Kyungpook National University in Daegu: Applications for the 2026 Winter Korean Language Program Accepted September 8–21

The Language Education Center at Kyungpook National University will accept applications for the 2026 academic year winter Korean language program from September 8 to 21. Acceptance notifications and tuition payments are due by October 9; placement tests will be held in November, and classes will run from December 1 through February 11, 2027.

This schedule applies to applicants outside of Korea who are applying for a General Training Visa (D-4). In particular, Vietnamese applicants must review both the online application instructions on the official Korean-language page and the notice regarding restrictions on direct individual applications on the Vietnamese-language page; therefore, before beginning the application process, they must first confirm the available application channels for this semester with the Vietnam program coordinator.

Winter Program Application Period: September 8–21

The university notes that the schedule is subject to change and that application periods may vary by nationality. It states that for those residing in Korea under a residence status other than D-4, enrollment eligibility and periods vary by semester, and applications for admission under other residence statuses—including tourist visas—are restricted.

Daegu Buk-gu Campus: Approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Dongdaegu Station, according to official guidance

The Korean Language Program Office and the document submission center are located at the Foreign Language Education Building on the Daegu Campus of Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu. Although Kyungpook National University also has a Sangju Campus, the Daegu Campus serves as the location for classes and registration for this Korean language program.

Daegu is a major metropolitan city located in the inland Yeongnam region, not in the Seoul metropolitan area. According to the university’s official transportation guide, it takes approximately 10 minutes by taxi from Dongdaegu Station to the Daegu Campus and about 15 minutes from Daegu International Airport. There is no direct subway connection to the main gate; instead, the guide recommends transferring to a city bus at Chilseong Market Station or Sincheon Station on Line 1, or at Kyungpook National University Hospital Station on Line 2.

Daegu Metropolitan City provides a guidebook for international students covering accommodation, housing, transportation, healthcare, and education in English, Chinese, Japanese, and Vietnamese. This is an official channel where students can check information on city life and the university’s schedule in their native language before arriving in the country.

A National Comprehensive University Founded in 1946, Celebrating Its 80th Anniversary in 2026

Kyungpook National University began with Daegu Normal College, Daegu Medical College, and Daegu Agricultural College—which were elevated to national university status in 1946—and was reorganized in 1951 into Kyungpook National University, comprising the Colleges of Education, Medicine, Agriculture, Liberal Arts and Sciences, and Law and Politics. The university will celebrate its 80th anniversary in 2026.

As of April 1, 2026, the official university statistics list 18 colleges and 4 independent departments, along with 150 master’s programs and 145 doctoral programs in the General Graduate School. The total enrollment stands at 37,239 students, with 29,279 currently active students. Students considering a degree program after completing Korean language training can review the special admissions track for international students, which operates separately from the humanities, social sciences, natural sciences, engineering, IT, agricultural and life sciences, education, and medical and pharmaceutical disciplines at the Daegu campus.

In June 2026, the university announced that the number of Korean language trainees at the Language Education Center had increased from 162 in 2022 to 712 in 2025. In the first semester of the 2027 academic year, the university plans to establish a new Global Autonomous College exclusively for international students, operating under a structure where students study Korean and explore potential majors before entering their major in their sophomore year. Although a system linking the completion of Level 4 Korean language training to degree programs has been announced, actual admission to degree programs requires meeting the eligibility, documentation, and selection procedures of the separate 2027 academic year special admissions track for international students.

Levels 1–6; 10 Weeks and 200 Hours per Semester; Class Schedules Cannot Be Chosen

The Korean language program operates on a four-semester-per-year schedule. Each semester lasts 10 weeks, with classes held Monday through Friday for 4 hours per day, totaling 200 hours per semester and 800 hours per year. Students are placed into Levels 1 through 6 based on a placement test, with each class consisting of approximately 15 students.

Classes focus on listening, speaking, reading, and writing, and are scheduled in the morning or afternoon depending on the level and class. Since applicants cannot choose their class times, those with part-time jobs or other commitments should plan accordingly, assuming that their class schedule will be fixed upon admission.

To advance to the next level, students must attend at least 80% of all classes and achieve a composite grade of 70 or higher. At the end of each semester, the school awards tiered scholarships to students with excellent grades and attendance who are enrolled for the following semester. The English-language guide specifies that scholarship eligibility is based on the top 28% of students and the 2% who have shown significant improvement in their grades compared to the previous semester.

Support for language trainees includes the Korean Language Trainees’ Association (KSC), KLP buddies to help new students adjust, cultural experiences each semester, International Students’ Day, and athletic events. While a student ID grants access to library resources, computers, self-study spaces, and the Sports Promotion Center, it is noted that Korean language trainees are not permitted to borrow books from the library.

The disclosed fixed fee for new students is 5.67 million won; dormitory, textbooks, and insurance are billed separately

The tuition payment account will be provided individually to accepted applicants. Payments must be made in the applicant’s name; cash or credit card payments are not accepted. After making the payment, applicants must send a payment confirmation slip showing their name via fax or email.

Although there are several dormitories on the Daegu Campus of Kyungpook National University, the Korean Language Training Guide does not disclose eligibility requirements for student housing, priority allocation status, application periods, or costs. The dormitory fees listed in the guides for exchange students or degree-seeking students should not be applied directly to Korean language trainees; applicants must separately confirm availability with the Language Education Center and the dormitory office before applying for admission.

Eligibility Requirements: High School Graduation or Higher; Bank Balance of at Least US$10,000

Eligible applicants are foreign nationals and overseas Koreans who have graduated from high school or possess an equivalent level of education. The basic documents required for general applicants applying for a D-4 visa from abroad are as follows:

• The university’s application form, study plan, and consent form for the collection and use of personal information
• A copy of your passport and three passport-sized photos with a white background
• Original copies of graduation certificates and transcripts from the most recent school, certified with an Apostille or verified by a Korean diplomatic mission
• Original bank statement showing a balance of at least US$10,000
• Birth certificate or family relationship certificate
• Proof of parents’ employment, income, or tax payments
• Proof of the applicant’s employment and work history, as well as Korean language proficiency materials (if applicable)
• Tuberculosis diagnosis report including chest X-ray results(Applicable to those from countries with a high risk of tuberculosis)

The bank statement must have been issued within 30 days of the application date. However, the requirements for the account holder’s name differ depending on the official language. The Korean and Vietnamese instructions require the account to be in the applicant’s name, while the English instructions allow the account to be in the applicant’s or a parent’s name. Applicants planning to use a parent’s account should confirm in writing with the country-specific coordinator whether this is acceptable before obtaining the documents.

Documents not in Korean or English must be accompanied by a notarized translation into Korean or English. The school notes that original documents will not be returned and that additional materials may be requested depending on the applicant’s circumstances.

Vietnamese Applicants Must Check Both Online Application Guidelines and Restrictions on In-Person Applications

The Korean-language page states that online applications are available only to Vietnamese nationals. However, the Vietnamese-language instructions on the same page specify that, due to enrollment quota restrictions, the university is currently not accepting direct application documents from anyone other than Chinese nationals, and advises applicants to consult the relevant nationality coordinator via email. Taking both sets of instructions into account, Vietnamese applicants should first confirm whether direct application for this winter semester is possible and which submission channels are accepted by emailing goknu@knu.ac.kr before creating an online account or having documents notarized.

In addition to the general documents, the Vietnamese-language guide lists the following specific requirements and materials:

• An average high school GPA of over 7.0 and no more than 8 absences
• Proof of a bank balance of at least US$10,000 in the applicant’s name, valid for no more than 30 days after issuance
• High school and university academic transcripts verified by the Korean Embassy or Consulate in Vietnam
• A certificate from an educational institution confirming that the applicant is currently studying Korean, or a TOPIK score
• Documentation of parents’ income and occupation, and a financial guarantee letter for studying abroad
• Documentation of the applicant’s, parents’, and siblings’ identities and family relationships, including family register (hojeok) or CT07 form
• A health examination report for pulmonary tuberculosis from a hospital designated by a Korean diplomatic mission

The specific requirements listed on the Vietnamese-language page cannot be broadly applied as common requirements for applicants of other nationalities. Vietnamese applicants must prepare their documents based on the most recent list provided by the designated officer.

The Process Goes Beyond Online Submission; Original Documents Must Be Submitted by Mail or In Person

The official procedures from application submission to entry into the country are as follows:

1. Confirm with the officer responsible for your nationality whether recruitment is open and the application channel.
2. If permitted, complete the school’s application form or the online application for Vietnamese applicants.
3. Submit the original documents—which have undergone academic credential verification, translation, and notarization—by mail or in person.
4. Check the results of the document review.
5. Pay the application fee, tuition, and insurance premium to the bank account specified by the university.
6. After receiving the letter of admission, apply for a D-4 visa at a Korean diplomatic mission in your home country.
7. After the visa is issued, enter the country to take the placement test and attend classes.

Email is used to confirm eligibility and request additional documents; it does not substitute for the submission of original documents. Although the official website lists the document submission period as September 8–21, it does not specify whether documents mailed on September 21 will be accepted. International applicants must confirm with the admissions office by when the originals must arrive and then factor in international mailing times.

The address for receiving original documents is Korean Language Program Office, Foreign Language Education Building, Kyungpook National University, 80 Daehak-ro, Buk-gu, Daegu (Zip Code 41566).

The business hours listed on the English page are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to noon and 1:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Contact must be made based on Korean Standard Time.

Official Information Sources

• Korean Language Training Program: Korean, Chinese, and Vietnamese Guides | Kyungpook National University Language Education Center
• Korean Language Program | Kyungpook National University
• Kyungpook National University Overview
• Chronology of Kyungpook National University’s 80-Year History
• Daegu Campus Transportation Guide
• Official Announcement of the Establishment of the Global Autonomous College Exclusively for International Students
• Daegu Campus Dormitory Guide
• Daegu Metropolitan City Guidebook for Foreign Residents

Featured Image Source

The featured image is a photo of Kyungpook National University’s Daegu Campus taken by Knuoia. It is licensed under CC BY-SA 4.0 on Wikimedia Commons, and the original image has not been edited.