Singer to open school for multicultural children

Pop diva Insooni will open an alternative school for children from multicultural families in Hongcheon, Gangwon Province on Thursday.

“Insooni and Good People,” a foundation represented by the 56-year-old singer, will hold an opening ceremony for the boarding school named “Hae Mil School,” meaning “clear sky after the rain” in Korean, according to Gangwon Provincial Office of Education on Sunday.

“There are many multicultural children losing their way. I hope the school will play a role in settling discord and anguish in their hearts,” she said.

Born to a Korean mother and an African-American father who served in the U.S. military in Korea, the singer has fought discrimination against her background but she said that establishing the school was her calling and fate.

“Honestly, I didn’t want to fall under the category of ‘multicultural’ again but I thought this is what I have to do.”

The alternative school will offer education and accommodation for six years to 24 selected female students aged 13 and 14 this year.

She made her debut in 1978 in a group called the “Hee Sisters” and produced numerous hit songs including “Father,” reflecting the love-hate feelings for her father on her 17th album in 2009.

By Park Han-na  (hnpark@heraldcorp.com)