Songdo free economic zone faces hurdles to opening int`l school

SEOUL, Jan. 18 (Yonhap) -- An international school under construction near the
western port city of Incheon may not be able to open this year as scheduled
because of a lack of students to enroll, its promoter said Sunday.
South Korea is pushing to develop a free economic zone in Songdo near Incheon,
about 40 kilometers west of Seoul, hoping that it will become a business hub in
Northeast Asia.
The plan would bring both Koreans and foreigners together, providing them with
modern housing, business facilities, hospitals and schools. It is part of the
Incheon Free Economic Zone where foreign investors will be given high tax breaks
and other incentives.
But officials said the plan faces an unexpected hurdle, as an international
school may not be able to open there in September as scheduled, said a U.S.
company responsible for running the school.
South Korea selected U.S.-based International School Services (ISS), one of the
world's leading providers of educational services for expatriate communities, to
help establish and run the New Songdo City International School.
Ground was broken three years ago to build up the school, the first of its kind
to run at an economic free zone in South Korea.
The U.S. real estate developer Gale Company, which formed a joint venture with an
affiliate of South Korea's leading steelmaker POSCO to develop the new city, said
the expected opening of the school, would not happen this year.
"It seems impossible to run the school, as only 30 foreign students are expected
to apply to enroll in the 2,100-capacity school," a Gale official said. "We
expect a deficit of tens of billions won, if we open the school this year."
Promoters said the school, if opened, would become a private, independent,
English-language nonprofit day school for expatriate and host nation students and
expects to serve families from more than 50 countries.
ygkim@yna.co.kr
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