Deutsche Schule Seoul International (German School Seoul)

About Deutsche Schule Seoul International

Deutsche Schule Seoul International (DSSI), known in Korean as (학)서울독일학교, says it is the only officially recognized German School Abroad (Deutsche Auslandsschule) on the Korean Peninsula. It has taught children in Seoul since 1976. The campus is at 123-6 Dokseodang-ro, Yongsan-gu (서울특별시 용산구 독서당로 123-6). The school offers one continuous path from kindergarten to the German International Abitur.

Language of instruction and program structure

German is the main language of instruction, and the school describes a single German-language program rather than a separate English-language stream. English is taught from kindergarten onward, and some subjects, including history, are taught bilingually in German and English. French begins in Grade 6 or Grade 10. Students who are still learning German get help from a team of German as a Foreign Language and German as a Second Language (DaF/DaZ) teachers, who join subject lessons or work with small groups of students who share a language background.

Kindergarten, primary and secondary school

• Kindergarten: follows the Thuringian educational plan and runs daily from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Children learn English through play, including weekly sessions with an English-speaking teacher.
• Primary School (Grades 1–4): uses a curriculum based on the Thuringian educational plan and adapted to the school. German is the everyday language and is taught to each child according to their needs.
• Secondary School (Grades 5–12): an eight-year track with small classes, leading to the German International Abitur in Grades 11 and 12.

Diplomas and qualifications

The final qualification is the German International Abitur. Students choose eleven qualifying subjects and sit five Abitur exams, and the bilingual subjects can be examined in English. Along the way, the school awards the Hauptschulabschluss at the end of Grade 9 and the Realschulabschluss (Intermediate Secondary School Certificate) in Grade 10. A central class test in German, mathematics and English in Grade 10 decides entry to the upper secondary (Gymnasium) level.

Recognition and oversight

The Federal Republic of Germany supports DSSI with qualified teachers and funding. The Central Agency for German Schools Abroad (ZfA) and the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education and Cultural Affairs (KMK) oversee the school. In spring 2024, DSSI received the “Excellent German School Abroad” quality seal.

School year and school bus

The year is split into two semesters. Under the official 2026/27 holiday calendar, the first day of school is 20 August 2026 and the last day is 7 July 2027, with autumn, Christmas and Easter breaks in between. Current dates are on the DSSI school holidays page.

DSSI runs a school bus with an escort on every trip. Its stops include Hyatt, Itaewon, Sindang-dong (Beotigogae), Oksu-dong, Hilton Millennium, Yongsan Park Tower, City Park and Seongbuk-dong. Seats and coverage are limited, so families register separately for the bus; details are on the school bus page.

DSSI Admissions Process

Who can apply

Korean regulations decide who can enroll. Under these rules, a child is generally eligible if:

• at least one parent holds a non-Korean nationality,
• both parents are Korean and the child has lived abroad for three years (1,095 days), or
• one parent is of foreign origin and naturalized in Korea and the child has had difficulties at a Korean school; this case needs approval under Article 31 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

The school notes that moving from an international school back into the Korean school system is generally not possible; Korean authorities decide exceptions case by case.

Application steps

1. Look and see – visit the campus by appointment and meet a contact person.
2. Registration – email the school or kindergarten registration form and the required documents to the admissions office.
3. Processing fee – the interview is scheduled only after payment.
4. Admissions interview with school or kindergarten leadership and teachers.
5. Enrollment confirmation – the family must be admitted to the school association, which the Board of Directors decides.
6. Fees and remaining documents – pay the school or kindergarten fees and submit any remaining documents before the first day.

Required documents include ID copies for both parents and the child, a recent passport photo, the child’s birth certificate, copies of the parents’ visas and passports, school reports from the last three years (for secondary applicants, every report from Grade 5 onward), the latest promotion certificate, and proof of German proficiency where applicable. Korean citizens add proof of three years abroad.

Testing and assessment

The admissions interview is the main assessment, and the official admissions page lists no written entrance exam. In some cases, the school runs a language assessment on site.

Tuition and fees

Fees include a processing fee, a one-time admission and membership fee per family, and annual tuition; the school bus is billed separately. For current amounts, see the fee section of the DSSI admissions page and the Fee Regulation 2026.

Official sources: About DSSI, Secondary School, Primary School, Kindergarten and Admissions. Admission rules can change, so always confirm details with the school.

Homes near Deutsche Schule Seoul International

DSSI sits on Dokseodang-ro in Yongsan-gu, and many families look for homes in Itaewon, Hannam, UN Village and Dongbinggo. Our guides cover living in UN Village and living in Hannam-dong, and you can browse current homes near YISS and the German School. Tell us your child’s start date and we will shortlist homes that fit the school schedule.