Yongsan International School of Seoul – YISS

About Yongsan International School of Seoul

Yongsan International School of Seoul (YISS, 서울용산국제학교) is a K–12 international school at 285 Itaewon-ro, Yongsan-gu, in central Seoul. The school was established in 2006, when International Christian School of Seoul—run in Korea since 1990—moved to the new campus and took the YISS name. It is overseen jointly by the Korea Foreign Schools Foundation and the Network of International Christian Schools (NICS), and describes itself as a community of students, parents, and Christian educators built around the motto “Truth. Excellence. Diversity.”

Curriculum and accreditation

• U.S.-style curriculum from Kindergarten through Grade 12, organized into elementary, middle, and high school divisions.
• College-preparatory high school with a range of Advanced Placement (AP) courses.
• Accredited by WASC and ACSI, and recognized by the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE).
• Two tracks: the NICS program (Bible class and weekly chapel) and the Oasis program for students actively practicing a non-Christian faith (character education and/or philosophy class and a weekly assembly).
• Learning support in math and reading, and a limited-size English Language Learner (ELL) program.

School year and daily schedule

The school year runs from August to early June. According to the school’s FAQ, Kindergarten to Grade 5 runs from 7:50 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., and Grades 6 to 12 from 7:50 a.m. to 3:10 p.m. YISS does not offer boarding or homestays, so students must live in Seoul with a parent or legal guardian—one reason families usually look for a home before the school year starts. Bus service details are on the school’s services page.

YISS Admissions Process

Who can apply

YISS is open to all nationalities but cannot admit every applicant. Families must meet SMOE eligibility requirements, which the school sets out in its admissions eligibility document. YISS does not host exchange students or sponsor student visas.

The school gives first priority to families who are foreign residents in Korea; all other applicants are considered second, based on fit with the student’s needs and the school’s resources. Other factors the school lists—not in ranked order—include English proficiency, previous school records, parental employment with a company that has direct investment in Korea, extracurriculars, teacher recommendations, years in an English-speaking school, and family language background.

Application steps

1. Inquire – contact the admissions office through the YISS admissions contact page. Campus tours can be booked from the admissions page.
2. Check eligibility and gather documents – review the eligibility rules and the list of required application documents.
3. Apply online – submit the application through the school’s OpenApply portal. The portal selects the grade from the student’s date of birth.
4. Screening or testing – see the next section.
5. Decision – offers are sent by email through OpenApply. The school asks families to accept within two business days and arrange tuition payment within five business days.

Testing and assessment

• Kindergarten and Grade 1: selected applicants are invited to an initial screening; no standardized test scores are required.
• Grades 2–12: standardized test scores from the last 12 months are required. Accepted tests include MAP (NWEA), ISEE (ERB), TerraNova/SAT-9, and U.S. state standardized tests. Without a recent score, the school recommends the ISEE; in Korea it is offered only for Grades 5–12. Applications without test results are delayed.
• English: English ability is assessed during admissions, and non-native speakers may be asked for an English proficiency test.

Wait pool and mid-year entry

Qualified applicants who cannot be placed because of limited space go into a wait pool. The pool is not first-come, first-served and covers only the year applied for; applying for a later year means applying again. Mid-year openings are filled only from complete, up-to-date files, so the school asks families to upload new transcripts or test scores as they become available. Students coming from schools on a different calendar (for example, January–November) are considered for the grade that continues their current school year.

Tuition and fees

There is no fee to submit an application, but an application processing fee applies on acceptance (or after an interview or test). Tuition and other charges change each year—check the current YISS tuition and fees schedule. The school does not currently offer scholarships.

Official sources: YISS Admissions, Admissions FAQ, and History & Governance. Admission rules can change, so always confirm details with the school.

Homes near Yongsan International School of Seoul

YISS sits on Itaewon-ro in Yongsan-gu, so many YISS families look at rentals in the surrounding neighborhoods. Browse current listings in Itaewon, Hannam, UN Village and Dongbinggo or around Yongsan Station, Seoul Station and Ichon, and read our neighborhood guides to living in Itaewon and living in Hannam-dong. Tell us your child’s start date and we will shortlist homes that fit the school schedule.