Shanghai Korean School is a community school for the children of Korean nationals living in Shanghai. It was founded in 1999, with approval from the South Korean Ministry of Education, and teaches the South Korean national curriculum so that students stay aligned with the school system at home. All divisions, from primary through middle and high school, run on a single campus in Huacao Town in the Minhang district. It is a distinct option from the city's English medium schools, and you can see how it sits among them on the Shanghai city hub.
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and language | South Korean national curriculum, adapted for an overseas setting |
| Stages | Primary, middle and high school, the standard Korean structure |
| Founded | 1999, approved by the South Korean Ministry of Education |
| Accreditation | Operates as a Korean overseas school; not published as IB or Western accredited |
| Fee band | Below the city's premium English medium tier |
| Campus area | Huacao Town, Minhang district, western Shanghai |
Curriculum and academics
The school follows the South Korean national curriculum, built around core subjects that include Korean language, mathematics, social studies, science, moral education, physical education and the arts. The structure mirrors the system in Korea across primary, middle and high school, which lets a child move back into a Korean school, or prepare for Korean university entrance, without the disruption of switching educational systems. This is a different proposition from the English medium IB and other international programmes that dominate the rest of the city.
For a family on a posting who expect to return to Korea, that continuity is the main reason to choose the school. To understand where it sits on cost against the broader market, our guide to the most affordable international schools in Shanghai sets out the lower end of the range it belongs to.
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Shanghai Korean School fees
As a community school for Korean nationals, the school sits well below the premium English medium tier that our Shanghai international school fees guide records for the largest foreign passport schools. Fees are set by the school and supported by the Korean community in the city, so the headline international rates do not apply. Confirm the current schedule directly rather than estimating from the wider market.
Even at the lower end, budget for the items beyond tuition that every school charges, such as a registration fee, a deposit and optional bus and meals. Model the full annual figure with our fee calculator so you are comparing like with like across your shortlist.
Admissions
The school primarily serves the children of Korean nationals on postings to Shanghai. Admissions follow the Korean school calendar and the documentation the school requires of Korean overseas families, so the process differs from the August intake used by the city's English medium schools.
Because demand tracks the size of the Korean business community in the city, places in popular year groups can be limited. Confirm eligibility, the intake window and the documents required directly with the school, and prepare your child's records ahead of the move.
Location and who goes there
The campus is in Huacao Town in the Minhang district, on the western side of the city, close to the established Korean community around the Hongqiao and Gubei areas, which have long had Korean shops, restaurants and services. Most students come from Korean households, which gives the school a close knit community feel and keeps Korean as the language of daily life.
For families weighing a Korean curriculum school against an English medium international school, the deciding factors are usually language, length of posting and university plans. To compare the full range of options, including fees and where each community clusters, return to the Shanghai city hub.
Shanghai Korean School reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Shanghai Korean School. 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 both the school and to the families reading them. We would rather show nothing than show an invented score.
If your family has attended the school we would value your account of admissions, teaching and the move between the Korean and other systems. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
How much are Shanghai Korean School fees?
As a community school for Korean nationals, fees sit well below Shanghai's premium English medium international schools. The schedule is set by the school and supported by the Korean community, so confirm current figures directly rather than assuming the city's headline international rates.
What curriculum does Shanghai Korean School follow?
The school follows the South Korean national curriculum, adapted for an overseas setting, so that students stay aligned with schools in Korea. Core subjects include Korean language, mathematics, science, social studies and the arts.
Who can attend Shanghai Korean School?
The school primarily serves the children of Korean nationals living in Shanghai. Confirm eligibility and documentation with the school before applying, as it is a community school rather than an open enrolment international school.
Where is Shanghai Korean School?
All divisions run on a single campus in Huacao Town in the Minhang district on the western side of the city, close to the established Korean community around Hongqiao and Gubei.
Is Shanghai Korean School a good school?
It keeps Korean students aligned with the curriculum at home, which suits families who expect to return to Korea or sit Korean university entrance. We publish ratings only from verified reviews, so weigh curriculum fit and a campus visit.
