When the Korean Ministry of Education walked into a classroom

On January 16, 2026, Apeejay’s IB School, Apeejay School International, Panchsheel Park, had the honour of hosting a distinguished delegation from the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Ministry of Education, at a special cultural and academic exchange programme held on the school campus. The event reflected the shared values of education, cultural understanding, and global citizenship that unite India and Korea.

The delegation was given a heartfelt welcome by the student body of Apeejay’s IB School and the school’s Vice-Principal, Ms Neha Sharma.

The Korean delegation comprised Mr Saehun Seol, Director General of Planning and Coordination, Ministry of Education, Mr Yeongdam Lim, Chairman, International Korean Education Foundation, Ms Yunjung Choi, Division Director, Global Education, Ministry of Education, Ms Jeong Ah Shin, Senior Director, International Korean Education Foundation, and Mr Hyogon Kang, Deputy Director, Ministry of Education. Students learning the Korean language from Apeejay School, Saket, along with teachers and IB facilitators, attended the programme.

The programme commenced with a warm welcome by the student host, who introduced the occasion and highlighted the long-standing friendship, cooperation, and cultural exchange between the two nations. The presence of the Korean delegation marked a meaningful moment for the Apeejay Education community.

Addressing the students, Mr Seol shared his encouragement and said, “I hope you all love learning the Korean language and you all find it interesting. I am very happy to meet you all, and I hope that you all learn the Korean language and also come to Korea to increase your skills and learn many more things in the coming years.”

To share the vision and legacy of Apeejay Education, Ms Sharma addressed the gathering. “Apeejay Education is committed to quality education of global dimensions, leading to man-making and nation-building. We strive to build institutes that uphold the highest professional standards of excellence in education and innovate instructional practices in their resonance. Our aim is to create a global educational community of conscious individuals who have developed their intellectual, artistic and professional talents to the highest degree. These individuals exalt a strong sense of purpose in their lives, inspiring those around them to transcend barriers, overcome odds, and work together to bring about positive change in society.”

To give to the world epigeites, she added, who can win the hearts and minds of others and put service before self. They retain their humility and values even as they soar high and conquer the world. “Our philosophy is simple. By empowering students and their parents, we can help students unlock their learning journeys, ultimately leading them to set worthy goals as they achieve and exceed. Soaring high is my nature exemplifies the fact that the sky is the limit in the pursuit of knowledge,” Mr Sharma shared.

A short video on the life and contributions of Dr Stya Paul, (Founder-Chairman, Apeejay Stya and Svran Group) followed, offering insight into the legacy that continues to guide Apeejay Education. Ms Sharma acknowledged the leadership of Apeejay Education, Mrs Sushma Paul Berlia, Chairman, Apeejay Stya & Svran Group, Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University, and Chairman, Apeejay Education, whose vision continues to guide the institution. Ms Sharma recognised the contributions by Mr Nishant Berlia, Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor, Apeejay Stya University and Mr Aditya Berlia,  Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member of Apeejay Stya and Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University, for their guidance. Dr Neha Berlia, Co-Family Business Owner and Core Board Member of Apeejay Stya & Svran Group and Pro-Chancellor of Apeejay Stya University, for playing a vital role in shaping Apeejay Education’s growth.

The cultural segment showcased the school’s commitment to international mindedness. The school’s choir presented One Moment in Time, using music as a universal language to express harmony and shared aspirations. This was followed by a classical dance performance by students of Apeejay School, Saket, celebrating devotion and tradition through powerful rhythm and expressive movement – Pranavalaya, a Bharatanatyam-based devotional performance, paying homage to Goddess Durga, Lakshmi, and Parvati, and blending powerful rhythmic intensity with spiritual expression

A special address delivered in Korean by Himav Berlia marked respect and appreciation for Korean culture.

The delegation then observed Korean language classes and interacted with students, reinforcing the importance of language learning and cultural exchange. The highlight of the session was how the Korean language was taught to the students present. Using examples from real-life objects and Hind words like gamla (flower pot) and chhatri (umbrella) to familiarise the students with the pronunciation of the Korean alphabet was a hit. The aim – students retain information when it is linked to sounds and words they see around them daily.

Educational gifts were also presented to students to encourage their continued engagement with the Korean language.

The event concluded on a warm and meaningful note, strengthening educational ties and reaffirming Apeejay IB School’s commitment to fostering global awareness and cross-cultural understanding.