Kyoto International High School Makes History by Winning Koshien Championship as First Korean School in Japan

Baek Seung-hwan, principal of Kyoto International High School, a Korean elementary school in Japan, is interviewed by reporters at the final match between Kyoto International High School and High School Kanto Daiichi in the National High School Football Championship (Summer Koshien) held. at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on the 23rd. On this day, Kyoto International High School won the game by defeating Kanto Daiichi High School 2-1 after a penalty shootout in the 10th inning. 2024.8.23/News 1

On the 23rd, Kyoto International High School won the 106th Koshien Championship (Japan National High School Football Championship), the highest pinnacle of student football in Japan, for the first time as a Korean school , a teacher from Korea said, “The land of Yamato across the East Sea is a sacred place of our ancestors’ ancient dreams.” It was like all over Japan.

The victory at Kyoto International High School brought a great feeling to the Korean people, with President Seok-Yeol Yoon unusually praising the team that won the high school football tournament, saying, “This is a wonderful feat accomplished under difficult conditions.”

Baek Seung-hwan, the principal of Kyoto International High School, said in an interview with YTN on the 26th, “The players and the faculty are all happy that this victory has connected and touched the hearts of Koreans who ‘ live in Japan which does not have many things. who had influenced or pleased him while living in Japan “Yes,” he said.

Regarding the basketball club, Principal Baek said, “I had no choice but to found the basketball club in 1999 when the school had to close due to lack of enrollment,” said e, “It was difficult to get to this point, but we won at the Koshien Baseball Stadium 25 years after the club was founded.

Players from Kyoto International High School, an ethnic Korean school in Japan, take a souvenir photo with the quiz team during the final match between Kyoto International High School and Kanto Daiichi High School in The National High School Football Championship (Summer Koshien) held at the Hanshin Koshien Stadium in Nishinomiya, Hyogo Prefecture, Japan on the 23rd. On this day, Kyoto International High School won the game by defeating Kanto Daiichi High School 2-1 after a penalty shootout in the 10th inning. 2024.8.23 News 1
Regarding the status of the basketball team’s operations, Principal Baek said, “All of the school’s operating costs are invested in the curriculum, so the school cannot support the basketball team, so we are the relies on donations to run it.”

Because of this, he complained about difficulties, saying, “When we don’t have many grants, we save money and train according to the situation, focusing on physical training,” and “We are in dire need on a lot of support.”

Principal Baek said, “The children from the front school who participated in this year’s Koshien competition had nice faces and good bodies, but our children were skinny, their faces were black, and their eyes were bright, which was heartbreaking.”

He continued, “There is writing on the blackboard in the children’s training center that says, ‘I want to eat five times a day,'” and “It is unfortunate that the principal cannot support it that.”

Principal Baek, who mentioned the difficulties of running a soccer team, said, “I would like to thank everyone in Korea for their love and support for Kyoto International School ,” and asked for support, saying, “We ask for your continued support and interest and generous support in the future.”

(Seoul = News 1)