Seoul

The Lycée français de Séoul, in Seorae Maeul (Seocho-gu), is the only school in South Korea accredited from nursery to final year; it also offers an American International Section and a bridging class for non-French-speaking 6 to 10-year-olds. The Lycée international Xavier, in Jongno-gu, has an accredited French stream from pre-K to the first year of secondary. Both require a resident visa. The Lycée's fees are detailed on /en/cities/seoul/school-fees/.

Songdo is not a Seoul district: it is a new city in Incheon, inside the Incheon Free Economic Zone, about 50 km from central Seoul, roughly an hour away, and in the same zone as the airport. It has its own English-language international schools (Chadwick International, Calvin Manitoba), big parks and a welcome centre for foreigners, the IFEZ Global Center. However, there is no French school in Songdo, and the Lycée français, in Seorae Maeul, mentions no school bus to Incheon. If French schooling is your priority, Seoul is simpler; if work is in Songdo and an international school suits you, Songdo has a lot going for it. It is all on /en/cities/seoul/settling-in/.

Yes. After six months of residence, every foreigner is automatically enrolled in Korean National Health Insurance (NHIS), with a monthly contribution, unless they apply for an exemption as a posted worker, CFE member or holder of private insurance; the exemption is renewed each year. Children under 19 can be attached to a parent. The embassy also recommends supplementary cover, especially for hospital stays. Details on /en/cities/seoul/health/.

The French embassy publishes a list of French-speaking practitioners: a GP consults in French at the international centre of Seoul St. Mary's Hospital, in the same district as Seorae Maeul, and in Eunpyeong; the list also includes a psychiatrist and a psychologist. There is no French-speaking paediatrician on the list: the big hospitals' international centres see children in English. We reproduce the list on /en/cities/seoul/health/.

119 for a life-threatening emergency (fire and rescue), 112 for police. The official Emergency Ready App shows the nearest emergency departments in English, and Seoul city runs an English-language medical referral service, whose details are on the embassy's emergency page. In Seoul, the big university hospitals (Seoul National University Hospital, Severance, Asan) have a children's hospital; in Songdo, Gil Medical Center, Inha University Hospital and Nasaret International Hospital are the closest.

Most Lycée français families live around the school, in Seorae Maeul, Seoul's French quarter: shops, activities and parks are within walking distance, including the big Montmartre Park. International families also gather in Hannam-dong, Itaewon and Yongsan, north of the Han River. If your work is in Incheon, Songdo is another option, about an hour from Seoul. Our Settling in page covers it all: /en/cities/seoul/settling-in/.

In order: book an immigration appointment on the HiKorea portal for the residence card, compulsory for stays over 90 days; open a bank account and a phone line, which require that card; register on the French consular register, online, free and valid 5 years; then sort out health insurance before six months of residence. Details on /en/cities/seoul/settling-in/.

In a branch, with your residence card or passport, and proof of the account's purpose, such as an employment contract or employer's certificate; before the residence card, proof of address in Korea is also required. If a document is missing, the bank opens a capped account, whose limit is lifted once the document is provided. Several banks have branches with English-speaking advice in Seoul.

On the Seoul metro, under-6s travel free, up to three per accompanying adult; children and teenagers then pay a reduced fare. On Incheon buses, under-6s with a parent ride free, the child fare applies from 6 to 12 and the student fare from 13 to 18. One T-money card covers the whole network.

At the Lycée français, teaching is in French, with English and Korean compulsory from the first year of primary. For children at an international or Korean school, in Seoul or Songdo, the FLAM Corée workshop offers activities, outings and French lessons from birth to 18, and CNED distance learning remains possible with embassy approval. Our addresses are on /en/cities/seoul/family-outings/.

Séoul Accueil (FIAFE network) opens the year with a back-to-school café in early September, then offers neighbourhood tours, cafés, children's events and the Seorae Maeul Christmas market. On KakaoTalk, the 'Soirée Mamans' and 'Seorae Petites Annonces' groups work by invitation. UFE Corée du Sud, Français du monde ADFE and the French-speaking parish in Hannam-dong complete the picture.

Yes, for French children, subject to means criteria set by the AEFE. Two rounds are usually held, in September and January; the AEFE pays the grant directly to the school, which deducts it from the fees. While awaiting the decision, the Lycée asks for monthly instalments. French children whose schooling is not paid by any employer also qualify for a reduced fee.