SK hynix and Icheon City in Gyeonggi Province have joined forces to attract the prestigious Garden School from New York. This initiative aims to retain key talent at SK hynix and enhance living conditions for employees.
According to industry sources and Icheon City on November 10, the city is in discussions with Garden School representatives about establishing a school that follows the American curriculum. Officials from Garden School met with Icheon Mayor Seong Su-seok on September 18 to explore the possibility of school establishment and educational collaboration. Recently, they have also met with city officials to discuss conditions for establishment and investment plans.
The establishment of an international school aligns with Mayor Seong's publicly stated educational vision. It is seen as a PIMFY (Please In My Front Yard) initiative that benefits SK hynix, which contributes significantly to corporate taxes and job creation.
Employees at SK hynix are also advocating for expanded international education options. Many currently face the burden of living apart from their families due to children's education or endure long commutes from other regions.
The initiative particularly targets the educational needs of children returning from overseas assignments and the children of foreign professionals. The goal is to provide options for students who have studied abroad to continue their education in the American curriculum within Korea.
Garden School has reportedly proposed a partnership with SK hynix to offer scholarships for employees' children to Icheon City. However, specific details have not yet been finalized.
Founded in 1923 in Queens, New York City, Garden School is a private institution that offers education from preschool through high school and is accredited by the New York State Association of Independent Schools. According to Niche's 2027 rankings, it is among the top 10% of private high schools, ranking 424th out of 4,672.
The proposed school in Icheon is envisioned to offer a curriculum from preschool through high school, incorporating English-based education along with programs tailored to local industries such as semiconductors, artificial intelligence, science, and engineering.
Currently, discussions are in the early stages. No formal agreement has been signed between the city and the school, and the scale of investment and the extent of city support have yet to be determined. As discussions focus on establishing a foreign school, the final type of establishment and admission criteria for employees' children may vary. Enrollment capacity, tuition fees, and the opening date remain undecided.
A Gyeonggi Province official stated, "It has not yet been determined how much the school will invest or what support it will request from the city. We need to clarify the investment scale before we can decide on the opening date, but we are not at that stage yet."
* This article has been translated by AI.
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