Seongbuk-gu in Seoul said it held a showcase for its "Musical English Camp with Seokyeong University" program at Seokyeong University on Saturday, celebrating the students' learning achievements over the summer.
At the event, camp participants took the stage to deliver polished musical performances combining English songs and acting — skills they had honed throughout the summer break — drawing enthusiastic applause from parents in attendance.
The Musical English Camp is an education support project run jointly by Seongbuk-gu and Seokyeong University. First launched in 2017 as a musical experience program, it was expanded in 2021 to incorporate English language learning. Through English dialogue practice, singing and acting, participants build a natural interest in the language and gain confidence, while also developing teamwork and expressive skills as they work together to put on a show.
This year's camp was conducted under the guidance of Seokyeong University's native-speaking faculty and performing arts professors. For the first time, an upper-grade class for fourth- through sixth-graders was added, enabling a richer stage production. The lower-grade class performed "Naughty" from Matilda the Musical, while the upper-grade class performed "When I Am Older" from Frozen 2. All participants then joined together for a choral finale with the song "Hwanggeumbyeol," bringing the showcase to a moving close.
Choi Eun-jeong, a Seokyeong University professor in the Department of Performing Arts who oversaw the camp as director of the university's Culture and Arts Center, said the program was designed to go beyond simple language instruction by integrating cultural and artistic elements so children could communicate in English naturally. "Above all, I am deeply grateful to the parents who trusted us and gave their full support so the children could showcase their abilities to the fullest," she said.
Seongbuk-gu District Mayor Lee Seung-ro said the greatest achievement of the camp was seeing the children participate with enthusiasm and build confidence in English. "We will continue to expand beneficial education support projects that young people can truly feel the value of, grounded in strong cooperation with local universities," he said.
Seongbuk-gu said it plans to continue offering a diverse range of education and cultural programs by actively drawing on the resources of Seokyeong University and other universities in the district, with the aim of strengthening youth capabilities and broadening access to educational opportunities.
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