Cheongshim International Academy

According to the [http://csia.hs.kr CheongShim International School Official Website], the plans for the school began to be formulated in July 2002{{cite web |url=http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/history.asp |script-title=ko:연혁 |publisher=CHEONGSHIM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY |access-date=September 1, 2013 |language=ko |trans-title=School History |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042635/http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/history.asp |archive-date=November 1, 2013 }} by the Unification Church.{{cite news | url= http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=103&oid=005&aid=0000236102|script-title=ko:청심국제중•고교 통일교에서 세워…통대협，성도들 주의당부|publisher=Kukmin Ilbo|date= February 21, 2006|access-date=September 1, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=CheongShim International Middle and High School established by the Unification Church... Warnings}} The Foundation (engineering) plans were approved in June 2003.{{cite web |title=청심국제중고등학교[CheongShim International Academy,淸心國濟中高等學校] |url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000985075 |access-date=September 1, 2013 |publisher=Doosan Corporation |language=ko}} While the original name for the school was to CheongShim Middle and High School (청심중고등학교), the name was changed its current name in September 2005. The groundbreaking ceremony for the establishment of the school was held in November 2004. The school itself finished its construction process in 2005 and the completion of the building was commemorated with a ceremony in June 2005. The school received its certificate of incorporation in August 2005.

Originally, the school planned to admit three hundred students for each school.{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=034&aid=0000234265|script-title=ko:가평에 국제관계 전문인력 양성 중•고교 개교|publisher=YTN|date= October 5, 2005| access-date=September 1, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=Opening Schools concerning International Workforce in Gapyeong}}{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=015&aid=0000879624|title=[Briefing] 이젠 '특목 中' 열풍|publisher=한국경제|date= March 13, 2006 |access-date=September 1, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=Now 'Special Purposes Middle School' Popular Wave}} It was found with the purpose that all subjects except Korean language and Korean history would be taught in English. There were also specialized courses such as TOEFL and SAT classes to be offered to people who wish to study abroad in the future. The school also stated that it had plans to create a research institute for middle school studies in order to increase the expertise of its teachers. Although the school was technically labeled as a special-purposes high school, the admission process followed the procedure of a foreign language high school for the first year

The admission process for the first year of students began in November 2005.{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=081&aid=0000085743|

script-title=ko:2007학년 국제중 입시 올 가이드|publisher=Seoul Shinmun|date= April 13, 2007| access-date=September 1, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=Guide to get into International Middle Schools in 2007}} The requests for admissions and the documents were accepted from the beginning to the middle of November. The admissions tests were given around the second half of November and the selections were announced at the end of November. The first CheongShim Initiation ceremony was held in March 2006, with 99 middle school students and 100 high school students each. The first principal of CSIA, Lee Jong-Hyo was also appointed in March 2006.

There are a total of 600 students in the school. There are a total of 47 teachers as of 2008, of which twelve are non-Korean teachers.{{cite web|url=http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/objectives2.asp|script-title=ko:교사진|publisher=CHEONGSHIM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY"|access-date=September 2, 2013|language=ko|trans-title=Teachers List|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042743/http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/objectives2.asp|archive-date=November 1, 2013}} Of the teachers, 17% of the teachers are non-Koreans and 56% hold a postgraduate degree. The current principal is Jun Sung Eun.{{cite web|url= http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/greeting.asp|script-title= ko:학교장 인사말|publisher= CHEONGSHIM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY|access-date= September 3, 2013|language= ko|trans-title=Introduction by the Principal|url-status= dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042638/http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/greeting.asp|archive-date= November 1, 2013}}

Currently, all classes besides Korean and Korean history are taught in English. All classes besides Korean and Korean history use American textbooks or textbooks chosen by the teachers. The Educational Philosophy follows the ACG (Altruistic Mind, Creative Knowledge, Global Leadership) motto of the school. The educational style has been claimed to broaden students' viewpoints and improve students' thinking. There are also optional classes after school hours.{{cite news|url=http://article.joins.com/news/article/article.asp?total_id=11583533&cloc=olink|script-title=ko:한국시, 영어·한문으로 바꾸는 것 재밌어요|publisher=Jcube Interactive|date= May 22, 2013| access-date=September 16, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=Korean Poetry, it's fun to change them to English and hanja}}

CSIA currently consists of a middle school and a high school{{cite web |title=청심국제중고등학교[CheongShim International Academy,淸心國濟中高等學校] |url=http://www.doopedia.co.kr/doopedia/master/master.do?_method=view&MAS_IDX=101013000985075 |access-date=September 1, 2013 |publisher=Doosan Corporation |language=ko}} There are three buildings: the school, a dormitory for girls, and a dormitory for boys.{{cite web |script-title=ko:특성화교육 |trans-title=Special Purpose Education |url=http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/objectives3.asp |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101042946/http://www.csia.hs.kr/school/objectives3.asp |archive-date=November 1, 2013 |access-date=September 1, 2013 |publisher=CHEONGSHIM INTERNATIONAL ACADEMY |language=ko}} The middle and high school are both located in the same building. There are approximately one hundred students in each grade, so there are approximately six hundred students in total.{{cite news |date=May 13, 2009 |script-title=ko:[청심국제고] 해외 명문대 진학의 ‘다크호스’ |language=ko |trans-title=[CheongSHim International High School] the 'dark horse of going to international universities |publisher=veritas-a |url=http://www.veritas-a.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=7129 |access-date=September 1, 2013}} Each school annually accepts approximately one hundred students and a similar number graduates annually. The high school is divided into an international and a domestic division and classes are specialized for each department.

International curriculum alumni end up enrolling in universities such as Yale, Princeton, Stanford, University of Oxford, and domestic curriculum alumni, in Seoul National University, Korea University, and Yonsei University including many other competitive institutions and programs.{{Cite web |title=청심국제고 대학 진학 현황 |url=http://www.csia.hs.kr/?act=doc&mcode=121215#}} The school offers both domestic and international curriculums. Despite its foundation by the Unification Church, most of the students are unaffiliated with the religion and mainly decide to enroll in the school due to its competitive program, stellar facilities, and excellent admissions results.

The ratio of the accepted students to applied students in the middle school in 2008 was 22.6:1. In 2009, the ratio was 17.9:1.{{cite news|url=http://www.veritas-a.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=8027|publisher=Veritas Alpha|script-title=ko:대원 영훈 청심국제중학교 외고입시 개편 후폭풍… 경쟁률 떨어져|date= December 11, 2009| access-date=September 3, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=Daewon, YongHoon, CheongShim International Middle School after the popularity wave... Competition rate lowered}} And in 2010, the ratio was 17.56:1.{{cite news|url=http://www.naeil.com/news/Local_ViewNews_n.asp?bulyooid=1&nnum=581079|publisher=주내일신문|script-title=ko:청심국제중학교 합격한 발산초등학교 이승호군|access-date=September 3, 2013|language=ko|trans-title=Lee Seung-Ho from Balsan Elementary School, who got accepted into CheongShim International Academy}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} This had led some news organizations such as Veritas Alpha and Yonhap News to argue that the competition rate has been steadily decreasing.{{cite news|url=http://www.yonhapnews.co.kr/society/2011/11/18/0703000000AKR20111118193400004.HTML|publisher=YonhapNews|script-title=ko:국제중 경쟁률 소폭 하락|date= November 18, 2011| access-date=September 3, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=The competition rate of International Middle School significantly lowered}}

CheongShim International Academy has also hosted and created several competitions over the years, including: ACG History Tournament,{{cite news|url=http://www.newsis.com/pict_detail/view.html?pict_id=NISI20130901_0008593386|title=제4회 청심 ACG 역사대회 본선 현장|publisher=Newsis|access-date=September 16, 2013}} ACG Math Tournament,{{cite news|url=http://www.naeil.com/news/Local_ViewNews_n.asp?bulyooid=4&nnum=715136|title=2013 청심ACG수학대회 6월 개최|publisher=Naeil신문|access-date=September 16, 2013}}{{dead link|date=August 2017 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} Youth Peace Camp,{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsworldi.com/Articles/LeisureLife/Article.asp?aid=20130304004190&OutUrl=naver|title=청심국제중고, '제2회 유스피스 캠프' 개최해|publisher=SportsWord|access-date=September 16, 2013}} and CheongShim International Academy Model United Nations (CSIAMUN){{cite news|url=http://www.anewsa.com/detail.php?number=454650&thread=01r01|title=청심국제중고, '제5회 청심국제모의유엔' 개최|publisher=㈜아시아뉴스통신|access-date=September 16, 2013}} The CheongShim Foundation is currently planning to create an elementary school for students who 'had prior experience abroad.' It had submitted the plan to the Gapyeong Educational Ministry but the plan has not been approved as of March 2013.{{cite news|url=http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001843937|date=March 14, 2013|publisher=OhmyNews|language=ko|script-title=ko:청심국제중고 재단, '귀족 초등학교' 만드나|access-date=September 1, 2013|trans-title=The CheongShim Foundation, is it making a 'noble elementary school?'|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131101134343/http://www.ohmynews.com/NWS_Web/View/at_pg.aspx?CNTN_CD=A0001843937|archive-date=November 1, 2013}}

In 2013, students from CSIA created an organization called Openowledge.{{cite news |last=박 |first=주성 |url=http://www.newsis.com/gallery/view.htm?cID=2&pID=1&page=1&s_skin=&s_date=&e_date=&s_k=&pict_id=NISI20130716_0008437415 |script-title=ko:학생들의 지식나눔 프로젝트 '오픈놀리지' 정식 오픈 |publisher=Newsis |date=July 16, 2013 |access-date=November 21, 2013 |language=ko |trans-title=Students' knowledge-sharing project 'Openowledge' officially open |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131203011625/http://www.newsis.com/gallery/view.htm?cID=2&pID=1&page=1&s_skin=&s_date=&e_date=&s_k=&pict_id=NISI20130716_0008437415 |archive-date=2013-12-03 |url-status=dead }}

Generally, there are five steps to the admission process: online application, physical application, a self-introduction letter, self-improvement plans, and an interview.{{cite news|url=http://www.sportsworldi.com/Articles/LeisureLife/Article.asp?aid=20130610002991&OutUrl=naver|script-title=ko:청심국제중고, 전국 10대 도시 찾아가는 입학설명회 개최|publisher=Sports World|access-date=September 16, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=CheongShim International Academy, hold introduction presentations that the 10 biggest cities in Korea go to |date=10 June 2013 }} CheongShim Middle School is the only school that accepts applicants from all of Korea

The middle school application process is divided into two general parts. In the first part, applications must submit their student records, a letter of self-introduction, and self-improvements plans worth 60 points, 25 points, and 65 points respectively. The topics on the applications are similar, but change every year. Middle school applicants must write the plans in the school under a time limit. The high school application process is divided into two different parts. In the first step, the applications are separated based on their English grades for their second and third year (four terms) in middle school. This part is worth 160 points. The second part is admitting the same applications, and the English grades are also included in this part. The average English grade is 1.3 class. The second part worth 40 points. There are no timed application writings for high school.{{cite news|url=http://news.naver.com/main/read.nhn?mode=LSD&mid=sec&sid1=102&oid=001&aid=0005222797|script-title=ko:국제고ㆍ자사고, 이달말부터 원서접수|publisher=Yonhap News Agency|access-date=September 16, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=International High Schools, Self-Study high schools, finish accepting applications this month}}

The self-improvement plans can be further subdivided into three different parts: self-studying plans, reading, and volunteering history. The self-studying plans is the most considered portion. Some news such as DongA has claimed that experience is the most valued element and that teachers' opinions are also highly valued.{{cite news|url=http://news.donga.com/3/all/20110808/39379467/1|script-title=ko:[신나는 공부]30일 청심국제중 원서접수… 경쟁력 있는 학습계획서 작성법|publisher=DongA|access-date=September 16, 2013|language=ko |trans-title=[Fun Studying] 30 days of CheongShim International Academy applications... how to make a competitive studying plan |date=9 August 2011 }}

CheongShim International Academy has been frequently referred to as a 'school for the rich.'{{cite news|url=http://www.kyeonggi.com/news/articleView.html?idxno=657131|title=[사설]청심국제중 '사배자 입학' 비리는 없는지...|publisher=KYEONGGI.com|access-date=September 17, 2013}}{{cite news|url=http://www.mt.co.kr/view/mtview.php?type=1&no=2013052916520398293&outlink=1|date=March 29, 2013|publisher=MONEYTODAY|language=ko|script-title=ko:여야 "국제중 입학비리 강력처벌" 한목소리|access-date=September 17, 2013|trans-title=Harsh Punishment called for "Allowances for International Middle School Admissions"}} People have argued that the lack of admissions involving students in the 'social consideration' category and the matching admissions in the 'social considerations without economic problems' category were indications that CheongShim was a school for nobility. Critics have also noted alleged manipulations and inadequate management of the admission process.

{{Reflist}}

• {{Official website|http://csia.hs.kr}} (Korean)

{{Member Schools of Round Square}}

{{Authority control}}

Category:High schools in South Korea

Category:Gapyeong County

Category:International high schools

Category:Educational institutions established in 2006

Category:Boarding schools in South Korea

Category:2006 establishments in South Korea

Category:Unification Church affiliated organizations