The city of Leipzig is further expanding its long-standing cooperation with Gwangju: As part of a newly initiated student exchange, young people from Wilhelm-Ostwald-Gymnasium will be traveling to the South Korean partner school for the first time from May 24 to June 1. The theme of the student exchange is "Bridges of Science & Democracy: Promoting Gifted Students in STEM and Cultural Exchange in the Context of Democracy Development".
The Year 11 students from Leipzig will be accommodated in the school's own boarding school and gain an insight into the lessons and everyday school life of the Gwangju Science Academy for the Gifted (GSA), a highly specialized scientific institution with a nationwide catchment area and high selection competence. The program includes visits to the Gwangju National Science Museum, the Gwangju Institute of Science and Technology, and the National May 18th Cemetery. The experiences will be documented in a daily blog.
The cooperation between Leipzig and Gwangju has existed since 2007 and is based on their shared history as the places of origin of important democratic movements - the Peaceful Revolution in Leipzig in 1989 and the Gwangju Uprising in 1980. Since then, both cities have maintained an intensive exchange, particularly in the areas of democracy, art and education.
The contact between the two schools was established as part of the cooperation. In September, a delegation from the GSA visited Leipzig and laid the foundations for a lasting school partnership with a cooperation agreement. This was followed by a seven-day visit from a group of students from Gwangju at the beginning of 2025. Accommodated in Leipzig host families, the young guests experienced a varied scientific and cultural program.
