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▼About Kyushu Korean Elementary and Junior High School

Kyushu Korean Elementary and Junior High School in Kitakyushu City, Fukuoka Prefecture, will celebrate the 20th anniversary of the completion of the current school building on April 10, 2024. Over the past 20 years, as a place for international exchange in Kitakyushu City, many friends and educators from all over Japan, as well as many people from the surrounding area, have visited the school.

Soccer matches are held on the grounds, and the school building is used for open classes, art performances by children and students, and student art exhibitions, making it a true place for international exchange.

Our primary focus is on establishing a Korean identity - "Who we are, what who our goals are, and what are we trying to achieve" - ​​in order to develop individuals who are "self-reliant and ready to contribute". We provide a full range of liberal arts education, equip students with the skills to survive in society, and send them out into the world to inherit and develop the Korean community in Japan, which is our roots.

▼Why did we start this project?

To everyone looking at the crowdfunding support page, Hello! Two years ago, our school was reborn as a preschool, elementary school, junior high school, and high school combined school. People call us Urihakkyo (our school, everyone's school). Thanks to you, this year marks the 68th anniversary of the school's founding and the 20th anniversary of the completion of the current school building.

Urihakkyo is a Korean school for 4th and 5th generation Koreans in Japan and children with double roots. To date, children have come from East Asia, particularly Fukuoka Prefecture, which has deep historical and geographical ties with the Korean Peninsula, as well as the Kyushu and Yamaguchi regions.

Dear friends, when you step into our school in Kyushu, you will find children and students who positively learn about their roots and identity. We place great importance on fostering self-esteem and self-affirmation. We can proudly say that this is a school that embodies the spirit of the Convention on the Rights of the Child. Our school is also a place where we foster friendships with the local community where we were born and raised, and with the people of Japan.

Since the completion of our new school building, for 20 years our school has played a key role as a place for international exchange.

Currently, our school in Kyushu is visited almost every day by children from nearby soccer clubs, local residents, people from Japanese universities and schools, children, and even people from social organizations. Small international exchanges are taking place at our school, regardless of age or gender.

Unfortunately, the social environment surrounding Korean schools remains harsh, and it is no exaggeration to say that subsidies and grants from local governments are steadily decreasing. Misunderstanding and prejudice against Korean schools is a reality.

Suddenly, Kitakyushu City cut subsidies for the purchase of teaching materials, equipment and repairs by about 40% from this year. The current school building, which is 20 years old, is suffering from problems all over, including the air conditioner cooling pump and water heater, and there is a never-ending need for repairs and maintenance.

Considering the need for children to learn peacefully and the increasing burden on teachers and staff, school repairs and maintenance are urgently needed.

This summer, the sewage treatment pump broke completely due to age-related deterioration and has not been able to start up for some time. The school gates have also been temporarily fixed and can still be opened and closed.

However, our teachers, staff, parents, and 4,500 graduates never look down, but rather look firmly forward, striving to create an education where we can grow together and a school where we can create together, in order to pursue a true school for children where school, family, and local community are one.

At the same time, we are confident that the students at our school, who are internationally aware and have a strong desire to contribute greatly to the international community, will grow into future bridges connecting the Korean Peninsula and Japan, and into "human resources" of peace that connect Asia and the world.

We, Koreans in Japan, were born out of war and aggression, so we want to continue believing in the power of education, and raise children who oppose all discrimination and war, aspire to peace, and can take action of their own accord. To achieve this, we need to improve the educational environment at our schools as soon as possible, so that children can learn in a lively and authentic way, while also creating a stable financial base for our teaching staff.

We hope that this project will be a success, and that the funds can be used to repair and maintain the facilities, creating a safe and secure environment.

We ask that all our friends in Japan and around the world accept our message and offer their cooperation.

　자기가 자기답게 서는 자리, 그곳이 바로 우리 학교입니다. 우리 학교,우리 아이들을 응원해주시기 바랍니다.  

The place where everyone can be themselves is our school. Please support our school and our children.