Students attending a Korean language course at the King Sejong Institute center in Gaborone, Botswana, talk about the global popularity of Korean pop culture, in this file photo taken May 14, 2024. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
SEOUL, Jun. 24 (Korea Bizwire) — South Korea has designated 18 educational and cultural institutions overseas as King Sejong Korean-language learning centers eligible for state support, as part of efforts to help more people learn about the Korean culture and language.
The 18 new centers, named after the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) king who invented the Korean alphabet Hangeul, are located in 15 countries, including Nepal and Cuba, where such institutes will first open, as well as Saudi Arabia, Germany, Sweden, Italy and Australia, according to the culture ministry.
The additional designation brought the total number of King Sejong centers to 256 in 88 countries.
A total of 97 institutions in 40 countries had applied for the designation, the highest competition ratio in five years, in an indication of growing eagerness to learn the Korean language amid the rising popularity of Korean culture.
The first center to open in Cuba is expected to serve as a hub of cultural exchanges in Central and South America, where demand for learning the Korean language is high. South Korea forged diplomatic ties with the Central American country in February.
This image provided by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism shows the current number of King Sejong Institute centers across the globe. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
The new centers will go into formal operation next year after a six-month trial run, according to the ministry.
The King Sejong Institute Foundation operates its program by funding locally initiated Korean language education programs throughout the world, such as those run by universities. It receives applications and certifies accepted institutes as King Sejong Institute centers.
The government aims to increase the number to 350 by 2027, while it plans to reinforce management and supervision to improve the quality of existing centers by reviewing their operations on a regular basis.
“We will announce measures to innovate the King Sejong Institute centers with a focus on beefing up its support and management systems in August,” a ministry official said, requesting not to be named. “Through this, we will solidify the foundation for the sustainable spread of the Korean language and culture.”
(Yonhap)
