Written by Christian Chinonso
Founder, LearnViaHub | Academic Credential & International Student Research
✓ Last Verified: October 2026Primary Sources Sourced
Quick answer
South Korea has no single GPA scale. Universities grade in letters from A+ to F, but the maximum differs: Seoul National University, Yonsei and KAIST use a 4.3 scale (A+ = 4.3), while SeoulTech, Ajou and Handong use 4.5 (A+ = 4.5). A0 is 4.0 on both, so always check the maximum on your transcript before comparing anything.
The same 3.5 GPA equals 87 out of 100 on a 4.3 scale but 85 on a 4.5 scale, according to the official Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) conversion table below.
Korean GPA scales by university
| University | Scale | Source |
|---|---|---|
| Seoul National University | 4.3 | SNU academic records |
| Yonsei University | 4.3 | Yonsei grading page |
| KAIST | 4.3 | KAIST grade page (Korean) |
| SeoulTech | 4.5 | SeoulTech grade table |
| Ajou University | 4.5 | Ajou grade page (Korean) |
| Handong Global University | 4.5 | Handong grading table |
Other universities publish their own scales and are not covered here. The GKS scholarship accepts GPAs on 4.0, 4.3, 4.5, 5.0 or 100-point scales (GKS 2024 undergraduate guidelines), which shows there is no single national scale.
The 4.5 scale
SeoulTech publishes this table for international readers, and Handong lists the same bands:
| Letter grade | Grade point | Mark range |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.5 | 95–100 |
| A0 | 4.0 | 90–94 |
| B+ | 3.5 | 85–89 |
| B0 | 3.0 | 80–84 |
| C+ | 2.5 | 75–79 |
| C0 | 2.0 | 70–74 |
| D+ | 1.5 | 65–69 |
| D0 | 1.0 | 60–64 |
| F | 0.0 | Below 60 |
SeoulTech notes that the mark ranges are approximate and for international reference. It counts D0 (60%) as the minimum pass, and S/U grades do not affect GPA (SeoulTech, Handong). Ajou differs: it has no D grades, anything from 0 to 69 is an F, and degree credit counts only for C0 (70) and above or S (Ajou). The passing mark is therefore a school rule, not a national one.
The 4.3 scale
Seoul National University (SNU) lists these grade points and, on request, converts them to a 100-point equivalent on transcripts:
| Letter grade | Grade point | SNU 100-point equivalent |
|---|---|---|
| A+ | 4.3 | 100 |
| A0 | 4.0 | 96 |
| A- | 3.7 | 93 |
| B+ | 3.3 | 89 |
| B0 | 3.0 | 86 |
| B- | 2.7 | 83 |
| C+ | 2.3 | 79 |
| C0 | 2.0 | 76 |
| C- | 1.7 | 73 |
| D+ | 1.3 | 69 |
| D0 | 1.0 | 66 |
| D- | 0.7 | 63 |
| F | 0.0 | 0 |
Source: SNU academic records page, updated 2025. SNU awards Summa Cum Laude at a GPA of 3.9 and Cum Laude at 3.6 for students graduating after 1994. KAIST publishes the same grade points, spelling A0 as “Ao”, and excludes research and S/U courses from its grade-point average (KAIST). Yonsei also lists a 4.3 maximum (Yonsei).
Curve grading (relative grading)
Many Korean universities grade partly on a curve. Seoul National’s grading regulations set reference ratios for undergraduate courses of 20–30% for A, 30–40% for B, and 30–50% for C or below (SNU grading regulations). Hansung University caps A+ to A0 at 30% of a class, with an exception allowing 40% for some English-taught courses and no curve for classes under 10 students (Hansung notice, 2023).
These ratios are university rules, so check yours. Reported Ministry of Education data for 2013 showed some universities giving far more A grades than their guidelines, with 51.8% at Seoul National (Daehak Journal, 2014), so a written ratio is not always a measured outcome.
South Korea grade lookup tool
Grade points follow the published SeoulTech (4.5) and SNU/KAIST (4.3) tables. The 100-point figure uses Appendix A of the GKS 2024 undergraduate guidelines and covers marks 80–100 only. This is not an official GPA.
The tool is a planning aid only and does not produce an official GPA. Its figures come from the published tables on this page.
Why one GPA number does not work
The GKS undergraduate guidelines include an official conversion table between scales and the 100-point scale. The same GPA lands at different marks depending on the scale it is out of:
| Your GPA | Out of 4.0 | Out of 4.3 | Out of 4.5 | Out of 5.0 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 | 90 | 87 | 85 | 82 |
| 4.0 | 100 | 94 | 90 | 86 |
| Minimum for an 80 mark | 2.64 | 2.80 | 2.91 | 3.23 |
Source: Appendix A of the GKS 2024 undergraduate guidelines. This table is for GKS applications and is not a national standard. The same guidelines require applicants to reach 80 out of 100 or rank in the top 20% of their class.
Receiving universities also set their own minimums. The University of Illinois Graduate College lists 80%, 3/4, 3/4.3 or 3/4.5 for Korean applicants (Illinois), and Simon Fraser University lists 3.0 on a 4.3 scale or 80% (SFU). We found no South Korea-to-US GPA conversion published by a government body.
Worked example
Four hypothetical 3-credit courses graded A+, A0, B+ and B0. The GPA is Σ(grade point × credits) ÷ Σcredits.
| Course grade | Credits | 4.5 scale points × credits | 4.3 scale points × credits |
|---|---|---|---|
| A+ | 3 | 4.5 × 3 = 13.5 | 4.3 × 3 = 12.9 |
| A0 | 3 | 4.0 × 3 = 12.0 | 4.0 × 3 = 12.0 |
| B+ | 3 | 3.5 × 3 = 10.5 | 3.3 × 3 = 9.9 |
| B0 | 3 | 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 | 3.0 × 3 = 9.0 |
| Total (12 credits) | 12 | 45.0 → 3.75 | 43.8 → 3.65 |
The same four letter grades give 3.75 out of 4.5 or 3.65 out of 4.3. In the GKS table, 3.75/4.5 falls at 88 and 3.65/4.3 at 89, so the two transcripts are close even though the GPAs differ.
WES and other evaluations
- WES offers a Course-by-Course evaluation, and you choose the recipient institution when you apply. WES also verifies your academic records (WES requirements for SUNY Korea).
- Some programmes limit what a converted transcript can be. GKS accepts one printed from a tool such as scholaro.com or wes.org only when your university confirms it officially (GKS guidelines).
Fees, report types and turnaround change, so confirm them on wes.org. Our WES evaluation guide covers the process.
Reporting your Korean GPA
- Report the GPA and its scale exactly as on your transcript, for example 3.75/4.5.
- Attach your university’s grading-scale description if the application allows documents.
- Convert only if asked, and use the method the programme names.
- Do not round up. A cumulative GPA is accepted by GKS even without per-semester GPAs.
Converting other grading systems? See these guides:
Frequently asked questions
What GPA scale does South Korea use?
There is no single scale. Seoul National, Yonsei and KAIST publish 4.3 scales, while SeoulTech, Ajou and Handong publish 4.5 scales. Check your own transcript.
What is the highest GPA in Korea?
4.3 at universities on a 4.3 scale (A+ = 4.3) and 4.5 at universities on a 4.5 scale (A+ = 4.5).
What does A0 mean on a Korean transcript?
A0 is “A zero”, the grade between A+ and A-. It is worth 4.0 on both the 4.5 and 4.3 scales. KAIST writes it as “Ao”.
What is the passing grade in Korea?
What GPA do I need for the Global Korea Scholarship?
The 2024 undergraduate guidelines require 80 out of 100 or a top-20% class rank, or a cumulative GPA of at least 2.64/4.0, 2.80/4.3, 2.91/4.5 or 3.23/5.0 (GKS guidelines). Check the current year’s notice, since the rules can change.
What is GPA in Korean?
Regulations use 평점 for a grade point and 성적 평점평균 for the grade-point average. In the same documents 학점 means credit hours (KAIST).
Can I convert my Korean GPA to a US GPA myself?
Only as an estimate. We found no official conversion, and receiving universities set their own minimums, so follow the method your programme names.
How we researched this
Last checked: 15 October 2026. We compared each table with the university page linked beside it: Seoul National University’s academic-records page (updated 2025) and grading regulations, Yonsei, KAIST, SeoulTech, Ajou, Handong and Hansung. We also checked the GKS 2024 undergraduate guidelines (Appendix A), WES’s published requirements for SUNY Korea, and the Illinois and SFU admission pages. The 2013 grade-share figure comes from a 2014 news report of Ministry of Education data. Several pages are in Korean. We did not verify the scales of other universities, including Korea University, Hanyang, Konkuk, Sungkyunkwan and POSTECH, so they are not listed. The worked example uses hypothetical grades.
This page is for general information. LearnViaHub is not affiliated with WES, GKS, any university or any government agency mentioned. Grading rules and scholarship thresholds change, so confirm them with your registrar and the programme you are applying to.
Christian Chinonso is the founder of LearnViaHub, with 6+ years of research experience in international education — including GPA systems, scholarships, student financing, and study-abroad guidance — for students worldwide.