The 2025 Australian Principals Korean Study Tour (APKST), from 13 April to 23 April, has successfully concluded, with 15 primary and secondary school principals and deputy principals from New South Wales (NSW) participating in this year’s program. The APKST, an annual initiative organized by the Korean Education Centre in Sydney (KEC) since 2010, aims to deepen Australian education leaders’ understanding of Korea, promote the expansion of Korean language education, and encourage educational exchanges between the two countries. While participants cover their round-trip airfare, all in-country expenses are fully funded by the KEC.

Program Overview and Itinerary

During the 10-day tour, participants visited a wide range of educational institutions, engaged in cultural experiences, and explored major industrial facilities across Korea. The itinerary included visits to Kongju National University, affiliated elementary, Sejong Gloabl High, Gangbit Elementary-Middle Connected School and Seoul Haenuri Elementary school, historical sites such as Gongseong Fortress and Bulguksa Temple, cultural experiences in Jeonju Hanok Village, and industry tours like the Samsung Innovation Museum and Hyundai Motorstudio Goyang. The group also visited the Australian Embassy in Seoul and the UN Memorial Cemetery in Busan.

Participant Reflections and Outcomes

Participants described the program as a highly meaningful experience that provided a comprehensive understanding of Korea’s education, history, culture, and industry. They expressed gratitude for the hospitality shown by their Korean hosts and committed to expanding Korean language programs and fostering a positive image of Korea in Australia.

Melissa Anthony, Deputy Principal of Kiama High School, remarked, “This program was an extraordinary experience that far exceeded my expectations, and I was deeply moved by Korea’s education system and culture. We are currently working on adopting Korean as a regular subject, have already recruited a Korean language teacher, and plan to officially start Korean language classes in 2026.”

Leah McKeown, Principal of Campbelltown Performing Arts High School, noted that her school is seeking to replace French with another foreign language: “We plan to offer Korean as a regular subject and will hire a permanent Korean teacher.”

Rahab Wilson, Principal of Finigan School of Distance Education, explained, “As our school is a distance education institution, teachers do not need to be physically present at the school. We plan to discuss the possibility of sharing a Korean teacher with the NSW School of Languages in Sydney.”

Sister School Agreements

On 14 April, during the visit to Kongju National University Affiliated Elementary School, Helena Valley Primary School from Perth, which offers Korean, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with the Korean school to establish a sister school relationship.

On 21 April, during the visit to Seoul Haenuri Elementary School, Marilyn Fredrich, Principal of Sarah Redfern Public School (which offers Korean), and Gwak Yun-cheol, Principal of Seoul Haenuri Elementary, verbally agreed to sign an MoU for a sister school partnership. Both schools plan to formalize the agreement soon and begin concrete cooperation through joint online classes and international exchanges.