Cost of studying in Korea for Japanese students, estimated: 90 days visa-free, one language-institute term, a one-year language course and the first year of a degree

The cost of studying in Korea for Japanese nationals varies widely by program. The estimated budget for one term (10 weeks) at a university Korean language institute, combining tuition and three months of living costs, is about 440,000–580,000 yen (KRW 3,750,000–4,960,000). A one-year language course is estimated at about 1,770,000–2,340,000 yen (KRW 15,000,000–19,840,000), and the first year of a four-year degree program at about 1,560,000–2,380,000 yen (KRW 13,250,000–20,230,000). All figures were calculated by adding the tuition posted by schools (2027 academic year or year not stated), the monthly living-cost range from the government study-abroad portal (base year not stated) and the average university tuition for the 2026 academic year. They are not official costs and do not include application fees, enrollment fees or airfare. The basic required documents for D-2 and D-4 visas listed for Japanese nationals by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka do not include a bank balance certificate. However, the missions may request additional documents if necessary. Bank balance certificates are mainly required at the school admission stage.

This article sets out tuition, housing, health insurance, transportation and bank balance requirements by program. Amounts are given in yen first, with won in parentheses. The exchange rate is the Hana Bank base exchange rate of November 3, 2026 (100 yen = KRW 849.50). Yen amounts of 100,000 yen or more are rounded to the nearest 1,000 yen, and amounts under 100,000 yen to the nearest 100 yen. Total estimates by program and balance thresholds are rounded to the nearest 10,000 yen. Totals were added up from the posted won amounts and then converted to yen.

Cost table by item (with base year)

Language institute tuition is based on different years depending on the school. Those that state the year their tuition applies to are Yonsei University (2027 academic year), Pusan National University (2027) and Sungkyunkwan University's Suwon campus (increase effective from the first term of 2027). The rest are amounts posted as of a check in November 2026.

The same tuition figure can cover different things. Pusan National University's amount includes textbooks and cultural activities, while Yonsei's does not include textbooks. Seoul National University's fees may change from term to term. If they rise, students must pay the difference even after they have already paid. Rather than comparing schools on tuition alone, look at what is included as well.

Visa-free 90 days: up to one term without a visa

Japanese nationals (ordinary passports) can enter Korea without a visa and stay for up to 90 days. This is the visa waiver program in effect since November 2, 1993. Permitted activities during this period are based on the Short-term Visit (C-3) status, which covers general training and courses lasting no more than 90 days.

Anyone legally staying in Korea can take language training regardless of their status of stay. That is why courses of 90 days or less are commonly taken within the visa-free period. However, conditions may differ by school, so check before registering. Yonsei University's Korean Language Institute says students attending only one term do not need a D-4 visa. A single 10-week regular term ends within 90 days.

The cost structure is simple: tuition, the application fee, and living costs for the number of months you stay. Budget monthly living costs at about 88,300–118,000 yen (KRW 750,000–1,000,000). Because no visa is involved, there is no financial proof to submit to a Korean mission. Seoul National University allows students who do not need a D-4 to skip the bank balance certificate.

There are three restrictions, however. First, you cannot engage in paid activities, so the full amount must be prepared without part-time income. Second, you are not eligible for National Health Insurance; arrange coverage for medical costs separately before departure. Third, visa-free entrants in principle can neither extend their period of stay nor change their status of stay. If you plan to study for more than 90 days, you must enter on a visa from the start. Japanese nationals are exempt from K-ETA (Korea Electronic Travel Authorization) for entries through December 31, 2026. Whether the exemption will continue for entries from January 2027 onward had not been announced as of November 9, 2026.

One language-institute term (10 weeks): about 440,000–580,000 yen (estimate)

The cost of one term was estimated as follows. Tuition is the range of posted amounts in the table, about 177,000–231,000 yen (KRW 1,500,000–1,960,000). Living costs were set at three months to include time for arriving and settling in before and after the 10 weeks of classes. At KRW 750,000–1,000,000 a month for three months, that comes to about 265,000–353,000 yen (KRW 2,250,000–3,000,000). Combined, the total is about 440,000–580,000 yen (KRW 3,750,000–4,960,000). The application fee of about 9,400–15,300 yen (KRW 80,000–130,000) is extra. Since visa-free students are not eligible for health insurance, actual spending may be slightly lower, by the amount of the “other” category in the living-cost range.

Using a dormitory lets you fix housing costs in advance. Adding up tuition, application fees and dormitory fees using two schools' posted amounts gives the following.

• Yonsei, spring term of the 2027 academic year: tuition KRW 1,960,000 + application fee KRW 130,000 + International House double room KRW 1,458,000 = about 418,000 yen (KRW 3,548,000)
• Korea University, posted amounts: tuition KRW 1,800,000 + application fee KRW 120,000 + dormitory double room KRW 1,450,000 = about 397,000 yen (KRW 3,370,000)

Yonsei's dormitory fee does not include meals. Korea University's dormitory information makes no mention of meals, so meals are counted separately here. Adding meals of KRW 200,000–300,000 a month and transportation of KRW 50,000–100,000 a month over three months adds about 88,300–141,000 yen (KRW 750,000–1,200,000). The Korea University Korean Language Center dormitory can be used for one term at most, with no extension. Yonsei's dormitory fees vary by term because the number of nights differs. An SK Global House double room for the fall term of the 2027 academic year (84 nights) costs about 208,000 yen (KRW 1,764,000).

One-year language course (D-4): about 1,770,000–2,340,000 yen (estimate), with no income for the first six months

To study for more than 90 days, you need a general training (D-4-1) visa. Language training of 90 days or less would normally fall under the short-term general (C-3-1) visa, but Japanese nationals enter visa-free in that case. The D-4-1 is available only to those attending a language institute affiliated with a junior college or higher-level university. Lifelong education facilities and private academies are not eligible.

The language institute must also meet requirements. It must run programs at least four weekdays a week, at least 15 daytime hours a week and at least 300 hours per half-year. Classes must be attended in person between 9:00 and 18:00 on weekdays. The first visa is issued as a single-entry visa with a period of stay of six months or less. Applications are in principle filed at the Korean mission in the applicant's country of residence, so people living in Japan apply at a Korean mission in Japan. The Consulate General in Osaka will switch visa applications to an online advance reservation system from November 30, 2026, and will not accept applications made without a reservation. Processing takes about two weeks. Some schools require D-4 students to enroll for at least two terms (six months). Sungkyunkwan and Yonsei are among them (at Yonsei, it depends on the country group).

Bank balance proof should be looked at separately for the visa stage and the school admission stage.

• Visa stage: The D-2 and D-4 guidance for Japanese nationals from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka does not include a bank balance certificate among the basic required documents. Applicants submit the application form, passport, photo and certificate of residence (juminhyo), together with the standard admission letter (Certificate of Admission) issued by the school. D-4 applicants add a certificate of final education or a certificate of enrollment. However, the missions may request additional documents if necessary. Students who will attend a university designated by the Ministry of Education as restricted from visa issuance must contact the mission separately.
• School admission stage: Language institutes require bank balance proof as an admission document from students registering on a D-4. Seoul National University and Sungkyunkwan require about 1,180,000 yen (KRW 10,000,000) or more. Yonsei requires US$10,000 (about 1,580,000 yen, KRW 13,411,000) or more, about 400,000 yen higher. Seoul National University accepts only certificates issued within 30 days.

The standard admission letter is issued only after the school admission process is complete, so time your balance preparation to the school's application schedule. When extending your stay after arriving in Korea, only deposits in an account in your own name in Korea are accepted as financial proof. For a one-year program, you should open a Korean bank account. Anyone staying 91 days or more must complete alien registration within 90 days of entry.

Plans to supplement living costs with part-time work should be made carefully. Language trainees can obtain a part-time work permit only after six months have passed since their date of entry. The permit is valid for up to six months, and only one workplace is allowed. If the average attendance rate across all completed terms falls below 90%, the permit is restricted. It is safest to bring the full amount of living costs for the first six months.

The one-year cost was estimated as follows. Four terms of tuition, about 706,000–923,000 yen (KRW 6,000,000–7,840,000), plus 12 months of living costs, about 1,059,000–1,413,000 yen (KRW 9,000,000–12,000,000), comes to about 1,770,000–2,340,000 yen (KRW 15,000,000–19,840,000). Phone bills and health insurance premiums are part of the “other” category in the living-cost range, so they were not added separately. For D-4 holders, health insurance coverage begins on the day six months after entry. Six months at the 2026 monthly premium comes to about 56,000 yen (KRW 475,860–475,920).

Degree programs (D-2): first year about 1,560,000–2,380,000 yen (estimate)

Tuition for degree programs varies widely by university and field of study. The average annual tuition at 192 four-year general and education universities in the 2026 academic year is about 856,000 yen (KRW 7,270,300). By type of institution and region, it breaks down as follows.

• National/public about 500,000 yen (KRW 4,250,000), private about 969,000 yen (KRW 8,231,500)
• Seoul metropolitan area about 974,000 yen (KRW 8,270,000), outside the metropolitan area about 779,000 yen (KRW 6,619,600)
• By field: medicine about 1,216,000 yen (KRW 10,325,900), arts and physical education about 982,000 yen (KRW 8,338,100), engineering about 904,000 yen (KRW 7,677,400), natural sciences about 862,000 yen (KRW 7,323,300), humanities and social sciences about 757,000 yen (KRW 6,433,700)
• Average for 125 junior colleges about 783,000 yen (KRW 6,653,100)

These figures are averages for all students, domestic and international. Check the tuition and enrollment fees that international students actually pay separately in each university's admission guidelines.

First-year costs are estimated to range from about 1,560,000 yen (KRW 13,250,000), the national/public average tuition of KRW 4,250,000 plus KRW 9,000,000 in living costs, to about 2,380,000 yen (KRW 20,230,000), the private average of KRW 8,230,000 plus KRW 12,000,000 in living costs. Because these are based on average tuition, medical programs or private universities in the Seoul metropolitan area may cost more. Enrollment fees and textbooks are also excluded. The basic D-2 application documents for Japanese nationals likewise do not include a bank balance certificate. However, those going on to a university designated by the Ministry of Education as restricted from visa issuance must contact the mission separately. Research programs (D-2-5) require documents proving the ability to cover living expenses, such as a bank balance certificate. Whether a university requires financial proof, and how much, should be checked in the admission guidelines of the university you apply to.

The timing of health insurance enrollment also differs from that for language training. D-2 students are enrolled from their date of entry; for first-time entrants, from the date of alien registration. Twelve months at the 2026 monthly premium comes to about 112,000 yen (KRW 951,720–951,840). This amount is also included in the “other” category of the living-cost range and was not added separately to the total.

Monthly expenses: housing, health insurance and transportation

The government study-abroad portal Study in Korea puts international students' monthly living costs at about 88,300–118,000 yen (KRW 750,000–1,000,000). By item, housing is about 58,900–82,400 yen (KRW 500,000–700,000) and food about 23,500–35,300 yen (KRW 200,000–300,000). Transportation is about 5,900–11,800 yen (KRW 50,000–100,000), and other expenses, including phone and health insurance, about 11,800–23,500 yen (KRW 100,000–200,000). This is a rough range with no base year stated. Monthly rent for off-campus studio apartments could not be confirmed from public statistics, so this range was used as the basis.

Health insurance premiums are set as follows. For foreign regional subscribers, income and assets are difficult to determine. So if the calculated premium is lower than the average premium of all subscribers in November of the previous year, they pay the average premium. The average premium for November 2025 was about 18,700 yen (KRW 158,630, health plus long-term care). Student (D-2) and general training (D-4) holders receive a 50% reduction of the calculated premium if their income and assets are below the threshold. The monthly premium for international students given in 2026 university notices is about 9,300 yen (KRW 79,310–79,320). The 2026 health insurance premium rate is 7.19%.

Transportation costs in Seoul depend on how you travel. The adult subway base fare is about 182 yen (KRW 1,550, within 10 km) with a transit card. Single-journey transit cards cost about 12 yen (KRW 100) more. The Climate Card 30-day pass ended operations for both its prepaid and postpaid versions on October 1, 2026. The 1-, 2-, 3-, 5- and 7-day short-term passes continue to operate for use in Seoul. The 7-day pass costs about 2,400 yen (KRW 20,000). The product previously announced as Climate Card Plus was launched on September 1, 2026, under the name Modu Card (Climate Pass). The Seoul city government's additional discounts and refunds apply only to Seoul citizens. Official guidance does not confirm whether international students can receive these benefits. It is safer to budget based on single fares with a transit card or on short-term passes.

Pre-departure cost checklist

• Decided first whether the stay will be within 90 days or longer.
• If within 90 days, confirmed with the school whether visa-free attendance is possible.
• If longer than 90 days, scheduled a D-4 visa application at a Korean mission in Japan and checked whether the competent mission requires advance reservations or additional documents.
• Checked the balance amount the school requires as an admission document (about 1,180,000 yen (KRW 10,000,000); US$10,000 (about 1,580,000 yen) at Yonsei, etc.) and the conditions on the issue date.
• If entering in January 2027 or later, checked for an announcement on extending the K-ETA exemption.
• Checked whether tuition includes textbooks and which base year it refers to.
• Checked how long dormitory residence is allowed and whether meals are included.
• For language trainees, prepared enough living costs to get through the first six months without part-time income.
• Included the timing of health insurance enrollment (D-2 from the date of entry, D-4 six months later) and the monthly premium in the budget.

Whether a short-term course or a working holiday suits you better is covered in Japanese nationals: short-term language course vs. D-4 vs. working holiday. Costs by program for 2027, regardless of nationality, are in 2027 cost of studying in Korea: tuition, living costs and bank balance proof. For spring-term application deadlines at language institutes, see Spring 2027 language institutes: deadlines, fees and D-4 visa; for health insurance enrollment and arrears, see International student health insurance: premiums and arrears.

--- Visa-free entry and visa requirements are based on the Ministry of Justice visa and stay manuals (October 19 and November 2, 2026 editions) and guidance from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Osaka; average tuition on the Ministry of Education's university information disclosure (April 29, 2026); living costs on Study in Korea guidance (base year not stated); transit fares and the Climate Card on Seoul city government guidance; and language institute tuition, dormitory fees, bank balance requirements and health insurance premiums on each school's guidance (checked November 9, 2026).