Korean International School of Hong Kong

Coordinates: 22°17′7″N 114°13′22″E / 22.28528°N 114.22278°E / 22.28528; 114.22278

Korean International School of Hong Kong
Location
55 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho
Hong Kong
Coordinates 22°17′7″N 114°13′22″E / 22.28528°N 114.22278°E / 22.28528; 114.22278
Information
Type International, co-educational
Established 1988
Principal Lynne Thomson (English section)
Seo Jaechool (Korean section)
Grades Grades 1 to 12
Number of students ~360

The Korean International School of Hong Kong is an international school located in Lei King Wan, Sai Wan Ho, Hong Kong. It is located near the Tai Koo Shing area, which is home to a large number of Hong Kong's Korean families. It was founded in 1994.[1][2]


School structure and curriculum

The Korean International School is divided into two sections based on medium of instruction: the Korean section teaches in Korean, while the international section teaches in English.[2] The school's chief operating officer is Byun Chang Suk. Each section has its own principal; Lynne Thomson is the principal of the English section. It is one of the few overseas Korean educational institutions which also accepts non-Korean students. As of 2013, it enrolled 560 students. Roughly 5% of its ₩4 billion operating budget is subsidised by the South Korean government.[3] Of the Korean students, who make up roughly 70% of the student body, 85% are the children of expatriates, while 15% are the children of permanent residents.[4]

History

Early growth

Discussions about the need for an international school to serve Koreans in Hong Kong began as early as the 1980s, and the Korean International School finally began operating in 1994, with both a Korean section and an English section. Roughly half of the HK$70 million cost of constructing the campus was funded by the South Korean government, with the rest funded by donations from the local Korean community. In the first year, the Korean section enrolled 140 students, while the English section enrolled 120.[1] In 1996, they became the first international school in Hong Kong to introduce a special education programme for developmentally delayed children; normally in Hong Kong, separate schools are set up to offer such programmes, but KIS chose to establish a small special education class within the school, consisting of roughly 10 students, because of the demand for it among the community.[5] The English section of their middle school division began full operation in August 1997 with the establishment of the 9th grade.[6] Early on in its history, the school experienced rapid growth; however, this was disrupted by the economic aftershocks of the 1997 Asian Financial Crisis, during which student numbers dropped from 250 to 190.[7]

Staff layoffs

In 2004, KIS terminated 26 staff in what they described as a "drastic restructuring" of their curriculum.[8] Then-principal Steven Kim claims the teachers were not fired but instead laid off with four months notice; the teachers in question disputed this, claiming instead that they had not been told of the decision until late in the year.[9] Parents in the Korean community were unhappy with the sudden changes and chose to transfer their children to other schools as a result.[8] They expressed frustration that they were not consulted regarding a matter involving so many staff; of particular concern to them was the removal of Doug Anderson, former head of the school's English section.[10] Anderson was sent on "extended home leave" and replaced by Taras Kozyra.[11] Due to further competition with other international schools in Hong Kong, KIS' student body size decreased by roughly 260 students between 2004 and 2006; in total, they removed around 50 of their teachers.[3]

Bribery investigation

In June 2006, the Korean International School's managing organisation, the Korean Residents' Association, was investigated by the Independent Commission Against Corruption; their office was searched, and one staff member was charged with having received HK$100,000 in bribes related to the renegotiation of a real estate management company's contract and sentenced to eight months' imprisonment.[12] Local Koreans felt shaken by the investigations and expressed their loss of confidence, some committed suicide in the managing organisation as a result.[3]


References

  1. 1 2 Lai, Dicky; Chang, Berton (1997-08-06), "All nationalities welcome at Korean International School", The Standard, retrieved 2009-06-08
  2. 1 2 One South Korean government source lists the year of foundation as 1988: 홍콩한국국제학교 (Korean International School of Hong Kong) (in Korean), South Korea: National Institute for International Education Development, 2005, archived from the original on 2008-02-14, retrieved 2007-08-27
  3. 1 2 3 "홍콩 한인학교 간부 비리로 수감, 교민사회 '술렁'/Hong Kong Korean school board investigated, Korean residents 'shaken'", AnyChina News (in Korean), 2006-06-22, retrieved 2009-06-08
  4. ↑ Park, Yang Chun (1996-10-03), "School keeps children in touch with home", The Standard, retrieved 2009-06-08
  5. ↑ Lau, C. K. (1996-10-03), "KIS provides 'springboard' for pupils with special needs", The Standard, retrieved 2009-06-08
  6. ↑ Jones, Michelle (1997-04-23), "KIS a friendly place to learn", The Standard, retrieved 2009-06-08
  7. ↑ Forestier, Katherine (1998-11-22), "Turmoil brings hefty school fees into focus", The Standard, retrieved 2009-06-08
  8. 1 2 Forestier, Katherine; Cheng, Andy (2004-05-04), "Sackings needed to 'overhaul' curriculum: Board of Korean International School says it fired 26 staff as part of a revamp", Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, South China Morning Post, archived from the original on 16 January 2013, retrieved 2013-10-03
  9. ↑ Forestier, Katherine (2004-05-08), "Principal says lay-offs 'were generous': Steven Kim claims Korean International School did not fire teachers but offered them four months' notice instead", South China Morning Post, Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, archived from the original on 16 January 2013, retrieved 2013-10-03
  10. ↑ Forestier, Katherine (2004-05-29), "Korean International parents frustrated at lack of consultation", South China Morning Post, Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, archived from the original on 16 January 2013, retrieved 2013-10-03
  11. ↑ Heron, Liz (2004-07-10), "Korean school appoints new teachers: Principal of international says summer school numbers reflect parental appreciation of staff overhaul", South China Morning Post, Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, archived from the original on 16 July 2012, retrieved 2013-10-03
  12. ↑ Choi, Hyeong-gyu (2006-06-21), "부패에 둔감한 홍콩 한인회/Hong Kong Korean association insensitive to bribery", JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean), retrieved 2007-08-27

External links

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