Incheon mayor signs MOUs with British schools as part of efforts to turn city into global education hub

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Incheon mayor signs MOUs with British schools as part of efforts to turn city into global education hub

Published: 25 Feb. 2026, 14:20

CHO JUNG-WOO
[email protected]

Audio report: written by reporters, read by AI

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, left, and Wycombe Abbey Chairman of Council Peter Warren pose for a photo after signing a memorandum of understanding on the creation of a new campus in Incheon during a visit to the school in Buckinghamshire, Britain, on Feb. 24. [INCHEON METROPOLITAN CITY]

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok signed agreements this week with two British private schools as the port city moves to expand its role as an international education hub.

The Incheon Metropolitan City said on Wednesday that Yoo visited Wycombe Abbey and the Rugby School during an official trip to Britain on Tuesday, seeking to strengthen cooperation on the establishment of international schools and the city’s reputation as an education center.

At Wycombe Abbey, a historic school in Buckinghamshire that was founded in 1896, Yoo toured campus facilities and signed a memorandum of understanding with Peter Warren, the school’s chairman of council. The agreement outlines cooperation on the creation of a new campus in Incheon, Wycombe Abbey’s obligation to comply with Korean regulations and the division of responsibilities between the school and the Incheon Free Economic Zone (IFEZ) during the preparatory phase, according to city officials.

The two sides plan to finalize a formal project agreement in the first half of the year and open the school in the second half of 2028. The IFEZ is currently reviewing construction plans for classrooms and related facilities on the site.

Wycombe Abbey was selected last year as the preferred bidder to establish a school in Midan City, an international district on Yeongjong Island, where Incheon International Airport is located.

Incheon Mayor Yoo Jeong-bok, center, is accompanied by Rugby School Head Master Gareth Parker-Jones, left, and Rugby School Chair of Governors Nicholas Bacon as he tours the school in Warwickshire, Britain, on Feb. 24. [INCHEON METROPOLITAN CITY]

Yoo also traveled to Warwickshire to visit the Rugby School, a 450-year-old institution widely regarded as one of Britain’s elite schools and known as the birthplace of rugby football. Founded in 1567, the school’s alumni include the writer Lewis Carroll, the cultural critic Matthew Arnold and the former British Prime Minister Neville Chamberlain.

During meetings with Chair of Governors Nicholas Bacon and Head Master Gareth Parker-Jones, Yoo inspected the campus and discussed plans to open a new international school in Songdo. A separate MOU signed that day reflects the Rugby School’s interest in establishing that campus and Incheon’s commitment to reviewing the proposal through administrative channels.

“Talent development is the driving force behind Incheon’s vision to become a global top 10 city,” Yoo said in a press release.

“The establishment of international schools is essential to building a truly global educational environment,” he added.

BY CHO JUNG-WOO [[email protected]]