Education in Korea is composed of six years in elementary school, three years in middle school, three years in high school and four years in university (two years in vocational college). Six years in elementary school and three years in middle school are mandatory, which means that students receive free education during this period. Students have two semesters every year. They have a one-month summer vacation after the end of the first semester. After the second semester and until the start of a new year, there is a two-month winter vacation and an end-of-semester break. Usually, the first semester starts in late February or early March and the second semester begins in late August or early September.

Foreign parents who wish to send their children to Korean schools must submit certificates of alien registration for each child. For middle and high school, they must also apply to the Daegu Metropolitan Office of Education, which will determine the child’s education level based on academic background. Since there is no language support, foreign students must speak and understand Korean to participate in classes.

Admission schedules are different depending on whether schools are state-run or private-run so parents should contact individual schools or check their websites to confirm exact admission schedules. To apply for early or delayed admission, parents must submit the relevant application forms to the heads of the eup (town), myeon (township) and dong (neighborhood) in their jurisdiction.

• Children eligible for school admission: children aged 6 or older
• Application period: Oct. 1 – Dec. 31 of every year
• Admission procedure: creating a list of children eligible for school admission
  →apply for early or delayed admission ->setting admission deadline and recruitment district ->preliminary summons ->admission

• Those listed as beneficiaries of education support by eup and myeon community centers
• Minimum cost of living is 140% or less.
• Refugees and their children.
• Children recommended by teachers for support due to poor economic conditions (parents’ divorce, death, unemployment, bankruptcy and illness)