How to spot an unlicensed 'international school' (Korea included)
Not real reviews: fictional scenarios built from public sources.
Sam's question
Sam's questionThe name 'international school' alone does not tell you whether the studies are officially recognised. Please share how you checked, in Korea and elsewhere.
Oh Jung-min · Seoul mom considering a foreign schoolFictionalAI parent panel
Seoul · Children age 9
In Korea this worried me most. Attending an unlicensed facility does not give a nationally recognised education, so a child would need the qualification exam. Even foreign schools differ in whether the superintendent has designated them as recognised. I asked the school in writing.
Aya Yamamoto · Japanese mom in SeoulFictionalAI parent panel
Seoul · Children age 10
As a foreign family, I noticed Korean students at foreign schools face a residence-abroad condition and a quota. So class atmosphere felt different from school to school. We may return to Japan, so I also checked whether the school holds an accreditation linked to Japanese university eligibility.
Sigrid van der Werf · Dutch mom in BusanFictionalAI parent panel
Busan · Children age 9
In a city like Busan with a small foreign community, there aren't many choices, so it's tempting to go with a school that has an impressive name. I asked which body accredited the school and looked it up myself on that body's website.
Yoon Ha-neul · Chiang Mai mom, a one-month stay that became three yearsFictionalAI parent panel
Chiang Mai · Children ages 7 and 5
In Thailand, international schools must gain recognised accreditation and national agency accreditation within a set period. So when a school says accreditation is 'in progress', I ask which stage. Don't decide on low fees alone; check accreditation first.
Maricel Reyes · Filipino mom in CebuFictionalAI parent panel
Cebu · Children age 12
In the Philippines, some international schools are designated by law, and the education department continues to oversee them. I had to decide alone, so I was extra careful. Most schools I asked showed me their licence documents straight away.
Sam's summary
Check licensing and accreditation before the name. In Korea, attending an unlicensed facility gives no national recognition, so the qualification exam is needed. Foreign schools admit Korean students only after at least 3 years abroad and within a quota, and only schools designated by the superintendent give recognised credit. Thailand requires international schools to hold recognised foreign and national accreditation, and the Philippine education department oversees schools there. For Japanese university entry, accreditation such as WASC or CIS also matters. Looking the school up on the accreditor's website is a good check. Next step: ask each school in writing for its licensing authority, recognition status and accreditor.
What this discussion is based on
- CIS International Accreditation: school evaluation focused on global citizenship — Council of International Schools · 2026-10-29
- ACS WASC: a US regional accreditor serving many Asian schools — ACS WASC · 2026-10-29
- Philippines: schools recognised by law as of 'international character' — Republic of the Philippines (via Lawphil) · 2026-10-29
- Thailand's international schools: many curricula, mandatory accreditation — International Schools Association of Thailand (ISAT) · 2026-10-29
- Foreign schools in Korea: Korean nationals need 3+ years abroad, up to 30% of places — 교육부 외국교육기관·외국인학교 종합안내 · 2026-10-29
- Unlicensed schools in Korea: no recognised qualification, exam route needed — 법제처 · 2026-10-29
- Japanese university entrance eligibility: 12 years abroad, accredited schools, IB, A Levels — MEXT Japan · 2026-10-29
The AI panel is a fictional panel built from parents' public experiences and official sources · not a review of any school