N. Korean-background students mark Teachers’ Day at unique school in South

Today that is May 15th is Teachers' Day here in South Korea and at one special school students whose guardians went to great lengths to offer them a new lease on life are sharing their own gratitude to their teachers.

Our correspondent Kim Jung-sil files this report.

At first glance, it looks like any other Teachers' Day celebration in South Korea— students handing over carnations, writing thank-you notes, and singing songs for their teachers.

But at this school, those small gestures carry a different weight.

Hangyeore Middle & High in Gyeonggi-do Province is the only school in South Korea dedicated to students from North Korean backgrounds, whether they arrived themselves, or were born to defectors, sometimes even in third countries along the way.

"Here at Hangyeore School, where all the students come from North Korean backgrounds, Teachers' Day may seem like any other, but it also reflects how they are adjusting to life here in the South."

"It wouldn't be fun if they knew, so we planned it all in secret. That made it way better."

"These teachers honestly feel like lifesavers to me. I don't usually get to thank them, so this was my chance."

It's more than a surprise event, it's a milestone in their journey of adapting to a new culture and life.

"I hope this stays with them as a good memory—and maybe one day, they'll pass it on to their own students."

With 115 students enrolled, 31 in the middle school, Hangyeore offers more than academics.

Teachers here often step in as mentors and guardians, helping students bridge two very different worlds.

"We follow the national curriculum, but also help students adjust: socially, emotionally, and for the future. Some still speak with a North Korean accent, but they're finding their place here with confidence."

Named after the word for "one people," Hangyeore is more than just a school.

It's a place where students with North Korean backgrounds begin to shape new lives.

For them, this is one of many moments helping to build that life in the South.

Kim Jung-sil, Arirang News.