Exclusive: Woo Pours $1 Billion into IB Education Innovation

A Vision for Educational Innovation

Woo Jong-soo, a 70-year-old former chairman of the POSCO Education Foundation, has made a bold statement about the future of education in South Korea. He believes that the current school education and evaluation system lacks a vision for the future and has decided to take action by donating 1 billion Korean won to Seoul National University’s College of Education. This generous donation is part of a long-term commitment, with 500 million won already delivered to the university on the 19th of last month, and an additional 100 million won planned annually for the next five years.

Woo's journey in the field of education began after he graduated from Seoul National University’s Department of Metallurgical Engineering and earned a doctoral degree from MIT in the U.S. His career included leadership roles at the POSCO Technical Research Institute, the Pohang Institute of Science and Technology, and the Daegu Gyeongbuk Institute of Science and Technology. His latest endeavor is focused on promoting International Baccalaureate (IB) education, an internationally recognized program that emphasizes critical thinking and discussion-based learning.

The IB Program: A Global Standard

The IB program is operated by the non-profit Swiss educational foundation ‘IB Organization.’ It evaluates students through discussion-based and presentation classes, as well as essay-style exams that assess their ability to think critically. While primarily offered in international schools, the program has gained traction in public schools across the U.S., Canada, and other countries since 2010. Prestigious universities such as Harvard and MIT recognize IB scores in their admissions processes.

South Korea introduced the IB program in 2011, starting with Gyeonggi Foreign Language High School. Currently, 58 elementary, middle, and high schools in the country are certified by the Swiss headquarters. This growing interest in the IB program reflects a shift towards more holistic and globally recognized educational standards.

A Shift in Perspective

Woo's interest in the IB program began in 2016 when he became chairman of the POSCO Education Foundation, which operates four high schools, including Pohang Jecheol High School. Observing the focus on finding correct answers for multiple-choice exams rather than expressing logical ideas, he felt that the current system was not sustainable. He explained, “Even if schools tried to innovate, the college entrance exam and school records—based on relative evaluation—acted like a black hole, sucking in everything and stifling innovation.”

During his search for alternatives, Woo met domestic IB experts, including Lee Hye-jeong, director of the Education and Innovation Research Institute. Through these discussions, he learned about the IB’s focus on debate and essay-based learning and became convinced of its necessity. He emphasized, “If South Korea’s rote-learning and ranking-based evaluation continue, the nation’s future is bleak. IB education should expand to all elementary, middle, and high schools, and universities should select talent based on IB scores rather than the college entrance exam.”

Investing in the Future

To spread the IB program, Woo believes that trained teachers are essential. That is why he donated to Seoul National University’s College of Education, a teacher-training institution. The college plans to establish the ‘Seoul National University IB Education Research Center (tentative name)’ and research ways to expand the IB domestically.

This initiative represents a significant step towards transforming the educational landscape in South Korea. By focusing on critical thinking, discussion, and global standards, the IB program offers a promising alternative to the traditional rote-learning approach. With continued support and investment, the future of education in South Korea could be redefined, paving the way for a more innovative and globally competitive generation of students.