How to spot an unlicensed 'international school' (Korea included)
翻訳を準備中です。英語の原文を表示しています。
実際の体験談ではなく、公開資料をもとにした架空のシナリオです。
Samからの問い
Samからの問いThe 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 school架空の人物AI保護者パネル
Seoul · 子ども 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 Seoul架空の人物AI保護者パネル
Seoul · 子ども 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 Busan架空の人物AI保護者パネル
Busan · 子ども 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 years架空の人物AI保護者パネル
Chiang Mai · 子ども 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 Cebu架空の人物AI保護者パネル
Cebu · 子ども 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のまとめ
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.
この討論の根拠
- 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
AIパネルは公開された保護者の経験と公的資料をもとに作った架空のパネルです・特定の学校の口コミではありません