Yongsan International School of Seoul is one of the established American curriculum schools serving the Seoul region, set on a campus in the Hannam-dong area of Yongsan-gu near Itaewon. It grew out of the former International Christian School of Seoul and began operating under its present name and on its present site in 2006. It remains a Christian school, a member of the Network of International Christian Schools, and is recognised by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education. For relocating families the questions are how the American pathway and Advanced Placement work, where the campus sits within the city, and where the fees land, and this profile addresses each.
Yongsan International School of Seoul at a glance
| Detail | Summary |
|---|---|
| Curriculum and exam boards | American curriculum in English, with an Advanced Placement programme at the high school stage |
| Stages | Early years through to Grade 12, roughly ages 4 to 18, on a single campus |
| Founded | Began operating as YISS on its Hannam-dong campus in 2006, having grown out of the International Christian School of Seoul |
| Accreditation | Accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges (WASC) and the Association of Christian Schools International (ACSI); recognised by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education |
| Fee band | Premium band for the Seoul region, alongside the city's leading international and American schools |
| Campus area | Hannam-dong, Yongsan-gu, in central Seoul near Itaewon |
Curriculum and academics
Yongsan International School of Seoul follows an American curriculum taught in English, built around the familiar United States grade structure of elementary, middle and high school. The defining feature at the senior stage is Advanced Placement, which lets able students take university level courses and examinations while still at school. For a North American family the calendar, grade names and university counselling will all feel familiar, and the AP route gives an academically strong child room to stretch.
As a Christian school within the Network of International Christian Schools, YISS sets its academic programme within a faith based ethos, with chapel, service and a stated Christian worldview running alongside the curriculum. Families of many backgrounds attend, and the honest question for any prospective parent is how comfortable the family is with that ethos shaping the school day. It is worth asking directly how faith is taught and how it sits alongside the academic programme.
The other comparison to weigh is the American AP route against the International Baccalaureate offered elsewhere in the city. AP suits a student who wants to take specific subjects at a higher level and who may be aiming at United States universities, while the IB carries a broader required spread. Ask the school how many AP courses a typical senior takes, how university counselling works, and where recent graduates have gone on to study.
Weighing YISS against another school?
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Yongsan International School of Seoul fees
Yongsan International School of Seoul sits in the premium band for the capital, alongside the city's leading international and American schools. Our Seoul international school fees guide places the premium schools in a band of roughly KRW 38 to 46 million per year. The published schedule by grade is the figure to plan against, since fees rise with the stage a child enters.
Beyond tuition, budget for a one off registration or application fee, a deposit, and optional costs such as the school bus, lunches, AP examination fees, technology and trips. Fees tend to rise each year, so plan for increases across a multi year stay rather than a flat rate, and check how elementary, middle and high school fees differ.
To see where YISS leaves you against the rest of the region, the fees guide groups schools into tiers, and our shortlist of the best American schools in Seoul sets the comparable options side by side. Ask whether sibling discounts apply and how transport is charged from your neighbourhood.
Admissions
Entry runs from the early years up to Grade 12 on the American school year, with assessment suited to the grade a child is joining, a review of recent reports and, for older students, a transcript. As an established and sought after school, YISS can have limited places in popular grades, so early application matters.
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 English language expectations and gather the documentation the school requires, and ask how students joining from a different system are supported.
Gather recent reports, any standardised assessment results and, for high school entrants, a transcript and a sense of intended AP subjects. Register your interest as soon as your relocation is confirmed and ask about assessment dates and the entry points across the grades.
Location and who goes there
Yongsan International School of Seoul is in Hannam-dong, in Yongsan-gu, near Itaewon in the centre of the city. The district has long been a base for international, diplomatic and corporate families, which keeps commutes short for much of the school community and places the campus close to embassies, international housing and the central business areas. That central position is a practical advantage over schools set on the southern edge of the metropolitan area.
The intake is multinational and includes long settled international families, corporate postings and families drawn specifically by the American curriculum and the Christian ethos. Families relocating to the capital should weigh where they intend to live against the Hannam-dong campus, since the neighbourhood you choose shapes both commute and community.
To see how YISS compares with the other schools in the city and where comparable families tend to live, start from the Seoul city hub and work outward by curriculum, stage and budget.
Yongsan International School of Seoul reviews
We do not yet hold any verified parent reviews for Yongsan International School of Seoul. 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 family has attended YISS we would value your account of the American curriculum, the Advanced Placement programme, the Christian ethos, university counselling and value for money. Share it through our school reviews hub and we will add verified contributions to this page.
Frequently asked questions
What curriculum does Yongsan International School of Seoul follow?
YISS follows an American curriculum taught in English from early years to Grade 12, with an Advanced Placement programme at the senior stage. It is a Christian school accredited by WASC and ACSI. Confirm current course options with the school.
Where is Yongsan International School of Seoul?
YISS is in the Hannam-dong area of Yongsan-gu in central Seoul, close to Itaewon. The district has long been a base for international and diplomatic families, which keeps commutes short for much of the school's community.
How much are Yongsan International School of Seoul fees?
YISS sits in the premium band for the capital, with the city's leading international schools in the region of KRW 38 to 46 million per year. Budget for tuition plus a registration fee, a deposit and optional costs such as transport, meals and AP examination fees, and confirm the current schedule by grade with the school.
Is Yongsan International School of Seoul a Christian school?
Yes. YISS is a Christian school and a member of the Network of International Christian Schools, accredited by the Association of Christian Schools International alongside WASC. Families of all backgrounds attend, so ask the school how faith shapes daily school life.
When do Yongsan International School of Seoul applications open?
Entry runs across the grades on the American school year, with assessment suited to the grade a child is joining. Nationality rules in Korea restrict places for Korean citizens, so confirm eligibility, share recent reports and check the current admissions criteria directly with the school, and apply early.
