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The South Korean school system is divided into three parts:

1. elementary school (ages 6 to 11),
2. middle school (ages 12 to 14), and
3. high school (ages 15 to 17).

Foreigners may attend Korean schools if they wish and transferring to a new school mid-term isn’t usually a problem.

Kindergartens operate in the mornings and are for kids aged 5 to 7. There are both public and private kindergartens, public kindergartens costing around 30,000 Won a month, private ones about four times that. Most kindergartens provide meals and run a school bus.

Elementary school is free for registered aliens, only school meals and special activities need to be paid for by the parents. If your child has attended elementary school outside Korea, you’ll need transcripts from all grades, signed or sealed by the head teacher, plus a proof of attendance in order to enrol him/her in a Korean middle school.

Foreign students who have completed nine years of education may enter high school in Korea. Go to your provincial office of education to receive a school assignment, registration will require the same documents as above. Korean high schools can be tough, demanding long hours of study – particularly if a student plans to go on to one of the more prestigious universities.

University begins at 18 years of age.