INFORMATION

INFORMATION

Practical Information

French schooling in the Republic of Korea



1

General overview

This page is intended for French parents and nationals who wish to enroll their children in the French education system in the Republic of Korea. It presents the available options, their constraints, and the specific conditions for enrollment.


In the Republic of Korea, there are three main options that allow a child to follow a French education:

  • Option 1: Enrollment in an AEFE school
  • Option 2: CNED (National Center for Distance Education)
  • Option 3: Local schools with French support (SCI)
2

Option 1: AEFE (Agency for French Education Abroad)

2.1

Enrollment in an AEFE school

There are two AEFE schools available in the capital of the Republic of Korea: the Lycée Français de Séoul and the Lycée International Xavier, which exclusively admit long-term residents.

2.2

Enrollment conditions

  • Children must hold a valid resident visa; enrollment with a tourist visa, even for a short stay, is not permitted.
  • Enrollment is often limited by the number of places available and is not automatic.
  • Admission is reserved for pupils whose schooling matches the levels and curricula offered by the school.
3

Option 2: CNED (National Center for Distance Education)

The CNED allows children to follow the official French curriculum at a distance, but several conditions must be met:

The CNED regulated scheme may be requested for the following reasons:

  • The child’s state of health or disability
  • The intensive practice of artistic or sports activities
  • The family’s itinerant lifestyle or geographical remoteness from any public school
3.1

Conditions

1. Mandatory validation by the Embassy:

Any CNED enrollment from the Republic of Korea must be approved by the French Embassy.

This validation is not automatic and does not constitute a right.


2. Target group:

The CNED is intended for children who are legally resident in the Republic of Korea on a long-term basis.

Enrollment with a tourist visa is not permitted, even for a short stay.


3. Educational limits and constraints:

The CNED does not replace school life: there are no sports, cultural or extracurricular activities.

Distance learning requires a high level of autonomy from the child and regular involvement from the parents.

The curricula are in line with French national programmes, but opportunities for social interaction with other pupils are limited.


For more information: Primary, middle and high school abroad with CNED – how it works ↗

References:
Decree no. 2022-182 of 15 February 2022 on the conditions for granting authorization for home education ↗

4

Option 3: Local schools with French support

The Scolarité Complémentaire Internationale (SCI – International Complementary Schooling) allows your child, alongside their schooling in the local system (outside approved French schools), to follow a lightened French programme at a distance focused on three core subjects.


The aim is to maintain and develop the child’s skills in French while facilitating a possible reintegration into, or continuation of studies within, the French education system. This provision covers levels from the last year of preschool (Grande Section) to the final year of upper secondary school (Terminale), with a programme adapted to each age group:

1. Primary:

  • Grande Section: language, mathematics, discovery of the world and social life.
  • CP–CE2: French, mathematics, exploring the world, moral and civic education.
  • CM1–CM2: French, mathematics, history-geography, moral and civic education.

2. Lower secondary (collège):

  • French, mathematics, history-geography and civic education.

3. Upper secondary (lycée):

  • Seconde: French, mathematics, history-geography.
  • Première: French, history-geography, scientific education.
  • Terminale: philosophy, history-geography, scientific education.
5

Assessment and certificates

  • Pupils are assessed by CNED on the basis of their assignments.
  • A commented report on results is provided if at least 75% of the assignments have been submitted.
  • On the basis of this report and the results obtained locally, the cultural attaché may issue a certificate of equivalence with the French school system, in particular in the event of school mobility abroad outside the AEFE network. In the event of a return to France, the host school is responsible for assessing the pupil’s level in the subjects covered by the International Complementary Schooling scheme.
6

General conditions – Role of the Embassy

  • Enrollment is neither automatic nor guaranteed, even for French nationals.
  • The Embassy plays a monitoring and support role to ensure that teaching and follow-up conditions are met.
7

Guidance for parents

  • Check your visa type and residence status before applying.
  • Contact the AEFE school of your choice directly (contact details: “Schooling – France in Korea – French Embassy in Seoul”) or the Education Department of the French Embassy (linguistique@kr.ambafrance-culture.org) to obtain precise information on conditions and deadlines for enrollment.

(*) Official extract from the website of the French Embassy in the Republic of Korea.

Last update: 25/11/2025

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