Parent Testimonial: Zimie Rim

Originally published in October 2022

I am Korean American and have two children, one of whom, Ian, is currently in Year 12 at Dulwich College Seoul. I grew up in this neighbourhood as a child, although we later moved abroad for many years. After returning to Korea in 2006, our family joined Dulwich College Seoul in 2011, shortly after the College opened.

Ian entered Dulwich in Year 1 with Ms Sefton. I remember his blue uniform vividly, and the smell of fresh paint as the buildings were being finished and the school prepared to open. Mr Bonnet was already there, and Ian later joined his class again in Year 2. Seeing Mr Bonnet return to the College years later as a Year 6 teacher felt like a full-circle moment for our family.

From the beginning, I knew it was a great privilege to be able to send Ian to Dulwich. We explored local options, but because of my own upbringing and limited familiarity with the Korean system, an English-speaking international school felt like the right place to start.

I became involved with the Friends of Dulwich very early on, at a time when the group itself was just forming. As I was not working then, I volunteered my time and took responsibility for organising Market Day for several years, alongside other parents who supported initiatives such as International Day. Those early years were filled with collaboration and shared effort as the community grew together.

One particularly meaningful experience for our family came through the Senior School drama department. Matthew Readman, Head of Drama, proposed creating a piece of verbatim theatre based on real stories from within the Dulwich community. When he invited parents to contribute, I responded with a manuscript my father had written — a series of letters documenting his experiences during the Korean War.

My father was fifteen when the war broke out. He was separated from his family and fled south during the winter of 1950 with nothing but a small amount of misugaru (mixed grains) in his pocket. As children, my sisters and I struggled to fully understand his stories of deprivation, and he eventually chose to write them down so that we could read them when we were older and better able to grasp their meaning.

Those letters became the foundation of the production, and Ian was given the great honour of playing the role of his own grandfather. My father also came to the College to speak to the audience after the performance. It was an incredibly moving experience for our family, and one we remain deeply grateful for.

Looking back on Ian’s journey at Dulwich, the early years were busy and full — FOBISIA sports events, theme days, and field trips kept us constantly engaged. Years 10 and 11 were more challenging, shaped by the disruptions of COVID-19. During that time, Ian found focus and expression through music and sport. Today, as a Year 12 student, he hopes to find his voice in the music industry while navigating the academic rigour of the IB Diploma Programme.

Our family’s journey with Dulwich College Seoul has been closely intertwined with memory, place, and community — past and present — in ways I never could have anticipated when I first walked these grounds as a child.