Finding Lower-Tuition Universities in Korea: Regional National Universities and Tuition Reduction Types

> Reference date: September 21, 2026

To find universities in Korea with a lower tuition burden, start with official tables prepared on the same basis rather than search-result rankings. Amounts differ by public or private status, capital or non-capital region, and field such as humanities and social sciences or engineering. Tuition reductions for newly admitted international students also differ between first-semester benefits and performance reviews during enrollment.

This article links national averages with current official examples from Pusan National University and Kongju National University in one calculation framework so Vietnamese applicants can narrow their candidate schools. It keeps the published reference dates and units as stated and does not create an unverified nationwide lowest-cost ranking.

Separate public and private averages first

Study in Korea's guide to study-abroad costs lists average annual undergraduate tuition at KRW 6,820,243.8 overall, KRW 4,265,841.8 for national and public universities, and KRW 7,625,335.6 for private universities. The same table gives KRW 7,654,029.5 for the capital region and KRW 6,316,884.6 for non-capital regions. These figures are comparison benchmarks grouping universities by establishment type and region, not bills issued to individual students.

The fact that the national/public average is lower than the private average is useful for deciding where to search first. It does not mean every major at every national university costs less than every major at every private university. Applicants should use the averages to narrow candidates and then move to the university's payment table for the relevant semester.

Put tuition and living costs in separate columns for non-capital candidates

The non-capital average of KRW 6,316,884.6 is lower than the capital-region average of KRW 7,654,029.5. This difference can help form a regional candidate group, but it is not a total cost including dormitory fees, food, and transportation. Mixing costs excluded from tuition statistics into one number makes it impossible to see which item actually decreased.

In the budget sheet, list annual tuition, admission-related payments, dormitory, food, insurance, airfare and transport, and books and practicum fees separately. If a school publishes only a semester amount, show the number of semesters before calculating, and keep the pre-reduction amount and estimated post-reduction amount in separate columns. This makes it possible to spot cases where a school that appears inexpensive changes in the total budget because of practicum or housing costs.

Also, do not place an average figure and a specific university's one-semester figure in the same column as though they were a minimum and maximum. Averages are exploration data, while university admissions guides and tuition notices are direct sources for an application decision.

At Pusan National University, field and TOPIK level change the amount

The 2027 reference table in the Pusan National University Spring 2027 undergraduate admissions guide for international students gives semester tuition of KRW 2,069,000 for humanities, KRW 2,196,000 for some social-science fields, KRW 2,705,000 for natural sciences and nursing, and KRW 2,932,000 for engineering, among other amounts. Arts programs are KRW 2,867,000 or KRW 3,197,000 depending on the admission unit, while the School of Global Liberal Studies is KRW 2,500,000. The table lists the entrance fee as KRW 0.

The first-semester scholarship table links TOPIK level 4 to the full amount of Tuition I, TOPIK level 5 to the full amount of Tuition II, and TOPIK level 6 to the full amount of both Tuition I and II. From the second semester, academically outstanding students who hold TOPIK level 4 or above receive differentiated awards according to academic performance. There is also an item under which students who obtain TOPIK level 4 or above after admission may receive KRW 400,000 up to three times while enrolled. The current table does not contain the GPA 2.5/4.5 and 12-credit wording found in older guides, so those conditions should not be added. The guide states that tuition may change, so the actual amount due must be checked again on the final bill.

For Kongju National University, read the reference year in the Spring 2027 guide

The Kongju National University Spring 2027 special admissions guide for international students gives reference semester tuition for international students of KRW 1,734,000 for humanities and social sciences, KRW 1,746,000 for mathematics education, KRW 2,108,000 for natural sciences, and KRW 2,299,000 for arts, physical education, and engineering. These amounts are based on the 2026 academic year and may change depending on the tuition set for 2027.

The same Spring 2027 guide provides a 20% first-semester tuition reduction for all newly admitted and transfer international students and an additional 40% for those who hold TOPIK level 4 or above at admission. Students who complete Kongju National University's Korean-language training program and proceed directly to degree study also have a KRW 1,000,000 admission-support item paid after the end of the first semester. Enrolled students may receive 20% if their previous-semester GPA is at least 3.0, and may receive 40% once if they obtain TOPIK level 4 or above within one year after admission. Obtaining TOPIK level 5 while enrolled is linked to KRW 300,000 and level 6 to KRW 500,000; duplicate payment for the same level is not permitted.

Calculate reductions by admission, enrollment, and language-achievement timing

Even the same 40% changes the budget depending on when it applies. Do not combine an item applied in the first semester based on TOPIK held at admission, an item reviewed for the next semester based on the previous semester's GPA, and a one-time item paid when a new TOPIK level is obtained after admission. Check the relevant semester clauses in each university document for the number selected, budget availability, and rules on combining benefits.

Vietnamese applicants should place TOPIK test dates and score-release dates next to application and registration schedules. A result released after the submission deadline for an admission scholarship may not be usable in the same semester's review. A performance scholarship is not an amount fixed before admission but a benefit whose conditions must be met during university study, so first-year cash planning should also prepare for the amount due before reductions.

When comparing schools, write the sequence base billed amount → reduction at admission → enrolled-student performance review → support for a new language score rather than looking at one tuition number. This sequence makes it possible to read different universities' reduction tables on the same basis.

Check the budget sheet and official sources before applying

1. Use the national/public and non-capital averages to narrow the regions and establishment types to investigate.
2. Copy the latest semester tuition and admission-related payments for the target department.
3. Record the applicable semester, submission date, and combination rules for TOPIK- and GPA-linked reductions.
4. Keep dormitory, food, insurance, transport, and practicum costs separate from tuition.
5. Build cash flow using the amount before reductions, then subtract only confirmed items.

Frequently asked questions

Are all regional national universities cheaper than private universities?

In the official averages, KRW 4,265,841.8 for national/public universities is lower than KRW 7,625,335.6 for private universities. Amounts for individual universities, majors, and semesters can overlap, so use the averages to narrow candidates and then check the latest department-level billed amounts.

Does TOPIK level 4 provide the same reduction at Pusan National University and Kongju National University?

The structures differ. Pusan National University's Spring 2027 table links TOPIK level 4 to Tuition I, while Kongju National University's Spring 2027 guide provides a 20% first-semester item plus an additional 40% item for TOPIK level 4 or above. The applicable semester and components need to be read separately.

Does doubling one semester's tuition give an exact annual budget?

It can provide a starting value for two semesters of tuition, but it does not include dormitory, living costs, insurance, transport, practicum fees, or separate payments due at admission. Leaves of absence, seasonal semesters, and department-specific additional costs also need separate checking according to the individual's plan.