GKS-G and GKS-U: application, result and arrival months
Application: February (in the 2026 cycle the Embassy Track ran 12–25 February, originals to NIIED by 1 April). Embassy screening and interview: March–April. NIIED 2nd-round result: usually May. University 3rd round and final announcement: June. Visa and medical check: July. Arrival in Korea and start of the language year: late August – early September. Degree: the following September (this September for those with TOPIK 5+).
Application: late September – October (embassy deadlines differ by a week or two between countries; for Uzbekistan watch the embassy notice). Embassy screening: October–November. NIIED result: December–January. Final announcement: January. Arrival and language year: late February – early March. Degree: the following March. In other words, you apply to GKS-U in the autumn of the year you FINISH school, not in grade 11 — the diploma must exist at application (or an official certificate of expected graduation).
At least 4–6 months before applications open. The reason is documents: diploma and transcript with apostille or embassy legalisation (in Uzbekistan the apostille goes through the Ministry of Justice, 1–3 weeks), notarised translation, recommendation letters (give teachers 2–4 weeks), medical certificate, parents' citizenship documents. A TOPIK or IELTS certificate is not mandatory but earns extra points — a 10% bonus for TOPIK 3+; TOPIK runs 5–6 times a year with results in 4–5 weeks, so sit it at least 3 months before applying.
The worst is confusing the embassy deadline with the NIIED deadline: the embassy collects documents 2–4 weeks BEFORE the NIIED date. Second — leaving the apostille to the last week. Third — not knowing that the professor must sign the recommendation letter in a sealed envelope. Fourth — the medical examination for the visa (tuberculosis, drug test) after the final announcement — start it in June without waiting. The 2027 cycle dates are not yet announced; "last year's months" are only a guide, and the exact date appears on the embassy website each year.