Songdo School May Delay Opening Again
By Bae Ji-sook
Staff Reporter
The opening of Songdo International School, the first educational institute in a free economic zone (FEZ), scheduled for September, will be delayed due to a lack of students.
Gale International, operator of the Incheon Free Economic Zone school, told Yonhap News Agency that it has considered delaying the opening for another year, or registering as a foreign school as opposed to a foreign education institute.
It reportedly said, ``The opening is expected to cause billions of won in losses and we cannot bear that.''
Under the current regulations, a foreign educational institute must limit the number of Korean students to 30 percent of the number of foreign students. However, a foreign school can recruit Korean students who have lived overseas for more than three years and they may account for up to 30 percent of the admission quota, regardless of the number of foreign students.
Now it is feared that renewing the school's status appears to be the only way to accept Korean students, who are reportedly queuing up for admission.
Yonhap reported that Gale has already informed the Incheon Economic Zone Authority of the options it has under consideration.
Songdo attracted media attention for its innovative establishment, yet slow progress. It was reported last month that the school has only managed to enroll 20 foreigners, meaning only six Koreans can be signed up.
The planned delay is expected to upset Korean parents who have been planning to move near Songdo for their children's education.
In order to draw foreign investment into the Incheon Free Economic Zone, about 150 billion won ($117 million) has been invested for the construction of the school, which includes a sports complex. The school can accommodate up to 2,100 students from kindergarten to high school.