An In-Depth Look at Korea's Foreign Educational Institutions

A "foreign educational institution" refers to a branch school established in Korea by a foreign university in accordance with the Foreign Educational Institutions Act. It's also possible to establish a joint venture between a domestic educational corporation and a foreign one, giving rise to what the Korean government deems as an 'international school'. Currently, there are only five universities in the Incheon Global Campus that qualify as foreign educational institutions. Despite the operating foundation's claim that these schools are expandable campuses with the same status as the main school, they remain inconsistent with this assertion.

These institutions were established to cater to the growing demand for studying abroad among Koreans and foreigners staying in Korea. Being located in Korea makes commuting easier, and all degrees and diplomas are treated equally to those obtained from the foreign main schools. This means that graduates can easily immigrate and advance abroad.

Although tuition at foreign universities is typically more expensive than at domestic universities, these institutions use small educational sites inside free economic zones as campuses, which results in lower maintenance costs compared to the main schools. Additionally, the cost of living in Korea is lower than in the students' home countries.

Currently, all foreign educational institutions in Korea are foreign national and public universities. The Netherlands Shipping and Transport College, run by the Dutch-based STC-Group, was the only private university and has since closed down.

Differences from Foreign Schools

A "foreign educational institution" is a school established and operated in Korea by a foreign educational corporation in accordance with foreign laws and regulations. In contrast, "foreign schools" refer to various types of schools established to provide education for foreign children and Koreans who have lived abroad for a certain period of time and returned to Korea, in accordance with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. A key distinguishing factor between what the Korean government deems to be an 'international school' or a 'foreign school' is that an international school would be an institution established within a free economic zone, although there are some variables that impact that designation.

Types of Foreign Educational Institutions

Foreign educational institutions have the option to establish campuses in free economic zones and Jeju Free International City. However, the current universities have only been established in the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd free economic zones, and not in the 4th and 5th free economic zones or Jeju Free International City, due to various circumstances.

• Kindergartens, Elementary Schools, Middle Schools, High Schools
• Songdo International City of Incheon Free Economic Zone
• Chadwick International School: opened in October 2010
• Esiapolis of Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone
• Daegu International School: It is the oldest foreign educational institution in existence. Opened in September 2010
• Universities
• Incheon Global Campus of Incheon Free Economic Zone
• Ghent University Global Campus: opened in September 2014
• University of Utah Asia Campus: opened in September 2014
• The State University of New York- SUNY, Korea
• SUNY Stony Brook Korean Campus: opened in March 2012
• State University of New York FIT (Fashion Institute of Technology) Korean Campus: opened in September 2017
• George Mason University Korea: opened in March 2014

Planned Foreign Educational Institutions

Sejong Joint Campus

(Foreign educational institutions can be attracted to establish campuses in free economic zones due to the support provided at that level. However, it appears unlikely that any new foreign educational institutions will be attracted in the near future, as all foreign universities that have expressed an interest in moving to these zones have failed to do so.)

Closed Schools

• Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone
• Friedrich Alexander University Busan Campus: opened in March 2011, closed in 2019
• Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone
• Netherlands Shipping and Transport College Gwangyang Campus: It was the first foreign educational institution. Opened in September 2007, closed in June 2013

Unopened Schools

• Incheon Free Economic Zone
• Conservatorium van Amsterdam: There was an attempt to build a Songdo campus on the Incheon Global Campus in 2021, but this effort failed.
• Gwangyang Bay Area Free Economic Zone
• In 2014, 2017, and 2018, efforts were made to establish a branch school in the Hadong region of Gyeongsangnam-do to foster talent in the marine plant field, and even received approval from the Ministry of Education, but it was eventually withdrawn due to the global economic crisis and the downturn in the shipbuilding industry.
• Daegu-Gyeongbuk Free Economic Zone
• Georgetown University: In 2015, an effort was made to establish a medical school and an affiliated hospital in the Suseong Medical District, but the Korean government canceled it because it was deemed to be negative for the commercialization of medical care.
• Sejong Joint Campus
• Accademia Nazionale di Santa Cecilia: They faced three rejections from the Ministry of Education in 2018 and 2019, and were ultimately eliminated in the first stage.
• Trinity College Dublin: In June 2019, an MOU was signed with Chungnam National University to move into a joint campus in Sejong City. However, it was canceled because the main school eventually did not approve the establishment of a branch school in Korea.
• Georgetown University Sejong Campus: Despite failing to move in to the Daegu Campus, they attempted to relocate to the Sejong Campus by changing their focus to a university for health policy and management. However, the plan ultimately fell through and the move-in was canceled.