Korean Minjok Leadership Academy

Korean Minjok Leadership Academy 민족사관고등학교
Location
Hoengseong, Gangwon province, Republic of Korea
Information
Type	Private
Motto	Deep Awareness of the Heritage of Our People (민족 주체성 교육) Korea in Heart, World in Mind
Established	1996
Head of school	Chung-il Yun, Ph.D.
Faculty	70 (2011)
Grades	10–12
Number of students	466 (2011)
Student to teacher ratio	7:1
Campus	Rural, 1,274,350 square metres (314.90 acres)
Website	English / Korean

Hoengseong

School location in Hoengseong, Gangwon Province.

Korean Minjok Leadership Academy (Korean: 민족사관고등학교, Hanja: 民族史觀高等學校), also known as KMLA or Minsago, is a co-educational, independent boarding high school near the town of Hoengseong, Gangwon, South Korea, 120 kilometers (75 mi) east of Seoul at an elevation of 600 meters (1,900 feet). Located on 1.27 square kilometers (314 acres), it is one of the largest institutions in terms of contiguous area in the nation. One of the most selective secondary schools in Korea, KMLA is reputable for the placement of its graduates at eminent universities.

Description

Some of KMLA's characteristics and policies are as follows:

• Support for the teachers' academic research;
• English-Only Policy, which requires every student and teacher to use English during the school hours, except in Korean language and Korean history classes;
• Individual college counseling for students regardless of field;
• Daily physical training (morning exercise) in forms of Taekwondo and Kumdo;
• Promotion of classes and clubs for Korean traditional music and arts, including Samul Nori, Daegeum, and Gayageum;
• Individual Research (IR) hours granted within the regular curricula;
• Unsupervised examination policy;
• Wide variety of clubs including athletic teams, orchestra, school bands, community service groups, student publications, craft workshop sessions, and peer tutoring.

The admission process of KMLA goes through three steps — a first round selection of students is admitted based on application forms containing school grades, essay, and extra curricular activities. Selected students then go through a writing test, an interview, and a physical test (4 km track); those who achieve generalized top evaluations are admitted. Throughout school history, KMLA students have received awards in international competitions such as in Olympiads in science, mathematics, debating and philosophy.^{[citation needed]} Approximately half of the graduates enroll in foreign universities, mostly in the United States. The annual cost of attending KMLA is estimated to be $15,800 (2008).

History

Statue of founder Choi Myung-jae sits on the campus grounds

School founder Choi Myung-Jae found reason in establishing KMLA upon a visit to England's Eton College in 1977, feeling the need for an institution of high character to nurture future global leaders in Korea.

Choi received government permission to establish the school in 1993. The first headmaster and faculty were appointed on 1 March 1995, and the school received its first students a year later. The gym was completed in December 1996, and Dasan Hall (one of the two main school buildings) was completed the following year.

The school's `English-only policy' (EOP) was established in January 1997 and was applied to all areas of the school except a few non-English classes. In the same year, Choi was appointed school director. In 1998, the school's three step education policy of teaching-discussion-writing was institutionalized, the first elections for the student council were held, and the Minjok Herald was first published. In 1999, the graduation of the first wave was held and the twelve-floor dormitory was completed. In 2000, Choi Kyung-Jong was appointed director.

In 2001, the school was certified as an Educational Testing Service AP test center and designated as an experimental independent private school by the South Korean government^{[citation needed]}. In 2002, founder Choi Myung-Jae took office as the fourth headmaster. In 2003, the school held its first mathematics competition for middle school students, and the former minister of education, Lee Don-Hee was appointed headmaster that August. In 2004, the school inaugurated the Global Leadership Program for Students (GLPS), established an individual research program, and achieved certification to administer the SAT and PSAT.^{[citation needed]}

In 2007, KMLA was highlighted by the US College Board as a World Best School in the Advanced Placement Program in seven subjects expanded from four subjects the year before—calculus, chemistry, microeconomics, macroeconomics, physics, and statistics.^{[citation needed]} That same year, the Wall Street Journal listed the school's international program at No. 32 among schools that matriculated students to eight most-selective American colleges and universities. The school has an average SAT score of 2260.

With the commencement of the new semester in 2008, Cheong-il Yoon, Ph.D., former dean of education at Seoul National University, assumed the headmastership. Under his leadership, reforms have been initiated, namely the increased and systematized effort to fund raise as well as the plan to make international teachers comprise 30 percent of its faculty.

School life

Sun sets over Dasan Hall and the student dormitory.

KMLA students are enrolled either on the domestic track (Minjok field) or on the international track, depending on their plans for college application. Beginning in 2008, KMLA has begun to select students without differentiation by separate tracks, enabling the students to make their decisions concerning college during their high school years without unnecessary pressure.^{[citation needed]}

In the beginning years of KMLA, the entrance exam allowed only 20 to 30 passing students, but has steadily increased the number of new students from 2003. From 2004-2009, the school admitted 150 students. However, corresponding with the plans of the school to increase its size, an enrollment of around 160 students in 2010 marked the most recent entry of students into the school.

Although the largest number of KMLA students are from Seoul and Gyeonggi-do, students come from all over the country, as far as Jeju. Moreover, numerous students from nations abroad, including China, Canada, France, Japan, and the United States, have been granted admission. Starting from 2008, half of students have been selected proportional to the population of their respective regions.^{[citation needed]} This initiative is an effort to minimize the disadvantage some students face from limited financial resources.

Traditions

Uniforms

Three KMLA students wearing their everyday uniform.

The uniforms of KMLA are divided into two groups. The most common uniform is a modernized hanbok. Students wear these to most classes and are free to choose from up to a dozen different colors for tops. There are also three seasonal variations for summer, winter, and spring/fall, varying in thickness, sleeve length, and fabric. All teachers also wear hanbok which they are free to choose in style and color. An alternative formal uniform following the style of more traditional hanbok exists for special occasions or school ceremonies.

Honjung

Honjung (혼정, 昏定) is a Korean practice during which scholars reflect on the day and pay gratitude to their parents. Honjung is an hour long in the evening ritualized in assembly dormitory rooms. Students direct their thanks to 'dorm parents', or dormitory supervisors, in proxy of their parents. The time is also used to make announcements and share celebratory events, such as a birthday. Once announcements are finished, all students bow to the dorm parents, ending honjung.

Minjok Peer Tutoring

Minjok peer tutoring is an effort in which students share their specific strengths with one another through one-on-one tutoring. The MPT program is designed to bring together students with strengths in different fields (math, science, humanities) to ensure a more rounded education of the entire student body. Students who wish to receive MPT register as "tutees" along with their desired subjects and the students who wish to teach register as "tutors" with their preferred subject to teach. Some students prearrange their lessons with their tutors, but for those who cannot, the MPT managers arrange the tutors and the tutees allowing efficient progress.

KMLA School Song

The school song is written in the form of sijo or folk rhyme. The school song consists of the school history and eventual goal of the school. Singing the song in morning assemblies and school events, students promote school pride and community spirit. Every Monday at the end of the morning assembly, all students and teachers stand up and sing the school song accompanied by the Minjok orchestra.

Extracurricular Activities

Minjok Culture Center houses the school's domestic preparatory program in Korean, music, and arts.

Over a hundred extracurricular activities are available at KMLA. Examples include mock trial club, Sock Sack Im (peer-counseling club), Through the Lens (photography), Daechita (Korean Music for Royal Palace Ceremonies & Rituals), Samuchim ( Samul nori), Minjok Orchestra, New Age of Ballad, FITM and PLZ (rock music), Rhyme Factory (hip hop), the school branch of Amnesty International, Minjok Herald (English) and Bulhui (Korean), English Debating Society (aka EDS), ECORUM (economics club), Apple Pie (astronomy), and Life is Drama (drama), to name a few.

Student Clubs

• KMLA Orchestra

KMLA Orchestra is a symphonic orchestra composed of more than sixty students, and performs wide variety of music, such as symphonies, serenades, and overtures. KMLA Orchestra has held several concerts at Hoengseong Community Center, Bobas Hospital, Wonju House of Angels, and Asan Hospital.

• Just Row

Just Row is the rowing team. It emphasizes teamwork, diligence, and leadership. The club participated the Gangwon State Athlete Championship( 2012 Secondary School Division) and STX Open Regatta (2011 Secondary School Division)

• Through the Lens

Through the Lens (TTL) a photography club. The club has a club website to share members' photographs. Also, it holds inner-school exhibitions twice a year and outer-school exhibition once a year. In 2010, TTL's exhibition was reviewed by many notable Korean photographers.^{[citation needed]}

• Minjokers

Minjokers is the baseball club. About a dozen students are picked each year through an evaluation. In 2010, the team won gold at the Gangwon baseball championship.^{[citation needed]}

• Cinabro

This club focuses on petitioning for rights for Korean "comfort-women" who were victimized by the Japanese in World War II. It also engages in public-awareness campaigns on the issue.

• Game Over

Game Over is the official girl's basketball team. Game Over members have practice everyday during the weekdays, with an additional two hours practice twice every week. Under the instruction of vice headmaster Dr. Han, Gameover has won public acclaim and acknowledgement as the five time running Gangwon State Champion.^{[citation needed]}

• CrossOver

Like their counterparts, Crossover holds practices at least five days a week, and receives formal training from the coaching staff of a nearby professional league basketball team. It won the Gangwon State Championships in 2009, 2010, and the Gangwon State Club Basketball Championship in 2010.^{[citation needed]}

• Daechita
  

  

  Daechita

Daechita is a Korean ensemble that practices Korean royal music played just before the King's appearance. Nine members are accepted during freshman year and perform daechita at the beginning of all major school assemblies, including graduation, freshman-welcoming ceremony and at the official school festival.

• English Debate Society (EDS)

The club engages in English debates both in and out of the campus with motions chosen from a variety of topics. The members have represented Korea at the World Schools Debating Championships (WSDC) held annually. In 2009, a team won the European Schools Debating Championships (ESDC) tournament held in Stuttgart,Germany.^{[citation needed]} In 2011, teams from EDS have won a number of tournaments in Korea, namely the National Schools Debating Championships (NSDC) as well as the Gwangju Youth Debating Championship.^{[citation needed]}

• KREEN

KREEN is a club devoted to environmental awareness campaigns. The club has held numerous campaigns on and off campus against wasteful water usage and electricity. Under the motto, "Save energy save earth", the club works in cooperation with the Ministry of Environment.^{[citation needed]}

• Minjok Herald

The official student English magazine, the Minjok Herald is a quarterly publication distinguished for its feature section. Entirely student-run, the Minjok Herald is a member of the National Scholastic Press Association.

• Mock Trial

In Spring 2010, the KMLA mock trial team won the Mock Trial Global competition held by Handong International Law School,^{[citation needed]} and went on to defeat Team Australia at the second annual Korea-Australia Mock Trial Friendly Match.^{[citation needed]} Another team at KMLA placed first runner up at the annual Korea Mock Trial Association Summer Championship, co-hosted by Korea Mock Trial Association and Yale Law School.^{[citation needed]}

Student Council

The student council consists of three main branches: executive, legislative, and judicial. Members are elected each semester by popular vote.

Current Representatives

• Executive Council
• Legislative Council
• Judicial Council

The school judicial branch consists of three members - one chief, two vice chiefs. The members of the judicial branch are chosen through student election each semester. The judicial branch manages the school court, where the students who violated the school regulation go every Thursday. The branch also tests the validness of students' defending speeches, which if true can be excused from punishment. The amount of penalty points the students receive from breaking the school regulation depends on the judicial branch's judgments. The judicial branch also cooperates with other two branches, the executive branch and legislative branch, to help amend problems in school regulations or systems.

School campus

A winter view of Chungmu and Dasan buildings from the dormitory.

• Dormitory

The dormitory is a 12 story building including student rooms, study hall, a cafeteria and bakery. 3 students share one room with individual beds and desks.Rooms are connected with a hallway and share a common bathroom.

• Minjok Cultural Center

Minjok Cultural Center is the center of Korean cultural education. Learning Korean traditions including Daegum, Gayageum, and Samul nori, students establish their identity as proud Koreans.

Library interior; two-time recipient of Korea's "Best School Library of the Year".

• Education Building

Education Building consists of two buildings, which are Chungmu-building and Dasan-building (above two buildings being named in tribute to two prominent figures of Korean history). There are science labs, a library, auditorium, computer labs, recording studios and practice rooms, a dance studio, as well as the bulk of teachers' individual laboratories.

• Gymnasium

Gymnasium is an indoor sports building with a gymnastics room in the basement. Such facilities allow students to enjoy many sports, despite the isolated location of KMLA, such as basketball, table tennis, taekwondo, kendo, valley ball, etc.

• Korean Archery Field

Practicing Korean traditional sports archery in this field, students train sound body and sound mind and pride for their nation.

• English Education Building

Along with the English Only Policy, the English Education Building is solely devoted to English education. Many English teachers including several native speakers have laboratories in this building.

• Track Field

Track field has 400m track capable of international 2nd field and track event. Inside the track, there is a lawn soccer field with a few sprinklers. A tennis court and basketball court are located beside the track field.

Student life

All students live in the school dormitory. Boys' rooms are from the first to the fifth floor while the girls' rooms are from the sixth to the ninth floor.

Typical class at KMLA

Students a meeting known as honjung (혼정, 昏定) at 21:00 (for twelfth graders) and 21:15 (tenth and eleventh graders). Honjung was a Korean ritual, during which scholars would have a time of self-reflection and bid their ancestors good night. During the school's honjung, announcements are made to the students by the dorm parent, who leave after the students bid a good night.

Athletics

Athletic activities KMLA offers are as follows:

Korean Archery Badminton Baseball Basketball Boxing Equestrian Football (soccer) Golf Kumdo

Rowing Softball Swimming Table tennis Taekkyon Taekwondo Tennis Volleyball Water polo

External links

• Website for the World History courses in KMLA, maintained by the history teacher, Alexander Ganse.
• Website of the school photography club, Through the Lens.
• Website for school alumni, KMLA Online
• Official School Website (Korean)
• Website of the KMLA GLPS program in the history of science
• Official School Website (English)