Modes of entering school 
Entering school after a training course- The sojourn status of foreign students enrolled at a Korean language training course or an elementary, middle, or high school shall be general trainee (D-4) [general short-term (C-3) included for Korean language training courses], and that of foreign students enrolled at a junior college or higher-level educational institution or academic research institute shall be student (D-2) (Articles 10 and 10-2 of the 「Immigration Control Act」 and Article 12 and the attached Tables 1 and 1-2 of the 「Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Control Act」).
- To enter a higher-level educational institution in the ROK after completing a Korean language training course or an elementary, middle or high school program, permission for change in the sojourn status shall be obtained to change from general trainee (D-4) or general short-term (C-3) to student (D-2) (Article 24 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).
※ A foreign student who fail to change his sojourn status as required above may be deported from the ROK, and shall be imprisoned with labor for not more than three years or fined up to KRW 20 million (Article 46.(1).8 and Subparagraph 16 of Article 94 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).
※ The details on the procedures to obtain permission to change the sojourn status are listed in Section 4-1-2.
Entering school after a university/college program- Suppose international students attending school with the qualification D-4 (studying abroad) at the community college or higher education or an academic research institute enter higher education. In that case, the student is not obliged to modify his/her residence eligibility since there is no alteration thereof. However, the international student shall receive residence extension permission if exceeding two years since the maximum residence period is up to two years at one time (Article 25, Paragraph 1 of the “Immigration Control Act”).
- The Commissioner, Officer, or Local Officer shall screen whether the foreigner meets the following qualifications for the residence extension above (Article 25-2 of the “Immigration Control Act,” Article 31-2, Paragraphs 1 to 3, 5, and 6 of Article 9-2 under the “Immigration Control Act Enforcement Rules”).
· Whether the foreigner holds a valid passport.
· Whether the foreigner is subject to entry prohibition or refusal under Article 11 of the “Immigration Control Act.”
· Whether the foreigner falls under the residence eligibility specified from Attached Tables 1, 1-2 and 1-3 of the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act.
· Whether it is admissible that the foreigner may return to his/her homeland within the allowed residence period according to each residence eligibility.
· Whether the foreigner falls under the standard separately determined by the Minister of Justice per residence eligibility from Attached Tables 1, 1-2, and 1-3 under the Enforcement Decree of the Immigration Act.
※ A foreign student who stays in the ROK past his sojourn period and fails to extend it may be deported from the ROK, and shall be imprisoned with labor for not more than three years or fined up to KRW 20 million (Article 46.(1).8 and Subparagraph 17 of Article 94 of the 「Immigration Control Act」).