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Publisher : Song Jung Hee Editor-in-Chief : Todd Thacker Assistant Editor : Darryl Coote Designer : Yun Seong Un Address : Rm. 306 Jeju Venture Maru Bldg. 217 Jungang-ro, Jeju City, Korea Phone : +82-64-724-7776, 702-8885 / Fax : +82-64-724-7796
Vol. IV No. 79
FRIDAY, October 26, 2012
Southward stance
A monk gazes at Munseom Island, located off the coast of Seogwipo City. Photo by Douglas MacDonald. For more of his work, turn to pages 6 and 7.
Branksome Hall Asia opens its doors An exclusive look at the newest JGEC school campus
By Darryl Coote
darrylcoote@jejuweekly.com
With only days until Branksome Hall Asia holds its Opening Ceremony on Oct. 29, Principal Glen Radojkovich gave the The Jeju Weekly an exclusive tour of his school’s 82,000 squaremeter campus. As part of the Jeju Free International City Development Center (JDC)’s Jeju Global Education City (JGEC), initiated by the Roh Moo Hyun administration to prevent students going abroad to earn an international education, talks between Toronto, Canada’s prestigious all girls school began two and a half years ago. After much deliberation, signing of MOAs and MOUs, and over a year of construction, the school opened for its first semester this past Oct. 15, welcoming a total of 320 students. Radojkovich said the student breakdown is roughly 70 percent Korean, with 30 percent Korean students who were previously studying
abroad, and about 20 international students. After last year’s North London Collegiate School and Korea International School, Branksome Hall Asia is the third international school to open within the JGEC, located in Daejeong, Seogwipo City. In total the education city is expected to be home to seven schools and a university. “I couldn’t be happier to be honest,” Radojkovich told The Weekly over lunch in Branksome Hall Asia’s cafeteria about the opening of his school as at least a hundred students loudly chattered and tucked into their meals. With any new school he said there are “so many little things that need to be ironed out,” particularly in the beginning, but he has been truly impressed with “how seamlessly the staff and students have come together and how positive everyone has been.” He continued that they were fortunate to have facilities that are “second to none,” but he emphasized that their goal is to ensure that “the quality of
Meet Jeju’s art mediator An interview with gallery owner and film festival organizer Ahn Hye Kyoung By Elizabeth Holbrook contributor@jejuweekly.com
Branksome Hall Asia Principal Glen Radojkovich.
education that goes on within the school is what we are known for.” With its mother school’s history going back over a hundred years, Branksome Hall Asia has the benefit of being “a clean slate, a blank canvas.” This allows for the school to take the Continued on page 2
There are certain people who have the ability to make their presence known as soon as they walk into a room. The energy of art mediator Ahn Hye Kyoung not only accomplishes this but also warms every inch and crevice of her surroundings. Exhibition organizer, Jeju women’s film festival founder, and art gallery owner, Ahn has taken on different roles, serving as a liaison between the art world and Jeju’s inhabitants. Her passion revolves around the hope of sparking discussions about societal issues. “Art doesn’t just imitate something well,” she says. “It conveys what people are thinking. It’s a form of communication.”
Did you always know you wanted to do something art related?
I actually went to Seoul for university Continued on page 10