hankyoreh

real name Kim In-soon)

By Park Soo-hyuk, staff reporter

When asked her motivations to build an alternative school for children from multicultural families in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province, singer Insooni (55, real name Kim In-soon) said “After much thought on the issue, I began to feel that establishing an alternative school for children from multicultural families would be the best way to pay back society for what it has given me.”

Insooni signed an agreement to collaborate in establishing the tentatively named “Insooni Multicultural Alternative School” along with Choi Moon-soon, Governor of Gangwon Province and Heo Phil-hong, Head of Hongcheon County, at Gangwon provincial government office on Oct. 30. The alternative school pushed forward by the “Insooni and Good People” corporation represented by Insooni is set to open in March 2013 in Hongcheon County.

At a press conference held after the contract-signing ceremony, Insooni said, “Since my childhood, my life as a person of mixed ethnicity has not been very easy.”

She went on to say, “Since about seven to eight years ago, I’ve been thinking about how I can return the love that I received from my fans. I started to take great interest in children from multicultural families, so I began to think this way might be perfect for me.”

“When the school is completed, I’d like to meet with children who have suffered due to their different appearance and help melt away their bitterness with the warmth of a mother or auntie. I’d like share my own stories of growing up, such as how to deal with difficulties and how people recognize me for who I am because I’ve done well. I’d hope to be a role model for them and help them lead their lives without making the same mistakes that I made.”

She also revealed her plans to try various educational programs including after-school classes by inviting qualified teachers.

The alternative school is planning to accept 20-25 children from multicultural families and fully Korean families who, for whatever reason, have a hard time adapting to traditional schools. The institution will be operated as a pilot project for two years in the local community center. Then, the plan is to rent a nearby closed-down school building and transform it into an Office of Education official alternative school.

Gangwon Province and Hongcheon County will be covering some of the operating costs, including rent and administrative support. Insooni will shoulder the remodeling costs and the faculty’s personnel expense, as long as students pay low tuition at the level of a regular public school.

Concerning children who are born to multicultural family straying off course, Insooni said, “Sometimes they have a hard time agonizing over their identity. And I would like to say that it is best for them to admit that they are from a multicultural family instead of hiding it, and they can show others that they work just as hard as any other Korean.”

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