| 1987 ~ 1988 | Principal of the Missionary School for Internationally Talented Persons |
| 1988 ~ 1994 | PhD in Philosophy, University of California, Santa Barbara, USA |
| 1997 ~ 2005 | Principal of Sancheong Gandhi School |
| 2003 ~ 2005 | President og Korea's Alternative School Association |
| 2005 ~ Present | Principal of the Gandhi School |
In 1994, Principal Yang established the ‘Gandhi Farm’ in Sancheong, Gyeongsangnam-do and promoted life community programs for children who were unable to adapt to regular school education. Yang began this alternative school hoping to help children overcome a gloomy educational environment in which some students committed suicide due to the competitive and standardized curriculum. He actualized an alternative model, establishing the Supsok Jageun Hakgyo (Small School in the Woods) for teenagers and the ‘Gandhi College’ for college students and adults. Yang also acted as a lever, applying the new educational paradigm to our society.
As a result, in March 1997, under the motto ‘love and self-independence,’ Yang established the Gandhi School, which is oriented towards fostering creativity and a community spirit while respecting the freedom of the students. Principal Yang of the Gandhi School set Holistic Education, Liberal Education, and Education to Respect and Love Others as the curriculum of this school. He also established a policy by which students are able to choose the subjects in which they personally have an interest and apply a self-initiative study program. The classes are not concentrated on lectures provided by the teachers, but rather motivate students to take part through presentations, discussions and experiments. Yang also engaged students and parents to take part in developing and improving the school curriculum.
The school holds general meetings in which all students and teachers of the school take part. Participants take part in debates and discussions on conflicts that occur within the school territory as well as on current affairs. This meeting is highly regarded as the “model for school democracy.” The alternative school currently has four campuses in different locations and is taking the lead in Korea’s alternative education.
Principal Hee-Kyu Yang is an educator who proposes and applies alternatives, with a view to resolving the problems that the education industry of Korea faces today with creative and challenging ideas. He has dedicated himself to bringing about positive changes in the public education system of Korea by forging new horizons.
