A guide to the South Korean (Republic of Korea) education system and how your credentials compare to US standards for immigration, university admissions, and employment.
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Apply Now →South Korea operates a 12-year system of general education with children starting school at age 6. The Ministry of Education (교육부) oversees elementary, middle, and high school education. The academic year begins in March and ends in February of the following year. Education is conducted primarily in Korean, with a small number of private establishments using English as the medium of instruction. South Korea is internationally recognized for its high academic standards and competitive education environment.
Compulsory. Covers Korean language, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Moral Education, Arts, Music, Physical Education, and English (from Grade 3). No national public examination at this stage.
Compulsory. Curriculum includes Korean, English, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, History, Moral Education, Arts, Music, and Physical Education. Culminates in the Certificate of Graduation from Middle School. Internal school examinations determine academic standing.
General academic high schools (일반고), specialized high schools (특수목적고), and vocational high schools (직업계고). At the end of Grade 12, students receive the Certificate of Graduation from High School. Most students also sit the College Scholastic Ability Test (CSAT / Suneung, 수능), the national university entrance examination administered each November.
South Korea is home to world-ranked universities including Seoul National University, KAIST, and Yonsei University. Bachelor's degrees take 4 years (medicine takes 6 years). Master's degrees are 2 years and PhD programs 3–4 years. University grades are typically reported on a 4.0 or 4.5 GPA scale.
| Korean Grade (%) | Description | US Equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| 90 – 100 | Su (수) — Excellent | A |
| 80 – 89 | Wu (우) — Good | B |
| 70 – 79 | Mi (미) — Average | C |
| 60 – 69 | Yang (양) — Below Average | D |
| 0 – 59 | Ga (가) — Fail | F |
University GPA scales vary by institution (4.0 or 4.5). Contact Evaluation World for university-level grade conversion.
A formal credential evaluation is required for US university admissions, employment-based immigration petitions (H-1B, EB-1A, EB2-NIW, O-1, L-1), and professional licensing.
All Korean academic documents must be accompanied by certified English translations. Evaluation World offers Korean-to-English translation services combined with your evaluation order.