Bongwon Middle School

Nestled in the heart of Seoul, Bongwon Middle School isn’t just another school. It’s a living testament to Korea’s profound respect for education, a value woven into the very fabric of its history. Bongwon Middle School stands as a modern embodiment of a tradition that stretches back centuries, to a time when education was the key to social mobility and esteemed leadership. Imagine young scholars in the Chosun Dynasty, diligently preparing for the rigorous civil service examinations. These exams, known as Gwageo, began in A.D. 788 and continued until 1894, shaping Korea’s educational landscape for over a millennium. Bongwon Middle School students today, while not facing the same daunting ideographs and classical Chinese texts, inherit this legacy of dedication to learning. They are part of a system that, since 1949, has mandated free and compulsory education through the ninth grade. The journey to Bongwon Middle School began long ago, in the Three Kingdoms era, with institutions like the T’aehak, Korea’s first public educational institution, founded in 372. This emphasis on Confucian learning and the pursuit of knowledge laid the groundwork for schools like Bongwon Middle School. Even during the tumultuous Japanese occupation from 1910 to 1945, the desire for education burned brightly. Private schools flourished, nurturing not only academic skills but also national pride and a vision for a brighter future. Bongwon Middle School students are beneficiaries of this hard-won progress. They are part of a system that strives to provide all Korean children with access to quality education. Bongwon Middle School’s story is intertwined with Korea’s remarkable economic development and its transformation into a global leader. Education, exemplified by institutions like Bongwon Middle School, has been a cornerstone of this success.