Published on 2024.04.03. 4:59 PM, Updated on 2024.04.03. 5:15 PM
By Lee Kwon-hyung
Hyundai, BIEK sign agreement to bring prestigious Haileybury College to Taean, boosting its prospects as a global education city
[HERALD ECONOMY(Taean)= Lee Kwon-hyung] The establishment of an international school in Taean, South Chungcheong is becoming visible. The foundation for setting up the international school was laid with the revision of the Taean Enterprise City Development Special Act.
Consequently, Haileybury College School, a prestigious British institution, is expected to be established in Taean.
BIEK (represented in Korea by Choi Yosep and Yun Hosang) announced on the 3rd that they had signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on the 2nd with Hyundai Urban Development, which is developing Taean Enterprise City, for the establishment of Taean International School.
Haileybury College in the UK is a world-renowned prestigious school, ranking among the top 15 of the 5,700 IB schools (International Baccalaureate) across 160 countries.
BIEK, having brought Haileybury College to this project, has set a goal with Hyundai to open the Haileybury International School in 2027, which will incorporate kindergarten through high school in its operations.
Previously, the revision of the Taean Enterprise City Development Special Act, proposed by Seong Il-jong, a member of the People Power Party (South Chungcheong Seosan and Taean), passed the National Assembly plenary session in January, establishing a legal basis for the creation of an international school in Taean, as a part of follow-up measures.
Currently, international schools operating in Korea are located only in areas like Incheon Songdo, Daegu, and Jeju, where the establishment of international schools is legally permitted in government-approved economic free zones.
Recently, North Jeolla and Gangwon provinces were upgraded to special autonomous provinces, raising expectations for creating international school towns similar to Jeju. However, the Ministry of Education's opposition has so far prevented these benefits.
Similarly, a bill that would have allowed the establishment of international schools under the Innovation City Law was also proposed but failed due to opposition from the Ministry of Education.
Despite these circumstances, securing the legal right to establish an international school in Taean represents a unique opportunity for shaping the future of the region.
During the COVID-19 era, as parents have become hesitant to send their children abroad for early schooling, the demand for enrollment is increasing. However, as international schools are currently only located in the Seoul metropolitan area, such as Incheon Songdo International City, competition for admission is intensifying.
Thus, the confirmed plan to attract and establish a prestigious international school in Taean Enterprise City is expected to contribute to regional economic revitalization and help establish Taean as a global education city, bringing new vitality to the local community.
Kim Mu-ha, a specialist in international school development and head of the International Education Development Institute, stated, "Attracting domestic and foreign companies to Taean, by facilitating family relocations, primarily depends on creating suitable educational conditions for their children." He added, "Attracting businesses and providing an excellent educational environment are inseparably linked. As world-class schools enter Taean, the development of the enterprise city will accelerate, and the attraction of domestic and foreign companies will likely be smoother. If the first international school established in South Chungcheong becomes a globally renowned institution, Taean will become a coveted new study destination in Korea and Asia."
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