· updated monthly
The five schools Busan parents researched most this year, chosen from the 8 international schools in the city. Ranked by how many families opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026, then the full picture on curricula, class sizes and fees.
The 2026 ranking
Ranked purely by parent interest — the number of families who opened each school’s profile and spent time reading it between July 2025 and June 2026.
Busan Foreign School (BFS), established in 1996, serves students from early childhood through Grade 12 in Haeundae, Busan. The campus is in a quiet residential neighborhood next to Jangsan Mountain, about a 10-minute walk from Busan Metro Line 2 (Jung Dong Station) and about a 10-minute bus ride from the beach. Facilities include a gym, sports field, maker space, creative arts performance area and a library. Early Childhood is inspired by the Reggio Emilia approach, while Elementary learning is grounded in American standards-based learning. In High School, students may begin Advanced Placement (AP) courses in Grade 10. Students can join after-school clubs (K–Grade 12). Student publications includes Sharkwave, BUSAN.IZ and Global Affairs Magazine.
International School of Busan (ISB) is a not-for-profit, English-medium school in Gijang, Busan, serving students from Early Years through Grade 12. ISB is authorised to offer the International Baccalaureate Primary Years Programme (PYP), Middle Years Programme (MYP) and Diploma Programme (DP). Class sizes are typically small, averaging 13 in Early Years, 20 in Elementary and 15–18 in Secondary. Facilities listed by the school include a floodlit sports field, gymnasium, outdoor fitness centre, tennis and basketball courts, playgrounds, libraries and a cafeteria. ISB also organises bus transport across multiple areas including Busan and nearby cities, with GPS tracking for parents. A distinctive part of ISB’s history is its Early Learning Centre, noted for converted train carriages.
Busan Japanese School is a private, co-educational elementary and middle school operated by the Busan Japanese Association. It is located in Suyeong District, Busan, on a hillside with views toward the Tsushima Strait, near Gwanganli Beach. The school was established on October 1, 1975 and follows the Japanese national curriculum, with local adaptations that include Korean language and English language study. The school comprises an elementary division and a middle division and currently enrolls around 38 students. Staff include teachers dispatched from Japan and local educators. A school bus service operates between the Haewoondae area and the school; usually parents bring students to the bus stops, with arrangements available for delegated pickups.
Busan International High School (BIHS) sits in Busanjin District, Busan. It teaches the Korean Curriculum alongside Advanced Placement (AP) coursework, with AP testing centers designated since 2008. BIHS has participated in UNESCO's Associated Schools Network since 2002 and maintains active international links through sister schools, exchanges, and BIHS Global Forum events. Partnerships include Komaba High School (Tsukuba University), Kobe International High School, and Lawrence S. Ting Memorial School, reflecting BIHS's emphasis on global learning. The campus features landmarks such as the Albatross symbol tower and Bongdang Park, and the school modernized its main building and annex with asbestos removal completed in 2025. BIHS has been designated autonomous for five years starting in 2025, and it maintains ongoing curriculum planning for 2024–2026. The school supports student engagement through regular and autonomous clubs, volunteer activities, and leadership and international study opportunities via its International Exchange program. It welcomes families seeking global learning.
Busan Logos International Christian School is a private Christian international school in Busan, South Korea.
What’s on offer
The mix of programmes and teaching languages across all 8 schools. Many offer more than one curriculum, so totals run higher than the school count.
Number of schools teaching each curriculum.
Number of schools teaching in each language.
Size & classes
School size and class size shape day-to-day experience as much as curriculum does.
Schools grouped by total enrolment.
Average school size is 360 students · based on the 3 schools that report enrolment.
Schools grouped by typical class size.
Average class size is 17.7 students · based on the 3 schools that report it.
What it costs
Fees shown are one year for a 12-year-old (or the closest age available), excluding one-time enrolment costs.
Across the 3 schools that publish a price for a 12-year-old. All figures in KRW.
How many schools sit in each annual-fee range.
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