QUICK ANSWER
Families usually cannot judge drawing instruction directly, but they can check four things that good programmes make easy to see. Ask how the results are counted, whether the work is built to each school’s actual requirements, whether the portfolio avoids what schools say they do not want, and whether fees and refunds follow Korea’s academy law.
Each of these can be checked in one consultation and against public pages. A programme that cannot answer them clearly is telling you something.
DUE DILIGENCE · 1
Four Checks and What to Ask
| Check | Question to ask | A clear answer looks like |
|---|---|---|
| Results | Are these acceptances or enrolments, over how many years, confirmed how? | A dated list by school, with the counting rule stated |
| School fit | How does the plan change for RISD, Parsons or SAIC? | Specific counts: RISD 12–20 works, Parsons 8–12, SAIC and MICA 10–15 |
| Content rules | How do you handle AI, copying and drawing from photos? | Knows the rules: RISD discourages master copies, fan art and drawing from photos; PNCA bans AI-generated images |
| Fees and refunds | Is the fee posted, and what is the refund rule? | Fee posted as the law requires; refunds by the statutory schedule |
From RISD, Parsons, SAIC, MICA and PNCA admissions pages and the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes, checked October 2026.
DUE DILIGENCE · 2
The Refund Schedule Under Korean Law
For a course of one month or less, the Act’s refund table sets the minimum: a full refund before classes start, two-thirds if you leave within the first third of the period, half within the first half, and nothing after half has passed. Refunds must be paid within five days of the request. A programme’s contract can be more generous, never less.
FOR KOREAN FAMILIES
Ask to see one finished portfolio next to the school’s current requirement page; the match, or mismatch, is the fastest test of instruction. See reading success stories critically and how our own record is counted.
DUE DILIGENCE · 3
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I judge a portfolio programme without art training?
Check how results are counted, school-specific planning, content rules, and fee and refund terms.
What should a results claim include?
Years covered, acceptances versus enrolments, and how each acceptance was confirmed.
Do art schools accept AI-generated work?
Policies differ: PNCA bans AI images, while RISD asks applicants to describe any AI use.
What refund am I entitled to at a Korean academy?
Under the Act: full before classes, two-thirds in the first third, half in the first half, none after.
Should the plan differ by school?
Yes. Required counts differ, for example RISD 12–20 works and Parsons 8–12.
ROYAL BLUE ART & DESIGN
Our director has taught Korean students for U.S. art schools for 19 years, from our studio in Apgujeong, Seoul. Our results page lists 1,099 acceptances, 2009–2026, each confirmed directly with the student. Call 02-3446-5929 or book a consultation.
From RISD, Parsons, SAIC, MICA and PNCA admissions pages and the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Teaching Institutes and Extracurricular Lessons (refund table). Checked October 2026. If something here has changed, tell us and we will correct it.
Related reading: Reading Success Stories · Our Record Explained · Choosing an Academy · Building a RISD Portfolio · Royal Blue Results