Where to study Korean in South Korea, what are the study features and admission requirements, how much does the course and accommodation cost.
Language courses in South Korea are a chance to significantly improve your skills in Korean: schools and universities offer both long-term courses, at the end of which you master an entire level of the language, and short summer courses with an exciting entertainment program.
Korean is spoken by 77 million people, with 51 million living in South Korea[1]. It is worth studying not only because of a growing interest in the country's culture, but also to find promising work. The country's economy ranks 10th in the world[2], and Korean companies such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG continue to grow.
| Accommodation options | More about Seoul |
|---|---|
| Shared room outside of centre | 502USD/Month |
| Shared room in city centre | 689USD/Month |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside of centre | 515USD/Month |
| 1 bedroom apartment in city centre | 777USD/Month |
| Accommodation options | More about Seoul |
|---|---|
| Shared room outside of centre | 502USD/Month |
| Shared room in city centre | 689USD/Month |
| 1 bedroom apartment outside of centre | 515USD/Month |
| 1 bedroom apartment in city centre | 777USD/Month |
When choosing a language course, many hours are spent on clarifying nuances and figuring out how to enroll. Our experts will help you save valuable time.
UniPage works only with accredited language schools, which, in addition to quality education, provide comfortable accommodation. Our specialists will select a program by type and intensity, help you apply for and book a course, and explain all the details when signing an agreement with a school.
| Type of program | Intensity | Group | Min. language requirements | Min. cost per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Weekend courses | 3-5 | 3-8 | Starter (A0) | 37 USD |
| Evening courses | 6-8 | 8-12 | Starter (A0) | 465 USD/10 weeks |
| Short-term programs | 9-20 | 12-15 | Starter (A0) | 568 USD/3 weeks |
| Regular courses | 15-20 | 12-15 | Starter (A0) | 1,166 USD/10 weeks |
| Intensive courses | 12-25 | 3-12 | Starter (A0) | 83 USD |
| Private lessons | Individual | 1 | Starter (A0) | 31 USD/hour |
| Smart Korean courses | 25-30 | 12-15 | Starter (A0) | 738 USD/2 weeks |
| Conversation classes | 4 | 3-8 | Starter (A0) | 48 USD |
| Pronunciation classes | 8 | 3-8 | Starter (A0) | 103 USD |
| TOPIK exam preparation | 15-25 | 3-15 | Starter (A0) | 162 USD |
| Summer courses | 20 | 8-12 | Starter (A0) | 1,137 USD/5 weeks |
| Teen summer courses | 15-20 | 3-12 | Starter (A0) | 1,166 USD |
| University Pathway | 20-25 | 3-12 | Starter (A0) | 240 USD |
Types of courses can be conditionally divided into two categories:
TOPIK exam preparation. The program prepares students for the TOPIK language exam. During the course, students solve test tasks and improve their speaking skills.
University Pathway. Some language schools, such as Lexis, cooperate with Korean universities. After completing the course, it is easier to enroll in undergraduate and graduate programs at partner universities, and students are no longer required to take the TOPIK[6].
Teen summer course. These are summer courses for teenagers from 13 to 17 years old. The weekly program includes 3 hours of Korean per day, accommodation, meals, and cultural activities.
Conversation/pronunciation classes. Students of the standard courses can choose to take a few additional classes in pronunciation and speaking to better practice these skills.
Programs at universities are standard — each center offers regular courses, short-term courses, and specialized courses (Smart Korean, summer courses). Specialized courses may vary depending on the university.
Regular courses. Most universities in Korea have these programs[7]. More often they are chosen by students who are going to continue their education at a university in South Korea — a TOPIK certificate is not required upon completion. They are also taken by those who just want to get to know the language and culture. The course involves a phased study of the language: one semester lasts 10 weeks (200 hours), and there are four of them in a year — winter, spring, summer, and autumn. Upon completion of each, you master one level of the language.
Short term courses. Short-term courses at universities last from 3 to 15 weeks. The intensity depends on the program and school — usually 60-126 hours.
Summer courses. This program takes place during summer vacation and lasts five weeks. The intensity does not differ from the main course — 20 hours a week.
Smart courses. Recruitment for smart courses takes place six times a year, and they last 8 weeks. Due to the increased intensity (25-30 hours per week), the student masters the language faster than he would in regular courses.
More about the types of language courses
Korean can be studied at university centers or private schools. The second option is less popular, given that you can study in schools for no more than 3 months — embassies issue long-term visas only for university courses[8].
University courses usually last for semesters (4 per year) and start every 3 months, but short-term programs are also available for 3-6 weeks. In order to enroll, a student must receive a complete secondary education in his home country and collect a package of documents with a certified translation. The student must be at least 17 years old.
Students can also participate in the Buddy program. You are assigned a mentor — a university student who can help you learn and practice the language, as well as get accustomed to life in Korea.
Upon completion of regular courses, you will receive a certificate confirming the language level. It can be presented instead of the TOPIK certificate when entering a university.
For enrollment, you must:
Documents for enrolling in university courses:
Read the list of documents carefully, as it can vary greatly depending on the university. In addition, some centers conduct interviews with the candidate.
Private language centers have more loyal requirements — they accept students of different ages, starting from 13-14 years old, and simply require an application for enrollment.
In one semester (10 weeks), a student masters one level of the language. To complete a course and move on to the next level, a student must attend 80-90% of classes and get at least 70% on the test. Otherwise, the school may not count the program as completed and fail to issue a certificate. In this case, you will not be able to extend your visa for the next semester.
During the lessons, students work on practical language skills — speaking, reading, writing, and listening. Programs involve full immersion in the language and cultural environment: acquaintance with Korean culture is an element of the curriculum. Activities include martial arts classes, traditional music, Korean cooking classes, sightseeing, and K-pop classes.
| Accommodation options | Meals | Number of people per room | Min. cost per week | Avg. cost per week |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| School residence/dormitory | Paid by the student | 1-4 | 46 USD | 181 USD |
| Host family | Breakfast/breakfast + dinner | 1-2 | 165 USD | 217 USD |
| Youth hotel | Breakfast/student paid | 1-8 | 93 USD | 114 USD |
| Apartment | Paid by the student | 1 | 221 USD/month | 338 USD/month |
| Hotel | Breakfast | 1 | 41 USD/day | 57 USD/day |
Accommodation is not included in the course fee.
More about accommodation options
| Costs | Min. | Avg. |
|---|---|---|
| Embassy consular fee | 50 USD | 80 USD |
| Medical insurance | 44 USD/6 months | 59 USD/6 months |
| Registration fee | 22 USD | 44 USD |
| Check-in | 74 USD | 111 USD |
| Study materials | 6 USD | 7 USD |
| Airport transfers | 37 USD | 74 USD |
Check the school website for additional costs.
| Service | Cost |
|---|---|
| Complete guidance in registering for courses — language schools abroad | 202 USD |
| Complete guidance in the admission process — university language courses | from 506 USD |
| Visa guidance | 192 USD |
For short-term courses lasting up to 3 months, it is enough to apply for a type C-3 visa, which allows you to stay in the country for 90 days. The term of consideration is from 1 week.
To enroll in a university program, you need a D-4-1 visa. With it, you can study from 6 months to 2 years. It is valid only for the period of the course. Registration will take 2-4 weeks.
Required documents:
All documents must be notarized and translated into English or Korean.
Within 90 days after arriving in South Korea, the student must acquire an alien registration card[-.
You cannot work in South Korea with a C-3 visa.
Students with a D-4-1 must study for 6 months, and only then can apply for a work permit at the migration department. In addition, the school must confirm that you can work. The number of hours should not exceed 20 per week. However, some schools may reduce the hours to 10 per week if the student's attendance is below 90% and the language level is below A2[9].
Korean courses are offered both at universities and schools. If you are planning to seriously study the language, then it is better to look for centers at universities: it is easier to obtain a visa, and the duration of study is longer. But you can also consider private schools — they offer short-term programs and a wider choice.
The Korean Language Education Centre at Seoul National University is one of the accredited government institutions where foreigners can study Korean. More options are offered here compared to other universities, where you can only find regular and short-term programs: summer classes, smart courses, and evening lessons.
In addition, students can choose a variety of extracurricular activities: Samulnori drumming, Hanji Korean paper crafts, and Taekwondo. For an additional fee, the university provides rooms in hostels. The average cost of one semester with accommodation is 1,794 USD.
Lexis is a language school in the two largest cities of South Korea: Seoul and Busan. In addition to standard courses, TOPIK preparation, summer camps for teenagers, individual classes, and Pathway programs are offered. During your studies, you also take classes in Korean culture: cuisine, music, cinema, and Korean etiquette.
The school cooperates with three universities: Konkuk, Hangyang, and Sejong. Thanks to this, you can enter these universities without taking the TOPIK exam: you just need to attain the required language level in the Intensive Korean 25 course. The average cost for a week of study without accommodation is 240 USD.
| Region | City | Population | Spending per month |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seoul | Seoul | 10349312 | 951 USD |
| Busan | Busan | 3678555 | 824 USD |
| Incheon | Incheon | 2628000 | 8,193 USD |
| Daegu | Daegu | 2566540 | 812 USD |
| Daejeon | Daejeon | 1475221 | 1119308 |
At language schools, you will be taught standard Korean, which is common in Seoul and the Gyeonggi-do region. However, in other cities and districts, you may hear regional dialects (satoori). They differ from each other in some words and phrases, pronunciation, and grammar. These differences appeared due to the fact that South Korea is a mountainous country. At a time when communication between regions was poorly developed, individual regions were isolated and did not influence each other. Therefore, strong regional accents appeared. Keep this in mind when choosing a language center.
The main categories of dialects in Korea are:
From modern skyscrapers and neon lights to Buddhist temples, palaces, and pagodas, Seoul is a harmonious mix of old and new. From the N Seoul Tower in Namsan Park to the tea houses in Insadong, everything has a Korean flair. It's hard to get bored here: history buffs will appreciate the Gyeongbokgung Palace, one of the largest palaces of the Joseon dynasty, and traditional festivals. If you prefer a noisier experience, visit huge shopping malls and K-pop concerts.
Busan is a port city with a rich cultural past, which is visible in the city cuisine and numerous Buddhist temples, such as Beomeosa Temple or Haedong Yonggungsa Temple. Due to its location by the sea, there are many beaches and fish markets. One of the largest is the Jagalchi Market. Compared to other cities in South Korea, Busan is a quiet place, making it a good choice for a calm and peaceful vacation.
Daegu is located in the southwestern part of the Korean Peninsula and is considered a city of music. The city holds numerous opera performances and music festivals, where you can hear classical, modern, and traditional Korean (Gukak) works.
The city actively develops cultural infrastructure: the Daegu Concert House and Daegu Music Factory are located here, where young performers can create their works.
Want to learn a foreign language, improve your conversational skills, and prepare for exams?
UniPage specialists will select language programs according to your goals, interests, and budget, and help with enrollment.
