With the first 2024 round of Korea's high-school equivalency examination (GED) approaching, Apostille Korea says candidates who must submit foreign academic records can prepare every document in one pass — issuance, translation and certification together — so nothing is missing when the application window opens.
- The 2024 first-round GED has a fixed application window, so document preparation is time-sensitive
- Foreign-issued academic records must be certified before a Korean examination office will accept them
- Certification happens in the issuing country, followed by a certified Korean translation
- Apostille Korea bundles issuance, translation, notarization and certification to avoid missed steps
Why preparing documents in one pass matters
The first GED round of 2024 has a fixed application window, and a foreign academic record cannot be submitted until it has been certified. Because each step — issuing the record, translating it into Korean, having it notarized and certified — depends on the one before, handling them separately can leave a candidate short of time if a single document is delayed or rejected. Preparing everything in one coordinated pass reduces that risk, so the full set of documents is ready before the window opens rather than arriving piecemeal.
How the certification route is decided
How a foreign record is certified depends on where it was issued. If the issuing country belongs to the Hague Apostille Convention, the document is authenticated by apostille; if it does not, the route is foreign-ministry and embassy legalization. In both cases the document is certified in the country that issued it, then a certified Korean translation is attached so the examination office can read it. Apostille Korea advises candidates to confirm the office's exact standard early, since requirements can differ by issuing country and by the office receiving the record.
Frequently asked questions
Why prepare all the documents at once?
The first 2024 GED round has a fixed application window, and each step depends on the previous one. Preparing issuance, translation and certification in a single pass reduces the risk of a delayed or rejected document pushing a candidate past the deadline.
How is a foreign academic record certified?
In the country that issued it: by apostille if that country is a Hague Convention member, or by foreign-ministry and embassy legalization if it is not — usually with a certified Korean translation attached.
When should I confirm requirements?
Before the application window opens. Confirming the examination office's exact standard early helps avoid a rejected submission and a resubmission that could miss the deadline.
Source: 고시위크 (gosiweek.com) ↗