Applying for F-1 through the U.S. consulate in Korea after J-1 expires, rather than changing status to F-1 within the U.S.

I’m currently a Visiting graduate student at a California university on J-1 status.

(Looking at my DS-2019, it shows a “TWO-YEAR HOME RESIDENCE REQUIREMENT.”)

My J-1 visa already expired on 3/14/25, and I’m currently preparing to leave for Korea.

My question is: I applied to and was admitted for a PhD program this fall at the university where I was researching. So I plan to “apply for an F-1 visa from Korea.”

(This is not a change of status from J-1 to F-1 within the U.S., but rather applying for F-1 at the U.S. consulate in Korea after the J-1 visa has expired.)

I’d like to know if a J-1 Waiver is needed even in this case.