Hyundai Motor Group said on the 24th it signed a business agreement to build a new Yeomyung School building to create a stable educational environment for students with North Korean backgrounds, in partnership with the Ministry of Unification and the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education.
Yeomyung School is an alternative school that opened in 2004, led by churches and individuals who supported North Korea and defectors. It aims to become a model for schools in North Korea in the era of unification by educating North Korean defector youth and the children of North Korean defectors.
Hyundai Motor Group entered into this agreement to help students with North Korean backgrounds, who struggle to adapt to regular schools due to language and cultural differences, gain quality educational opportunities and grow into members of society.
Taking into account Yeomyung School's circumstances, where environmental improvements are needed due to a lack of campus land and space, Hyundai Motor Group will continue cooperation to build a new school building and ensure stable operations.
Specifically, Hyundai Motor Group will sponsor a construction fund for the new building. The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education will provide, free of charge, the site of Yeomgang Elementary School (closed) in Gangseo District, Seoul, which Yeomyung School is currently using temporarily, for the construction of the new building.
The Ministry of Unification will support improvements to related administrative procedures and laws, while Yeomyung School will oversee the construction and operation of the building and focus on creating a stable educational environment for students.
Hyundai Motor Group will also support customized education that continues from students' time at Yeomyung School through after graduation. The plan is to help students transition smoothly into society.
To improve enrolled students' basic academic skills, 20 undergraduate mentors from H-Jump School will be assigned to provide level-based, customized mentoring twice a week in English, math and science.
In addition, it will open a job training course for practical career exploration and run a winter vacation career exploration program and customized special lectures in connection with the Office of Education. It will also build a community with Yeomyung School graduates.
Along with this, it will roll out a scholarship program for students who go on to college after graduation. In connection with the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-koo Foundation's talent development scholarship program, the Heroes Scholarship, it plans to provide outstanding graduates with tuition and living expenses.
Sung Kim, president of Hyundai Motor Group, said, "The newly created educational space will become a cradle of hope where students can dream bigger and plan for the future," adding, "We will continue to work closely with the institutional sector to build an inclusive society in which every child realizes their potential."