The 2027 Korea-Japan GKS program plans to select 15 Japanese nationals for associate and bachelor's degree programs and 15 for master's and doctoral degree programs through the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan's diplomatic recruitment process.

The 2027 GKS recruitment for the Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program is an embassy-based selection process for Japanese nationals, conducted separately from the general 2027 GKS undergraduate recruitment. According to the selection criteria of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, the planned number of selections is 15 for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees and 15 for master’s and doctoral degrees, for a total of 30 students; however, the final number may change depending on budget approval.

The application deadline and submission method must follow the separate announcement issued by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan. Therefore, the online application period or portal used for the general GKS-U embassy-based selection process should not be applied to this Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program.

Japanese nationals may apply for programs ranging from associate’s degrees to doctoral degrees

The GKS Team at Study in Korea posted a recruitment notice on September 10, 2026, for the Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program covering associate’s and bachelor’s degrees, as well as master’s and doctoral degrees.

This recruitment will be conducted through the Embassy Selection Process of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and is divided into associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs and master’s and doctoral degree programs.

The planned enrollment of 30 students is not final. The guidelines state that the final number of selected students may change once the budget is finalized.

Additionally, for undergraduate programs, the selection of up to three universities must include at least one Type B university; similarly, for master’s and doctoral programs, the selection of up to three universities must include at least one Type B university. Since the guidance materials for the universities to be attended differ between associate’s/bachelor’s degrees and master’s/doctoral degrees, applicants must review the materials specific to their intended program.

First, verify Japanese citizenship and the age, educational background, and academic performance requirements for each program

This program is open to Japanese citizens.

However, applicants should not rely solely on their own citizenship. Since the guidelines include restrictions regarding parental citizenship and dual citizenship with South Korea, applicants must verify both their own and their parents’ citizenship status.

Age requirements also vary depending on the program level.

Applicants for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees must be under 25 years of age and born on or after March 1, 2002, while applicants for master’s and doctoral degrees must be under 40 years of age and born on or after March 1, 1987.

Educational background and academic records are also subject to program-specific eligibility criteria, so applicants must refer to the guidelines for the specific program they intend to apply to. Eligibility requirements for associate’s and bachelor’s degrees should not be combined with those for master’s and doctoral degrees under a single standard.

Application forms must be submitted in accordance with a separate announcement by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan

Particular attention should be paid to the application deadline and submission method for this recruitment.

The attached guidelines do not specify the exact application deadline or submission method set by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan; instead, they state that applicants must follow the separate announcement issued by the Embassy.

Therefore, the online application schedule and submission methods used for the general 2027 GKS-U recruitment should not be considered applicable to this Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program.

Applicants must check the application deadline and submission method separately announced by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, in addition to the recruitment notice for the Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program on the “Study in Korea” website.

The selection process proceeds in the following order: first-round screening by the Embassy, second-round screening by NIIED, and third-round screening by the university

The selection process for the Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program begins with the Embassy’s screening and continues with screenings by the National Institute for International Education (NIIED) and the university.

The final announcement is scheduled for January 15, 2027.

However, the actual application deadline is separate from this scheduled final announcement date. Applicants must check the application schedule announced by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan and prepare accordingly.

Applicants Must Review the Guide Materials for Their Respective Degree Programs Separately

Applicants for associate’s and bachelor’s degree programs, as well as those for master’s and doctoral programs, are not required to use the same list of universities; instead, they must review the guide materials specific to their respective degree programs.

In particular, while applicants for bachelor’s, master’s, and doctoral programs may select up to three universities, at least one of these must be a Type B university.

Therefore, when preparing your application, you must first decide whether you are applying for an associate’s/bachelor’s degree or a master’s/doctoral degree, and then check the eligible universities and university types in the guide for that specific program.

Prepare the application form, personal statement, study plan, and various supporting documents

The main documents to be submitted, as specified in the guidelines, include the following:

However, the number of copies required for the first-round screening and the handling of documents written in Japanese are at the discretion of the diplomatic mission.

Therefore, after confirming the required document types in the guidelines, applicants must prepare the actual number of copies and follow the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan’s recruitment announcement and instructions regarding documents in Japanese.

Do Not Confuse This with the General 2027 GKS-U Application Schedule

The 2027 Korea-Japan Educational Exchange and Cooperation Program is a GKS program open to Japanese students; however, it should not be treated as part of the same selection process as the general 2027 GKS undergraduate recruitment announcement.

This recruitment is open to Japanese nationals and includes not only associate’s and bachelor’s degrees but also master’s and doctoral programs. The application process involves submitting an application in accordance with a separate announcement from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan, followed by a three-stage screening process: the first stage at the embassy, the second stage at NIIED, and the third stage at the university.

Therefore, the first thing applicants should do is not to look up the general GKS-U online application dates, but rather to verify the requirements for their intended program—including nationality, age, educational background, and academic performance—review the program guide from the host university, and then confirm the actual application deadline and submission method announced by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Japan.