Universities across Korea are currently holding tuition review meetings to determine whether fees will be increased or frozen for the 2026 academic year.
To help students and families understand the outcomes, this article summarizes the latest tuition decisions for both domestic and international students at undergraduate and graduate levels.
Under the Higher Education Act, tuition for domestic students is capped and cannot rise by more than 1.2 times the average consumer price increase over the previous three years. For the 2026 academic year, this maximum increase is set at 3.19 percent. However, this restriction does not apply to students admitted outside the regular admissions quota, including most international students, and in those cases, decisions are left entirely to each university’s tuition review committee.
These committees typically include student representatives, university administrators responsible for finance and student affairs, and at least one external adviser. Meetings often begin as early as December and may continue into February.
Below is a summary of tuition decisions at national universities, listed alphabetically.
Chungbuk National University
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): 2.6 percent increase
Graduate (domestic & international): 2.6 percent increase
Gangneung-Wonju National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): 3.19 percent increase
Gyeongkuk National University
Associate’s (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Gyeongsang National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): 2.5 percent increase
Hanbat National University
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international):
-
Tuition I: Tuition freeze
-
Tuition II: 2.53 percent increase for general and professional graduate schools, 4.54 percent increase for specialized graduate schools
Kangwon National University
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): Not announced
Graduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Graduate (international): Not announced
Kongju National University
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic): 3 percent increase
Graduate (international): 3 percent increase
Kunsan National University
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic): 2.6 percent increase
Graduate (international): Tuition freeze
Incheon National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Jeonbuk National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international):
Pusan National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Seoul National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Seoul National University of Science and Technology
Undergraduate (domestic): Tuition freeze
Undergraduate (international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Sunchon National University
Undergraduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
Graduate (domestic & international): Tuition freeze
