History - ECLC | Early Childhood Learning Center (ECLC)

EST. 1969

The History of ECLC

ECLC Early Childhood Learning Center, formerly Seoul International Nursery, classes began in our founder’s home, Mr. and Mrs. Willison, in 1969.

Education isn’t a race. It’s a journey.

Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility

It started in a parent’s home and initially enrolled 8 children, speaking five different languages. Since its inception, ECLC has been collectively owned by the community of all parents with a child enrolled, the ECLC Parents Association.

Since 1969, ECLC has undergone many changes and we continually evaluate and review our learning program framework to accommodate current understandings of how the Early Years child may learn best. We also recognize the needs and expectations of our increasingly diverse and mobile international and local community.

ECLC is advised and run by a parent Board. The President and five other members of the Board are elected by and from the parents of ECLC students and serve as volunteers. Along with input from the Head of ECLC, the Board sets policy and tuition fees and determines how ECLC is to be administered.

ECLC, Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility founded in 1969, had to give up its status as International Kindergarten in 2016 after a change in legislation required International Kindergartens to own their buildings or lease from the Korean government.

Having always operated as a not for profit institution, ECLC did not have the funds to buy a building and no suitable government buildings were available for lease. After repeated consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and other relevant authorities, ECLC transitioned into a private teaching institute to continue to provide our premier early-years education.

For compliance reasons ECLC must hold two business licenses and issue separate invoices for these two entities, ECLC Ohagwon (이씨엘씨어학원) and ECLC Activity Center (이씨엘씨엑티비티센터), for our language-related and physical activities, respectively.

These physical activities are not an additional sports program but an integral part of our play-based holistic early-years education that follows the IEYC curriculum. Employers that cover childcare expenses for their employees should therefore cover the total tuition amount.

Education isn’t a race. It’s a journey.

Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility

It started in a parent’s home and initially enrolled 8 children, speaking five different languages. Since its inception, ECLC has been collectively owned by the community of all parents with a child enrolled, the ECLC Parents Association.

Since 1969, ECLC has undergone many changes and we continually evaluate and review our learning program framework to accommodate current understandings of how the Early Years child may learn best. We also recognize the needs and expectations of our increasingly diverse and mobile international and local community.

ECLC is advised and run by a parent Board. The President and five other members of the Board are elected by and from the parents of ECLC students and serve as volunteers. Along with input from the Head of ECLC, the Board sets policy and tuition fees and determines how ECLC is to be administered.

ECLC, Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility founded in 1969, had to give up its status as International Kindergarten in 2016 after a change in legislation required International Kindergartens to own their buildings or lease from the Korean government.

Having always operated as a not for profit institution, ECLC did not have the funds to buy a building and no suitable government buildings were available for lease. After repeated consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and other relevant authorities, ECLC transitioned into a private teaching institute to continue to provide our premier early-years education.

For compliance reasons ECLC must hold two business licenses and issue separate invoices for these two entities, ECLC Ohagwon (이씨엘씨어학원) and ECLC Activity Center (이씨엘씨엑티비티센터), for our language-related and physical activities, respectively.

These physical activities are not an additional sports program but an integral part of our play-based holistic early-years education that follows the IEYC curriculum. Employers that cover childcare expenses for their employees should therefore cover the total tuition amount.

Education isn’t a race. It’s a journey.

Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility

It started in a parent’s home and initially enrolled 8 children, speaking five different languages. Since its inception, ECLC has been collectively owned by the community of all parents with a child enrolled, the ECLC Parents Association.

Since 1969, ECLC has undergone many changes and we continually evaluate and review our learning program framework to accommodate current understandings of how the Early Years child may learn best. We also recognize the needs and expectations of our increasingly diverse and mobile international and local community.

ECLC is advised and run by a parent Board. The President and five other members of the Board are elected by and from the parents of ECLC students and serve as volunteers. Along with input from the Head of ECLC, the Board sets policy and tuition fees and determines how ECLC is to be administered.

ECLC, Seoul’s oldest international early childhood educational facility founded in 1969, had to give up its status as International Kindergarten in 2016 after a change in legislation required International Kindergartens to own their buildings or lease from the Korean government.

Having always operated as a not for profit institution, ECLC did not have the funds to buy a building and no suitable government buildings were available for lease. After repeated consultation with the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education and other relevant authorities, ECLC transitioned into a private teaching institute to continue to provide our premier early-years education.

For compliance reasons ECLC must hold two business licenses and issue separate invoices for these two entities, ECLC Ohagwon (이씨엘씨어학원) and ECLC Activity Center (이씨엘씨엑티비티센터), for our language-related and physical activities, respectively.

These physical activities are not an additional sports program but an integral part of our play-based holistic early-years education that follows the IEYC curriculum. Employers that cover childcare expenses for their employees should therefore cover the total tuition amount.

Our Legacy

Founded by six dedicated parents over a cup of coffee, ECLC Early Childhood Learning Center first opened its doors in August of 1969. We are very proud of our illustrious history, which began with 8 students in Millie Willison’s living room. Throughout the years many dedicated parents have helped shape the history of ECLC all to help stimulate and enrich the lives of so many young minds.