Westonbirt School Hosts Successful Korean Culture Day with Naechon Middle School

On Friday 11th October, Westonbirt School proudly hosted a vibrant Korean Culture Day, celebrating a unique cultural exchange with Naechon Middle School from South Korea. The event featured a joint concert that showcased the musical talents of students from both schools.

The day began with a warm welcome to the visiting students and staff from Naechon Middle School, including School Master Song Yeonsuk and Chief of Administration Ko Sunyoung. Westonbirt students, including some of our South Korean boarders, delivered an engaging presentation about the school, followed by a tour of the state rooms, grounds, and Chapel.

After a delightful lunch, the highlight of the day was the concert performed for Year 7 and 8 students, staff, and parents by the Naechon orchestra and Westonbirt Band. The programme opened with the national anthems of both South Korea and the United Kingdom, followed by a welcome address. The concert featured a diverse mix of traditional and contemporary pieces, including a rousing version of Edward Elgar’s ‘Pomp and Circumstance,’ Lennon and McCartney’s ‘Yesterday,’ and the K-Pop hit ‘Gangnam Style’ by Psy, which got the whole audience involved. The performance quality and musicianship displayed by the students were truly impressive, making it a joyous and memorable event for all attendees.

Esther, a Westonbirt boarder from South Korea, reflected on how well the day had gone, saying “The middle school had put so much effort into their performance. I was really proud of them and very happy that I had the opportunity to show another part of my country to the people here at Westonbirt School.”

A former boarder at Westonbirt School, Josh now attends Naechon Middle School and considered it “a great opportunity for me to come back to WBS and be reunited with the friends who I miss dearly. I am really happy and glad that we finished this performance here so well.”

Kim Yena, a student from Naechon Middle School, was delighted to have visited the school. She said, “I was really impressed because the school is so prestigious school and it’s an honour to be asked to perform here.”

Finally, Laurie Jones, Head of Music said “it was absolutely wonderful that they gave up their time to choose us as a school to visit from South Korea. They were charming and lovely with the students and the band was amazing. They were great company and really polite and we hope that we get the chance to go over there and visit them in return in April 2026.”

The day ended with a sumptuous afternoon tea, and the exchange of gifts before the visitors departed.

Westonbirt School is committed to fostering international relationships and cultural understanding. This event not only highlighted the musical talents of students but also strengthened the bond between our schools.