Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten is where the youngest children enter Seoul Foreign School, the oldest international school in Seoul, on the large campus in Yeonhui-dong. For families relocating with a very young child the early years are the part that matters, because this is the entry point into a school that runs the International Baccalaureate continuum all the way to grade 12. This profile concentrates on the pre kindergarten and early years stage, what a play based start looks like here, the fees to plan for, and how admission works for the youngest applicants.
Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | Early years foundation aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme followed by the elementary school. Confirm the exact early years model with the school |
| Stages | Early years entry, pre kindergarten and kindergarten, feeding into the elementary school. Confirm the youngest age accepted directly with the school |
| Founded | Part of Seoul Foreign School, founded 1913; settled in Yeonhui-dong in 1957 |
| Accreditation | Accredited by WASC and CIS as part of Seoul Foreign School; an IB World School for the Primary Years, Middle Years and Diploma programmes |
| Fee band | Premium band for Seoul; early years fees usually the lowest stage but still premium. See the Seoul fees guide |
| Campus area | Yeonhui-dong, Seodaemun-gu, on the Seoul Foreign School campus next to Yonsei University |
Curriculum and academics
The early years at Seoul Foreign School give children a play based start that is aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme the elementary school follows. The Primary Years Programme builds learning around inquiry and structured play rather than formal instruction at this age, which suits how young children learn through exploration, language and social development. Confirm the exact early years model and the youngest age accepted directly with the school, since provision for the very youngest can change year to year.
The advantage of starting at the pre kindergarten stage is continuity. A child who enters here can in principle progress through the elementary, middle and high schools without changing school, moving from the Primary Years Programme into the Middle Years Programme and on to the Diploma. For relocating families that continuity is valuable, because it removes the uncertainty of finding a new school at each stage in an unfamiliar city.
The honest question at this age is less about academics and more about settling, language support and the daily routine. Ask the early years team how a young child new to the school and possibly new to English is supported, what the day looks like, and how the early years feed into kindergarten and the elementary school.
Work out the true cost
Use the fee calculator to estimate the full cost of a place at Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten, including extras beyond tuition.
Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten fees
| Stage | Annual tuition |
|---|---|
| Pre-K 2 and 3 (partial day) | KRW 17,500,000 |
| Pre-K 2 (full day) | KRW 25,940,000 |
| Kindergarten to Grade 5 | KRW 26,160,000 |
| Grades 6 to 8 | KRW 26,800,000 |
| Grades 9 to 12 | KRW 32,010,000 |
Source: Seoul Foreign School (seoulforeign.org). Tuition is billed in both KRW and USD; the KRW portion is shown here, plus a USD portion of about USD 7,000 to 14,500 by stage. Excludes one-time application, registration and entrance fees. 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 the early years entry to Seoul Foreign School, this stage sits in the premium band for the city, although early years fees are usually the lowest of any stage. Our Seoul international school fees guide places the capital's leading schools at the top of the local market, and Seoul Foreign School is named there as the long established premium option. The published early years schedule is the figure to plan against.
Beyond tuition, budget for a one off registration or application fee, a deposit, and optional costs such as lunches, the school bus and supplies. Fees rise as a child moves up the school, so a place taken in the early years is the start of a multi year commitment that grows into the elementary, middle and high school rates.
To see where the early years leave you against the city's other options, the fees guide groups Seoul schools into tiers. Ask the school how early years fees compare with the elementary school, whether any part time or half day option exists, and how transport is charged from your neighbourhood.
Admissions
Admission at the early years stage is less about assessment and more about age eligibility and availability, since places for the youngest children are limited and the campus is among the most sought after in the city. The school will confirm the youngest age it accepts and the cut off dates that decide which year group a child enters, so ask about these early.
International schools in Korea operate under nationality rules that restrict places for Korean citizens, so confirm your family's eligibility before applying, as explained in our Seoul fees guide. Families applying from abroad should check what documentation the early years stage requires and whether the child needs to be present for any settling visit.
Register your interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed, since early years places fill quickly, and ask the admissions team how the pre kindergarten stage feeds into kindergarten and the elementary school so you understand the progression from the start.
Location and who goes there
The early years share the Seoul Foreign School campus in Yeonhui-dong, in Seodaemun-gu, a green and established residential district next to Yonsei University on the northern side of the Han River. The large site means the youngest children have dedicated early years space within the wider school rather than being squeezed into a city building.
The intake is multinational and includes diplomatic, corporate and long settled international families, many of whom enter at the early years stage and stay through the school. Families relocating to Seoul with a young child tend to weigh commute from the western and northern districts, since a short daily run matters more with a very young child.
To see how the early years compare with the other schools across the city and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Seoul city hub and work outward by curriculum, stage and budget.
Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten. GlobalSchoolGuide is an independent guide 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 the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your young child has attended the early years we would value your account of settling, the play based start, communication with parents and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What does Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten teach?
The early years give children a play based start aligned with the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme that the elementary school follows, with learning built around inquiry and structured play rather than formal instruction. Confirm the exact early years model and the youngest age accepted with the school.
What age does Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten start?
Seoul Foreign School accepts children from the early years into pre kindergarten and kindergarten, but the youngest age accepted and the cut off dates that decide year groups are set by the school, so confirm these directly before applying.
How much are Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten fees?
The early years sit in the premium band for the city, although early years fees are usually the lowest stage. Budget for tuition plus a registration fee, a deposit and optional costs such as meals and transport, and remember fees rise as the child moves up the school. Confirm the current schedule with the school.
Does starting in pre kindergarten guarantee a place later?
Starting in the early years is designed to give continuity into the elementary, middle and high schools, but you should confirm with the school how progression works and whether re application or assessment is needed at any later stage.
When do Seoul Foreign School Pre-Kindergarten applications open?
Early years places are limited and fill quickly, so apply as soon as your relocation is confirmed. Nationality rules restrict places for Korean citizens, so confirm eligibility and the current admissions criteria directly with the school.
