Kuala Lumpur invites Booyoung to graduation ceremony to thank Korean builder for donations


PUTRAJAYA, Malaysia ― Rows of Malaysian primary school students dressed in pink and light blue traditional costumes sing the Korean song “Spring of My Hometown” in the Korean language.

They sing to the music played from digital pianos donated by Korea’s Booyoung Housing Co. Ltd. to celebrate their friends’ graduation on Thursday in the Southeast Asian country’s administrative center.

Visually impaired students also sang “Winter Sonata,” the theme song from a popular Korean drama, drawing ardent applauses.

“I like the Korean songs. I think the ceremony was very meaningful and it will remain as a happy memory throughout my life,” said Afrina binti Baharudin who graduated from primary school on Thursday.

Upon hearing that Malaysia had no graduation ceremonies, Booyoung Group chairman Lee Joong-keun suggested the Education Ministry there hold one to give the children a memorable experience with their friends and teachers.

About 250 primary schoolchildren in uniforms, including 71 graduating students from other schools, attended the Korean-style ceremony at the ministry’s auditorium, marking the eighth such event in Southeast Asia.

“I hope the Korean graduation song is spread to all schools not just in Malaysia, but across the entire Asia Pacific region so it helps bind the children together,” Lee said during his congratulatory speech.

“Booyoung will continue to promote cultural exchanges and the Korean culture around the world.”

The 71-year-old founder of the conglomerate has attended such graduation ceremonies since 2010 in eight Southeast Asian countries including Vietnam, Cambodia, East Timor, Sri Lanka, Laos, Thailand and Indonesia.

In addition to building some 130 dormitories for high schools and welfare facilities for free in Korea as part of efforts to give back to society, Booyoung has donated around 60,000 digital pianos and 600,000 chalkboards for educational purposes to 600 primary schools in 14 countries in the Asia Pacific. The Korean songs stored on the digital pianos became well-known tunes in the region.

The construction company which builds mostly rental homes and runs a ski resort in Muju, North Jeolla Province, has promised to provide educational equipment to African countries including Ethiopia as well as $3 million to the United Nations-HABITAT.

“A number of companies have made contributions to Malaysian schools, but Booyoung’s is highly significant as the piano donations and the graduation ceremony offered a great opportunity for the children to learn music and have a good time,” said Mohamed Roli, director of co-curriculum and arts at the Malaysian education ministry.

Among the dignitaries who attended Thursday’s ceremony were Dato’ Rosli Bin Mohamed, secretary-general of the Malaysian Ministry of Education, and Lee Yong-joon, Korean ambassador to Kuala Lumpur.

By Kim So-hyun, Korea Herald correspondent 
(sophie@heraldcorp.com)