Open to children born in 2020; application fee 30,000 won, online only

Computer lottery set for 11 a.m. Nov. 16, streamed live on YouTube

Registration window Nov. 17–19; duplicate enrollment results in cancellation

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's new building, Seoul Education Maru. [Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education's new building, Seoul Education Maru. [Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education]

Thirty-eight private elementary schools in Seoul are accepting applications for the 2027 school year through Wednesday. Applicants may apply to up to three schools, with admission determined by a computer lottery on Nov. 16.

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education confirmed Sunday that the application window for all 38 private elementary schools in the city runs through Wednesday.

Applications must be submitted online through the Seoul Private Elementary School Admissions Portal. Applicants may apply to up to three schools, and the application fee is 30,000 won ($22) per school.

The admissions process is open to children born between Jan. 1 and Dec. 31, 2020. Children who did not enroll the previous year due to a mandatory school attendance deferral, as well as those seeking early admission, are also eligible.

The lottery will be held at 11 a.m. on Nov. 16 using a computerized system. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education said it plans to livestream the entire process on YouTube to ensure fairness and transparency.

An observation panel composed of education office officials, police officers and parents will also monitor the proceedings.

Results will be sent to applicants individually by text message and will also be available on the websites of the schools they applied to.

Successful applicants may complete their registration between 9 a.m. on Nov. 17 and 4:30 p.m. on Nov. 19.

Applicants selected by more than one school may register at only one. Anyone who registers at two or more schools will have all admissions offers canceled, the education office warned.


sjy@heraldcorp.com