An architectural rendering of the Royal Russell School campus to be built in Busan / Courtesy of Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone Authority
Britain's 173-year-old Royal Russell School will open its first Asian campus in the southeastern city of Busan, offering domestic students rare access to the elite academy without traditional overseas residency requirements.
The Busan metropolitan government and the Busan-Jinhae Free Economic Zone (BJFEZ) Authority have finalized building permits for the facility in Myeongji International New City. Under the patronage of the British royal family, the institution plans to open the Gangseo District campus in August 2028.
The Busan location will provide a rare entry point for domestic students. Unlike most international schools in Korea that mandate three years of foreign residency, Royal Russell will admit local students based on merit. Applicants must pass English and mathematics entrance exams calibrated to the American SAT level. Annual tuition is expected to be approximately 30 million won ($20,723).
To ensure students remain competitive within the national system, the school will offer mandatory courses in Korean language, social studies and history. Students completing these subjects will receive official Korean academic accreditation alongside their international qualifications.
World-class infrastructure in Gangseo District
The K-12 institution will accommodate approximately 1,350 students across a 19,286-square-meter campus. The facility will feature six buildings, including four aboveground floors and one basement level. The city plans to open construction bids in June and expects to break ground by September.
To guarantee the institution's global standards, the U.K.-based headquarters will directly hire all teaching staff and oversee the curriculum. Supporting the school's arrival, the BJFEZ Authority has also amended implementation plans to construct a children’s English library near the site.
"The Royal Russell School will be the crowning touch in Myeongji International New City's leap forward as a true global business hub," said Park Seong-ho, commissioner of the BJFEZ Authority. "We will concentrate our administrative capabilities to ensure the school opens on time and create the world's best living conditions."
This article from the Hankook Ilbo, the sister publication of The Korea Times, is translated by a generative AI system and edited by The Korea Times.
Source: Korea Times News
