Cities / Seoul / Korea International School Seoul Campus
Korea International School Seoul Campus
American-curriculum school in Gangnam's Gaepo-dong, operating as the Seoul campus of Korea International School and serving Pre-Kindergarten through Grade 5. Fees for 2025-26 split between a Korean Won portion (KRW 18.85M-21.09M) and a US Dollar portion (USD 9,270-10,430).
In brief
The Gangnam Pre-K to Grade 5 elementary feeder for Korea International School, on the original Gaepo-dong campus the group has occupied since the Korean Ministry authorised KIS in February 1999.
The Seoul campus is small and focused, serving roughly 350 children from age 3 to 11 in Gaepo-dong before they move to the larger Pangyo campus from Grade 6. The site was remodelled in 2007 to house the early childhood and elementary programme and rebranded from Gaepo to KIS Seoul Campus in 2012. Learning is project-based on US Common Core foundations, with specialist classes in Korean, Chinese, music, PE, art, design and STEM, and EAL and learning support layered in through a multi-tier system.
Families value the quieter feel and the in-Gangnam location compared with the long commute to Pangyo, and the early years counselling and transition support draw warm comments. The campus pulls a notably international cohort, including a meaningful Middle Eastern presence in some years. Fees run roughly KRW 33 to 38 million, comparable to the wider KIS network.
Fees
| Fee | Age | Type | Amount |
|---|---|---|---|
| Pre-Kindergarten / Junior Kindergarten | 3 | Annual | ₩33,674,020 |
| Kindergarten - Grade 5 | 5 | Annual | ₩37,882,840 |
| Book Deposit (refundable) | One-time | ₩200,000 | |
| Application Processing Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₩400,000 | |
| Registration Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₩400,000 | |
| Entrance Fee (non-refundable) | One-time | ₩4,000,000 |
Reviews
- KIS Seoul Campus is the smaller Seoul site of Korea International School, alongside the larger Pangyo (Bundang) flagship and the Jeju boarding campus. American curriculum.
- Independent commentary places KIS Seoul among the top-tier Seoul international schools alongside Seoul International School (SIS), Dulwich College Seoul and Dwight School Seoul, and groups it with KIS Jeju and Pangyo on package.
- Teacher-side signal is more critical of KIS Seoul than of Pangyo. The strongest negative is a 2025 r/Internationalteachers comment describing 'KIS - Seoul ghosts', and a 2025 thread questioning the campus's regulatory standing because, unlike KIS Jeju which holds a foreign-school licence, KIS Seoul reportedly does not.
- Comparative threads consistently put KIS Seoul a step below Seoul Foreign School and SIS. Salaries quoted at around US$53k base plus housing allowance for new hires.
- Parent voice is sparse. Most surfacing material is teacher-recruitment and tier-list framing rather than detailed family review.
Head of school
Dr. Sunshik Min
Cameron Fox is the School Director at Korea International School, having assumed the role in July 2023. He previously led WASC accreditation visits to KIS in 2016 and 2019, which inspired his return to the school. Before joining KIS, Mr. Fox was the Founding Head of School at VERSO International School in Thailand and the Head of the American International School in Hong Kong. His professional background is characterized by a commitment to innovative, design-driven educational practices and a student-centered approach to learning. He is recognized for fostering progressive thinking and leading schools through periods of significant growth and change.
Accreditations
- Western Association of Schools and Colleges (Accrediting Commission for Schools) 01
- Council of International Schools 02