What is high school in South Korea like?

I'm a South Korean high-schooler. Korean public high school can definitely be challenging. Almost all students compete to be 전교일등 (first-place in academics) and most go to 학원 (academy) and learn subjects before-hand. You'll probably find that while Korean schools fail at teaching languages, math and science are fairly advanced. You probably don't need to know this cuz you're not Korean, but sometimes, older students can be very rough. It's just because in Asia, if you're older, you get more respect, but adolescents abuse that. (It's the whole 선배 (upper-schooler) 후배 (lower-schooler) relationship.) There have been cases when students are beaten up by other older students because they didn't bow low enough. Don't worry, I doubt you'll need to worry about this because you're foreign. Just act cool and if the school you go to isn't ghetto, most students will take an interest to you just because you're foreign. I've found that if you are outgoing and you smile and laugh a lot (but not excessively, of course) most people will like you. Hope this was of some help!

if you're fifteen, then you'll be entering about middle school third grade. if you have less than perfect korean skills, do not, i repeat DO NOT try to go into korean public school. how it is is a lot different from america socially, and not to mention academically. i went in for middle school second grade, and pulled out after one semester (half year) because the kids were bullying me so much (on account of my korean) and because i was acheiving bottom line grades in all my classes. and i was a straight A student before. the only things i got out of going to public school is A) a wealthy knowledge of korean curse words, B) hatred of native korean kids, and C) major depression, which is still ongoing. sorry for the rant, i just hate k public school so much and what it did to me. -you won't be in high school, you'll be in middle school -you would take ethics, 가정, 기술, korean history, world history, english, korean lang arts, biology and physics, PE, and maybe a couple others i forgot. -NO

I can't tell you much. But I know that it is extremely difficult compared to schools in the US and Canada, and they're very strict. I know an exchange student from Canada who lives in South Korea and supposedly there are big fights between rival schools, it sounds pretty scary. Keep in mind, this is just what I've heard from a friend and I'm sure that every school is different. Good Luck with everything :)

I heard it's pretty difficult...Asian schools are all more difficult and strict on students. There are 3 years in middle school and 3 years in high school. You have to take supplementary lessons during the summer and wear uniforms and such. Yes most likely you will take entrance exams..there are entrance exams to everything XD I dont really know about the subjects but english is one of them that all Korean students take from middle school to graduation. So you won't be completely isolated from your language during your stay as there are MANY very fluent people :) and hanging around each other will improve YOUR korean and THEIR english ~its a win win. But i think if you really want to excel there, you will definitely have to study hard. And it depends if you will be on the same educational level...is your school right now strict and teaching a lot of subjects?? Hope it helps~

More information is needed to give a complete answer. Are you of Korean decent? Do you speak and understand Korean? Is the age 15 you gave an Asian age, or a western age? In Korea, the age of 15 is middle school, not high school )this is going on how Koreans measure age (lunar calender and 9 months in the womb before birth) Considering the standards and how competitive it is for middle school students to enter the best high schools, I would say yes, you will have to take an entrance exam (this is assuming you are entering a typical high school, not an international school for the families of military, public officials, diplomats...etc) You would take most of the same core subjects. As far as being on the same level..that depends on you. Korean students rank in the top 5 in the WORLD when it comes to math, science and reading. Students here are doing in their second year of middle school the same math that the average sophomore in high school in the US is doing. Not sure where you are from, but most of your questions really depend on whether you understand Korean and will enter a typical Korean high school or an international school. As far as school life. the day is long..many high school students don't go home until after 11pm or later in many cases. Even when the school day is over, they must stay at the school in a study hall for a few hours, then many go to private education institutions after that. Its a rough life.