Korea International School (KIS) Seoul fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre / Junior Kinder | KRW 18,850,000 |
| Grades K to 5 | KRW 21,090,000 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | KRW 22,860,000 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | KRW 26,590,000 |
Source: Korea International School (kis.kr). KRW portion of tuition shown; a separate USD-denominated portion (about USD 9,270 to 12,060) also applies. Excludes entrance fee. Fees are the most recent published figures and exclude one-off costs such as registration, deposits and capital levies. Always confirm current fees directly with the school.
As part of Korea International School, the Seoul campus sits in the premium band for the city. Our Seoul international school fees guide explains how the market is tiered, and a premium American school carries premium primary fees. The published schedule is the figure to plan around, so request it before you budget, and check whether early years and elementary are priced differently.
Beyond tuition, expect a registration or application fee, a deposit, and recurring extras such as a facility contribution, the school bus and meals. Even at primary level the registration fee and bus charge are meaningful in the Seoul market, and fees rise year on year, so plan across the whole primary stage rather than a single year, including the later move to Pangyo.
To set a KIS Seoul budget against the rest of the city, our fees guide compares the premium schools tier by tier. Ask the admissions office which charges are compulsory and whether sibling discounts apply across the two campuses.
Admissions
Entry follows the August start of the American school year, with assessment based on prior records, an age appropriate readiness check and, for the youngest children, a sense of where they are developmentally rather than a formal test. English readiness matters, though the school's additional language support means children can build English once they join in the early years.
Places in the early years can be sought after, so register interest ahead of your intended start. Gather any nursery or school reports and a clear picture of your child's English and Korean, and ask how the school settles children arriving from a different system.
Confirm assessment arrangements, the documents required and any residence conditions with the admissions office, and ask early about the path from the Seoul campus up to Pangyo so the whole journey is clear before you enrol.
Location and who goes there
The Seoul campus sits in Gaepo-dong, in the Gangnam district south of the Han River, in an urban neighbourhood close to parks, wooded slopes, hiking trails and river paths. The setting gives younger children green space within a central southern Seoul location, which suits families who want to stay in Gangnam during the primary years rather than commute to the suburbs.
The intake leans toward expatriate and Korean returnee families living in Gangnam and the surrounding southern districts, many of whom plan for their children to continue at Pangyo. Relocating families should weigh the Gangnam location and the eventual campus change, and decide whether the staged journey suits them better than a single all through school.
To compare the KIS Seoul campus with other Gangnam options and see where similar families live, start from the Seoul international schools hub and filter by stage, district and budget.
Korea International School (KIS) Seoul reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for the KIS Seoul campus. GlobalSchoolGuide is independent and no school pays to be listed, so we publish a rating only once we have gathered enough verified first hand accounts to be fair to the school and to families. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the Seoul campus we would value your view of the early years and primary programme, the move up to Pangyo, pastoral care and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions here.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does KIS Seoul follow?
The Seoul campus teaches an American early years and primary programme aligned to United States Common Core standards, with play based early years and project based learning in the elementary grades. It is American rather than IB, though it shares an inquiry led feel.
What ages does KIS Seoul cover?
The Seoul campus serves early years through Grade 5, roughly ages 3 to 11. Older students continue to the larger KIS Pangyo campus for the middle and high school years.
How much are KIS Seoul fees?
As part of Korea International School, the Seoul campus sits in the premium band for the city. Budget for tuition plus a registration fee, a deposit and extras such as a facility charge, the bus and meals, and confirm the current schedule with the school.
When do KIS Seoul applications open?
The main intake aligns with the August start of the American academic year, with assessment based on records and an age appropriate readiness check. Register interest ahead of your intended start.
Where is KIS Seoul?
The Seoul campus is in Gaepo-dong, in the Gangnam district of southern Seoul, near parks and the river. The Pangyo campus, which older students attend, is in Seongnam to the south.
