'Rakmew' Transcends Limits... Stands Tall as a 'Multicultural Education Guide'

A Source of Pride for Jeonnam Education Beyond National Glory

"We Are One Team Overcoming School, Age, and Multicultural Differences!"

"Gathering beautiful love in every small heart, let's create together. A beautiful world!"

Elementary school students move their clam hands to exchange gestures and eye contact in sign language. Their beautiful voices blend with the vocal band and resonate throughout.

Although it is midwinter, the weekend of the 9th was as warm as autumn. Inside the Multicultural Education Center at Gunnam Middle School in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do, local youths are in the midst of musical rehearsals.

This is the rehearsal of the multicultural student musical club 'Rakmyu,' preparing for the final touring performance in the eastern region of Jeollanam-do. The practice atmosphere is filled with warm and lively energy.

Moreover, having completed two regular performances this year, the members naturally grasp the plot elements of the work, demonstrating the essence of harmony based on the theme "We Are One."

On the 9th, Gwangjin Ko, the Superintendent of Education in Yeonggwang, Jeollanam-do, visited the practice site of the Yeonggwang Multicultural Student Musical 'Rakmu' at the Multicultural Education Center of Gunnam Middle School in Yeonggwang-gun to encourage students and officials.
[Photo by Geonwan Kim yacht@]

'Rak(樂)myu' is a vibrant multicultural student musical club proudly representing Yeonggwang, the thousand-year light. Founded in the second semester of 2015 with support from the Jeollanam-do Office of Education and Yeonggwang County Office and organized by the Yeonggwang Education Support Office, it has been active for nine years.

The club's history is not very long. However, through steady passion and effort, from 2015 to the second semester of 2023, the club has continued regular performances, invited performances at local events, and broad cultural exchange activities. It is recognized as a representative student musical club in the Jeollanam-do region, showcasing remarkable achievements.

Yeonggwang Multicultural Student Musical 'Rakmyu' consists of about 30 members from elementary, middle, and high schools within Yeonggwang.

At first, since there was no such club, students felt awkward and hesitant to approach each other. But after nine years of practicing and working as one team, every child has become a special presence to one another.

Furthermore, since the members are very close, the term 'multicultural' feels awkward. In 'Rakmyu,' everyone is simply friends, sharing bonds as older sisters, older brothers, and younger siblings.

Currently, 'Rakmyu' is composed of 12 multicultural students, making up 40% of the group. This balance between multicultural and non-multicultural students is an important aspect for teachers and officials observing the club.

Rather, from the beginning, the intimacy among the children has only deepened. Any concerns were excessive worries.

Thus, the harmony between multicultural and general students, especially elementary, middle, and high school students happily working together as one team, has made this club stand tall. The successful club activities are a source of pride for Yeonggwang, extending beyond Jeollanam-do to the entire nation.

On November 28th, the 9th regular performance ＜YOU Family＞ of Yeonggwang Student Musical Club 'Rak(Music)mu'.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]

Student Musical Club 'Rakmyu'! Surpassing the Limits of Multicultural Education

The multicultural student musical club Rakmyu operates with special preparations that other teams do not have. "All activities are live!" Rakmyu's musicals are completed with students directly participating in acting, singing, and playing instruments.

It is the only club distinctly differentiated as a live musical team, something no other student-centered club nationwide has achieved.

It took many hardships to turn this differentiation into a premium activity. The acting and music teams each needed their own practice spaces, original scripts, and original compositions, requiring significant time and effort to create something from nothing.

Fortunately, various difficulties were supported strongly by the Yeonggwang Education Support Office (Director Ko Gwang-jin) and Yeonggwang County (Mayor Kang Jong-man). Empowered, Rakmyu has risen to its current position with top-level activities.

Ko Gwang-jin, Director of Yeonggwang Education, said, "The multicultural student musical team 'Rakmyu' precisely shows where multicultural education should head in this era and plays a positive role. I hope the results of such efforts spread as a happiness virus beyond students and parents to the entire nation."

On the 9th, the Yeonggwang Student Musical Club 'Rak(Music) Mu' is in the middle of rehearsal at the Multicultural Education Center of Gunseo Middle School in Yeonggwang-gun, Jeollanam-do.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]

"We will never forget the painful and sorrowful history"

So far, Rakmyu is a passionate and hardworking club with nine regular performances (2015?2023) and participation in the Jeollanam-do Multicultural Club Festival (2016?2018), among many other performances.

Especially, the 2022 stage production and this year's , performed in Yeonggwang, Suncheon, and Yeosu, tell the painful history of the Yeosu-Suncheon region in Jeollanam-do.

Kim Do-kyung, a scholarship officer at Yeonggwang Education Support Office, said, "While preparing the musical, students experienced the emotions of the Yeosu-Suncheon uprising victims. For example, the protagonist Jeong-wook (Lee Seung-nam, Haeryong High School 1st grade) prays for forgiveness on behalf of his father who made wrong choices, and Jeom-nyeo (Heo Chae-won, Haeryong High School 2nd grade), who was branded a communist and chased out of her village, had to live hiding. Many students shed tears during rehearsals, providing an opportunity to feel the victims' hearts."

Previously, with passion and effort, the 2018 original musical was featured for 30 minutes on newspapers and terrestrial broadcast , raising awareness in the Gwangju and Jeonnam regions.

Media coverage naturally boosted the pride of the musical club students, who have also experienced positive changes in their school lives.

On November 28th, the 9th regular performance ＜YOU Family＞ by Yeonggwang Student Musical Club 'Rak(Music)mu'.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]

Rakmyu, Rising as a 'Guide to Multicultural Education' with Heart and Devotion

Multicultural education holds significant importance for the future of education in Jeollanam-do. The successful case of 'Rakmyu's multicultural education activities should become a nationwide model beyond Jeonnam.

According to statistics from the Jeollanam-do Office of Education, as of April last year, there were 160,056 multicultural students nationwide, accounting for 3% of all students. In Jeonnam, there were 11,367 students, representing 5.29% nationwide, meaning one in every 20 students is multicultural, a very high ratio. Next, Jeju region also exceeded 4%.

The Yeonggwang student musical club 'Rakmyu' consists of 30 members: 19 elementary, 4 middle, and 7 high school students. There are 11 male and 19 female students, with 12 multicultural students making up 40%.

We look back on the warm harmony process of 'Rakmyu' through the instructors and students who have participated, shedding light on the path of future education.

"I am only sorry for not being able to give as much as I want to the beloved children..."

Han Jong-shin, acting instructor and director: "This team beautifully harmonizes students from various schools and grades, including multicultural and general students. They engraved our sad history in their hearts and showed a wonderful image as history evangelists to everyone."

'Emanating the warmth and beauty of vocal quality'

Jang Ji-won, vocal instructor: "All the songs this time are sung by the children with the heart of comforting victims and bereaved families. The children seem to improve more each year. Expressing emotions through song is really difficult, but seeing them on stage radiate energy is comparable to professionals."

'Your and my daily lives combined become an ideal'

Park Chan-min, band instructor: "I hope the club, where many multicultural and general students mingle and work hard, becomes an opportunity for happy school life and career development. The beginning is always difficult, but with the mindset that doing your best makes you the best, I cheer for the wonderful 'Rakmyu' that prepares day by day."

'The stage surroundings are always full of vitality'

Joo Hye-yeon, 4th grade at Yeonggwang Elementary: "There was history we didn't know about. I realized this. It's always fun and refreshing to be with older sisters, older brothers, and younger siblings. When we gather around the stage, it's full of vitality. I want to show this wonderful performance to my beloved dad too."

Meanwhile, the 9th regular performance of Yeonggwang Student Musical Club 'Rak(樂)myu' will have its final tour on the 19th at 2:20 PM at the Yeosu Student Education and Culture Center.

Yeonggwang Student Musical Club 'Rak(Music)mu' 9th Regular Performance ＜YOU Family＞.
[Photo by Kim Geonwan yacht@]