On Friday, October 17, 2025, Busan Foreign School (BFS) proudly celebrated Founder’s Day. BFS was established in October 1996 by James and Amy Haddon, a U.S. military family with deep connections to Korea. Their vision was to create a diverse and inclusive learning environment that upheld the highest standards for global education. From humble beginnings, BFS now has over 250 students from more than 20 nationalities, an impressive record of academic excellence and a culture of belonging.
The Founder’s Day festivities began with a whole-school assembly, setting the tone for a day of reflection and school pride. Our Board Chair, Mr. Ronald Haddon, gave a heartfelt speech on the origins of Founder’s Day, his father’s legacy, and his commitment to the continued growth of BFS along with co-founder and Board Member, Mrs. Amy Haddon. This year’s spirit t-shirt design, focused on our vision statement, was designed by parent Ms. Grace Park (front) and HS student Yunji Lee (back). The designs remind everyone of our school’s purpose to excel academically, thrive socially, and become compassionate global citizens and leaders.
Students from all grade levels participated in a variety of exciting division-level team-building activities, ranging from arts and crafts to dance and sports games tailored for each division. Throughout these activities, students demonstrated their SHARK traits of being Socially conscious, Hardworking, Active Communicator, Respectful, and Keep learning.
The whole school including students and staff then gathered on the soccer field for a group photo. This moment embodied the collaborative spirit that defines our school culture. One of the highlights of the event was the closing assembly in the Gym with outstanding performances from our Advanced Band and MS/HS Choir groups. The excitement soared during the much-anticipated Students vs. Teachers volleyball matches. The High School student team played very well and showed great teamwork, but at the end of a very close match the Teacher team triumphed. The Early Childhood and Elementary students were delighted to win the prize of a free dress day. The energy and school spirit were infectious, reminding us all of the friendly competition and teamwork that Founder’s Day encourages.
During lunch, our dedicated Parent Teacher Support Organization (PTSO) Board members added a special touch to the day by gifting popcorn, pencils, and a magnet calendar to students. In addition, student-designed spirit stickers were distributed.
The day wrapped up with some well-deserved relaxation as students enjoyed classroom activities before heading home for an early release, concluding a memorable celebration of our 29th year.
Founder’s Day serves as a time to reflect on our history, celebrate our community, and look forward to the future, as we continue to live by the Haddons’ founding motto Embracing diversity, Striving for excellence in all we do.
Here are some highlights from the 29th Founder’s Day event:
