Hello everyone.
My name is Urim Choi, and I'm a third-year student at Gyeongin National University of Education.
Today, I would like to introduce you to Incheon Gawon Elementary School.
Gawon Elementary is my alma mater, the school where I will be doing my upcoming teaching practicum, and currently the elementary school closest to my home.
Incheon Gawon Elementary School is located at 6, Chongjung-ro 478beon-gil, Seo-gu, Incheon, and it opened its doors in 2015.
The school emblem combines the Korean consonants "ㄱ" and "ㅇ" from "Gawon," while its official flower is the azalea (symbolizing love and joy), and its tree is the plum blossom (symbolizing nobility and faithfulness).
The school's educational vision is "배움과 어울림으로 성장하는 행복한 가원 공동체 (A happy Gawon community growing through learning and harmony.)" In 2016, Gawon Elementary was designated as a "행복배움학교(Happy Learning School)" (currently known as a "결대로자람학교(Staying True to Your Nature School)"), and it has been operating under this model since 2017.
*The 행복배움학교(Happy Learning School) aka 결대로자람학교(Staying True to Your Nature School) is a model supported by the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education to help everyone in the school communicate and enjoy learning together, moving away from test-driven and competitive education. It emphasizes a democratic school culture where teachers, parents, and students share opinions and make decisions together. Instead of standardized teaching methods, it encourages student-centered activities like projects and group work, valuing each student's personal growth over mere test scores. (For more information, visit the Incheon Metropolitan City Office of Education School Innovation Support Center:
If you want to know more about Gawon Elementary School, please check out the official website link below!
Now let's take a look at Gajung-dong, where Gawon Elementary is located, and its neighboring Cheongna International City.
First, let's look at its location. Gawon Elementary is in Gajung-dong, which shares its daily living sphere with adjacent Cheongna International City(= Cheongna-dong). In particular, Cheongna International City is a major new town included in the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ).
*A Free Economic Zone is a special economic zone designed to attract foreign investment and make it easier for businesses to operate by providing various incentives such as tax benefits, relaxed regulations, and streamlined administrative support. Incheon is the starting point of the west coast, connecting Korea to the world via the sea, and is located very close to Seoul. It is about 8 kilometers from downtown Incheon and 50 kilometers from central Seoul, making it accessible within 60 to 90 minutes from major cities in the metropolitan area. To leverage this great location and transportation/logistics infrastructure, Songdo, Yeongjong, and Cheongna were designated as Korea's first Free Economic Zones in August 2003. Today, the total area of the IFEZ spans 122.34 square kilometers. (For more information, visit the IFEZ website:
With the support for foreign investment and business activities, along with the expansion of transportation networks and urban infrastructure, Cheongna International City and its surrounding areas have developed rapidly. Gajung-dong has also undergone a massive urban transformation alongside the development of residential areas adjacent to Cheongna.
Thanks to this location, major highways such as the 수도권제2순환고속도로 (Incheon-Gimpo Expressway / Capital Region 2nd Ring Expressway), 인천국제공항고속도로(Incheon International Airport Expressway), and 경인고속도로(Gyeongin Expressway) are well-connected nearby. Because transportation is convenient, many residents commute from here to major business districts in the Seoul metropolitan area, including Mapo (Magok), Sangam, and Yeouido. Since it is a convenient commuting location for central Seoul, a high proportion of residents work as professionals or for large corporations. As a result, parents have high educational aspirations, showing deep interest and specific expectations regarding school programs, career guidance, and entrance exams compared to older downtown areas.
Next, let's examine the natural environment and terrain. The area around Cheongna International City was developed by reclaiming tidal flats and reclamation land along the western coast. Gajung-dong has also been influenced by coastal reclamation and salt pans, but unlike Cheongna, it also includes areas with preexisting villages and urban structures. The terrain around Gawon Elementary and Cheongna is generally flat, creating an environment that is relatively convenient for walking and bicycling. Furthermore, Cheongna features famous artificial waterways like the Canal Walk and large parks nearby, providing a wonderful environment where residents can easily connect with nature.
Now let's look at the community and classroom environment. When Gawon Elementary first opened, there were very few apartment complexes nearby, so the student population was extremely small. The 5th floor was left completely unused, and there were countless empty classrooms. However, as numerous apartment complexes sprung up around the school, the student body grew significantly. Currently, Gawon Elementary has about 1,437 students and 86 faculty members. With the student population surging, classrooms became scarce, prompting the school to convert special rooms like music room into regular classrooms and even build a separate annex to expand classroom capacity. The school's scale has dynamically changed due to the influx of population from residential development. Additionally, with many dual-income families where both parents work, there is a high demand for after-school care. As a result, the school is well-equipped with after-school programs, care classes, and local childcare facilities.
Next, let's look at land use and urban layout. Through careful advance planning, residential areas with apartments, commercial areas with shops, and public facilities are clearly segregated. Apartment complexes are neatly arranged, with the school positioned right in their center or between them. Within walking distance from the school, large supermarkets, hospitals, and private academies (hagwons) are densely packed, making it very convenient for students to move straight to academies or cultural centers after school.
Lastly, let's review the history and atmosphere of the neighborhood. The Cheongna International City area was once a tidal flat along the west coast, turned into agricultural land through reclamation, and then developed into a modern city. In other words, it is an area where the landscape dramatically transformed from tidal flats to farmlands, and then into a new town. Rather than a traditional village where long-time native residents gather, it is closer to a new town community formed by residents who moved in through new apartment developments. Gawon Elementary has also experienced significant changes in its size and appearance along with these regional transformations.
To wrap up, let's look at the students' commuting sphere. While the roads for cars and walkways for pedestrians are well-separated between the large apartment complexes and the school, students still need to cross a few short crosswalks to get to school. Even so, because apartment complexes are densely clustered around the school, the main commuting radius is confined to a relatively close range, making it easy to grasp the overall student residency and commuting routes.
This concludes my introduction to Gawon Elementary School, which is my alma mater, my teaching practicum school, and the elementary school closest to my home, along with its surrounding neighborhood.
Thank you.
