Yi Whan-woo is a Korea Times journalist primarily covering finance. He writes in-depth articles on macroeconomy and financial markets and previously covered sports, politics, diplomacy and inter-Korean affairs, among others. Feel free to contact him at yistory@koreatimes.co.kr.
JDC to turn Jeju into Asia's learning center
This is an aerial view of the campus of the North London Collegiate School (NLCS) on Jeju Island. The U.K school is one of seven international schools that have been allowed to set up their own campuses on the island under a plan by the Jeju Free International City Development Center to turn Jeju into an education center in Northeast Asia. / Courtesy of JDC
By Yi Whan-woo
By Yi Whan-woo
The Jeju Free International City Development Center steps up its effort to turn the southern resort island into a center of English-language education in Northeast Asia.
The state-run company, commonly known as JDC, plans to bring seven international schools to the island by 2021. They will be allowed to open their own campuses there.
All classes at each campus will be taught in English and the academic curriculum will vary from kindergarten to high school level.
The plan was launched in 2008 as part of JDC’s long-term project to form special complexes on the island, including education, technology, health care, history and recreation.
The firm, which is under the wing of the Ministry of Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport, started the project to develop the country’s only self-governing province into a major destination for domestic and global investors.
JDC spent some 1.78 trillion won ($1.59 billion) to build the education complex as of July. The seven private schools will accommodate 9,000 students and will be built on 3.79 million square kilometers of land in Seogwipo. JDC said an English-language teaching institution run by the Ministry of Education also will be constructed there by June 2014.
JDC expects the complex will draw students from Korea, China, Japan, and other neighboring countries.
“We’ll focus on providing quality services to students. Many Asian students are going overseas to study, but the complex will be the best alternative for them,” a JDC official said. “By doing so, we believe we can save billions of dollars spent for education in foreign countries.”
Each of the seven campuses will be operated by the schools in Korea and English-speaking countries such as the United States, the United Kingdom and Canada, according to the JDC. The campuses will be either day schools or boarding schools.
Three of the campuses are already in operation on a trial basis. The operators are Korea International School (KIS) in Seoul, North London Collegiate School (NLCS) of the United Kingdom, and Branksome Hall in Toronto, Canada.
Students of a total of 504 elementary and middle schools can enroll at KIS Jeju. It also plans to open a high school next month and admit 480 students.
NLCS Jeju can accommodate 1,508 students at kindergarten, primary, and secondary school levels. Branksome Hall Asia also offers academic experience for 1,212 students.
JDC said St. Johnsbury Academy (SJA) in the U.S. will open its campus in September 2015. The Vermont-based school’s Jeju campus will accommodate 1,250 students at primary and secondary school levels.