Wycombe Abbey to Lead Negotiations for Incheon Yongjongdo School
Wycombe Abbey Selected for International School in Incheon, South Korea
INCHEON, South Korea – Wycombe Abbey, a prestigious boarding school for girls located in Buckinghamshire, England, has been chosen as the preferred partner to establish an international school in Incheon’s Yongjong Free Economic Zone, officials announced monday.
The Incheon Economic Agency adn the Incheon Education Agency are in negotiations with Wycombe Abbey,with the aim of opening the new school in the second half of 2028,according to a statement released by the Incheon Metropolitan Government.
A Prestigious Institution Expands its Reach
Founded in 1896, wycombe Abbey has a long history of educating women who have gone on to achieve prominence in law, politics, and media. Alumni include Elspeth Howe, former member of the British House of Lords, and Charlotte Moore, Chief Content Officer for the BBC. Dameska,Wales’ first female Supreme Court secretary,is also an alumna.
The school boasts a strong academic record,with 93% of graduates attending universities ranked within the top 100 globally. Approximately 30% of its graduates gain admission to Oxford and cambridge Universities.
Wycombe Abbey already operates international campuses in Hong Kong and China, with plans to open additional locations in Singapore and Cairo, Egypt. While the main campus in the UK remains a single-sex school for girls, the international campuses, including the planned incheon school, will be co-educational.
Aspiring Plans for Incheon Campus
Wycombe Abbey’s proposal for the Incheon campus includes academic buildings, arts and performance facilities, libraries, and sports complexes.The proposal was selected from seven submissions from schools in the UK, the US, and Canada, following an evaluation review by the Incheon Economic Agency.
The Incheon Economic Agency plans to finalize an agreement with Wycombe Abbey by the end of the year. Representatives from the agency will visit the school’s UK campus to meet with the board of directors and verify the proposal before commencing final negotiations.
Boosting Incheon’s International Profile
The Midang City International School will be located on a 96,000 square meter site in Yunbuk-dong, Jung-gu, Incheon. The Incheon Urban corporation will construct the necessary buildings on land owned by the corporation and lease them to the school.
If the agreement is finalized, Wycombe Abbey will be the first school on Yongjong Island and the fourth foreign school in Incheon. Currently, Chadwick International School and Calvin Manitoba International School operate in Songdo International City, and Dalton Foreigners’ School is located in Cheongna International City.
Incheon city officials hope the addition of Midang city International School will improve the living environment for foreign residents on Yongjong Island and attract further investment.
Incheon Mayor Yoo Jung-bok stated that the establishment of the international school would “go beyond expanding simple education infrastructure and will be a turning point to enhance the international status of the region.” He added that he hopes it will “increase global education competitiveness and have a positive impact on attracting investment and regional progress.”
Midan City Development
Midan City, a 2.7 square kilometer development located near Incheon Airport, aims to create a self-sufficient complex centered on tourism and leisure activities. The Incheon Urban Corporation is overseeing the project, which has a planned population of 14,198 residents.
Though, the Caesars Korea Casino complex, a project approved by the government, has been suspended as February 2020, creating challenges for attracting further investment in the area.