Korean International School of Hong Kong

The Korean International School of Hong Kong (Korean: 홍콩한국국제학교; Chinese: 香港韓國國際學校) 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]

Korean International School of Hong Kong
홍콩한국국제학교
香港韓國國際學校
Location
Korean International School of Hong Kong
Korean International School of Hong Kong
Korean International School of Hong Kong
55 Lei King Road, Sai Wan Ho
香港西灣河鯉景道55號

Hong Kong
Coordinates22°17′7″N 114°13′22″E
Information
TypeInternational, co-educational
Established1988
PrincipalChristopher Chadwick (English section)
Seo Jaechool (Korean section)
GradesReception (K3) to 13
Number of students~500
Websitekis.edu.hk
Korean International School of Hong Kong
Chinese name
Traditional Chinese香港韓國國際學校
Simplified Chinese香港韩国国际学校
Korean name
Hangul홍콩한국국제학교

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; Christopher Chadwick 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 subsidized by the South Korean government.[3] Of the Korean students, who make up roughly 70% of the student body, 65% are the children of permanent residents.

The School follows the British National Curriculum as authorized by Cambridge International Examinations (CIE). It is a certified member of CIE's Primary Programme, with access to the wealth of support resources produced by CIE. The English Second Language Programme also follows CIE's programs of study with students sitting external exams offered at the British Council. [4]

History

Early growth

The origin was a Saturday school established in 1960; it initially had 6 students.[5]

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 costs 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 program for developmentally delayed children; normally in Hong Kong, separate schools are set up to offer such programs, 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.[6] The English section of their middle school division began full operation in August 1997 with the establishment of the 9th grade.[7] 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.[8]

Staff layoffs & 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. Local Koreans felt shaken by the investigations and expressed their loss of confidence, some committed suicide in the managing organisation as a result.[9] Back in 2004, KIS terminated 26 staff in what they described as a "drastic restructuring" of their curriculum.[10] 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.[11] Parents in the Korean community were unhappy with the sudden changes and chose to transfer their children to other schools as a result.[10] 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.[12] Anderson was sent on "extended home leave" and replaced by Taras Kozyra.[13]

2016 Corruption scandal

In December 2016, The Korean International School of Hong Kong was discovered to have embezzled South Korean government subsidies, amendment of articles of incorporation, and appropriation of certain funding by board members. This highlighted the untransparency nature of operations within the school, with Chairman, board members and some employees using embezzled money for their own personal use instead of educational purposes. Eventually, those involved were subjected to disciplinary actions. [14]

Campus

The school building has an art room, three basketball courts (one outdoor court on the ground floor, one indoor court inside the gymnasium on the 3rd floor, and one outdoor court on the 6th floor), a clinic, a combination gymnasium/auditorium, a library and research center, a music room (2nd floor), a science lab (7th floor), the Adventure Playground, the school shop, a swimming pool, two technology classrooms (computer labs), and a tennis court (6th floor).[15]

See also

References
  1. Lai, Dicky; Chang, Berton (6 August 1997), "All nationalities welcome at Korean International School", The Standard, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 8 June 2009
  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 14 February 2008, retrieved 27 August 2007
  3. "홍콩 한인학교 간부 비리로 수감, 교민사회 '술렁'/Hong Kong Korean school board investigated, Korean residents 'shaken'", AnyChina News (in Korean), 22 June 2006, retrieved 8 June 2009
  4. Park, Yang Chun (3 October 1996), "School keeps children in touch with home", The Standard, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 8 June 2009
  5. "Message from Chairman Of Board of Directors." Korean International School of Hong Kong. Retrieved on December 6, 2017.
  6. Lau, C. K. (3 October 1996), "KIS provides 'springboard' for pupils with special needs", The Standard, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 8 June 2009
  7. Jones, Michelle (23 April 1997), "KIS a friendly place to learn", The Standard, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 8 June 2009
  8. Forestier, Katherine (22 November 1998), "Turmoil brings hefty school fees into focus", The Standard, archived from the original on 4 June 2011, retrieved 8 June 2009
  9. Choi, Hyeong-gyu (21 June 2006), "부패에 둔감한 홍콩 한인회/Hong Kong Korean association insensitive to bribery", JoongAng Ilbo (in Korean), retrieved 27 August 2007
  10. Forestier, Katherine; Cheng, Andy (4 May 2004), "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 22 May 2015, retrieved 2013-10-03
  11. Forestier, Katherine (8 May 2004), "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 22 May 2015, retrieved 2013-10-03
  12. Forestier, Katherine (29 May 2004), "Korean International parents frustrated at lack of consultation", South China Morning Post, Asia Africa Intelligence Wire, archived from the original on 22 May 2015, retrieved 2013-10-03
  13. Heron, Liz (10 July 2004), "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
  14. http://dspdaily.com/news/view.php?no=9675
  15. "Facilities." Korean International School of Hong Kong. Retrieved on December 6, 2017.
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