By Ted Kim – MI ASIAN
Sejong Korean School in Detroit(Principal: Seon-mi Kim) held a 50th anniversary celebration on March 5th.
Sejong School, which is still conducting non-face-to-face classes due to the pandemic, interestingly looked back on the history of Sejong School with the photos of former students who are the current students’ grandmothers and grandfathers.
Sejong School was founded on March 4, 1972 with a deep affection for the education of the roots of Korean descendants.
At that time, the members of the Sejong Board of Directors joined forces and started with Kim Shin-hyeong, the first principal, Lee Don-hee, the 2nd principal, Lee Yong-sun, the 3rd principal, Kim Tae-hyun, the 4th principal, the 5th Principal Hyeon-ja Park, 6th Principal Lee Chun-jae, 7th Principal Nam Young-ryeom, 8th Principal Park Kyung-hye, and 9th Principal Kim Seon-mi all have been developing the meaning history.
Sejong School, which has developed with the encouragement and support of Korean-Americans in Michigan, has continued its history with a passion for root education for future generations of Korean-Americans in the local community.
It has held a number of concerts as cultural events for local Koreans, and has been doing its best to educate Koreans on the identity of future generations through parent education, participation in events to promote Korean culture to the local community, and the Sejong History and Culture Camp.
In the process of moving the school campus several times in the meantime, there is a regret that we still do not have an independent school building. In such a situation, Sejong School’s efforts to provide an optimal environment for students are still continuing.
Despite the recent Covid situation, Sejong School continues to educate its students about Korea with thorough preparation for non-face-to-face classes, even though it is an environment where many students may have a difficult time educating their identity as Korean Americans.
Sejong School held the 15th Sejong Golden Bell to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the opening of the school and competed in class content in Korean schools. The Golden Bell winners are Lee Rae-na(Orchid Class), Ji-hoon Yang(Mugunghwa Class), Han Min-hyuk(Rose Class), Kim Ian, Park Jae-yeon(Sun Class), Park Yeon-seo(Sol Class), Ha Jun-hyeong(Moon Class), Lee Ji-won(Star Class), and Kim Do-hee(Sky Class).
In addition, the school produced a Sejong Anthology to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the school.
Principal Kim explained “the history of Korean schools in the United States began when the first Korean school was established in Hawaii in 1970 . I think it is very meaningful to look back to cherish our history but feel more excited to look forward to the second cahpter of Sejong School.”
The Sejong School expects open the face-to-face class in the beginning of the new semester in September.
