About 19,000 Koreans live in Phnom Penh where about 1,500 people apply for the test of proficiency in Korean every year. (image: King Sejong Institute Foundation)
SEOUL, July 8 (Korea Bizwire) — King Sejong Institute, the state-run Korean culture and language education center, will introduce and support the operation of a preliminary Korean language program in foreign countries where there is demand for Korean language education but supply is limited.
The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF) announced on Tuesday that the preliminary program will be run through cooperation between Korean universities and local universities in the foreign countries concerned.
The foundation selected Duksung Women’s University and Inha University to develop the preliminary program.
Duksung Women’s University will join hands with the Royal University of Agriculture in Cambodia, while Inha University will enter into a partnership with the Baku Engineering University in Azerbaijan.
The programs are scheduled to kick off this month.
About 19,000 Koreans live in Phnom Penh where about 1,500 people apply for the test of proficiency in Korean every year.
Considering that a group of volunteers run a Korean language program on a non-credit basis at the Royal University of Agriculture, there is an urgent need for professional Korean teachers.
In Azerbaijan, the Khirdalan and Sumgait regions have a population of 460,000 but no education center for the Korean language.
“At present, we’re running 213 programs in 76 countries worldwide. Nevertheless, we still cannot fully satisfy the demand for Korean language education in foreign countries,” KSIF President Kang Hyoun-hwa said.
“We will continue to expand preliminary programs with a focus on the regions with relatively poor infrastructure.”
J. S. Shin (js_shin@koreabizwire.com)
