KSIF

Types of King Sejong Institutes Based on Operations

세종학당 운영 유형 일반형, 협업형 상세 테이블
General		Collaborative-type
Independent-type	Connective-type	Collaborative-type
Overseas local operating institutions wishing to run a King Sejong Institute receive direct funding from the King Sejong Institute Foundation and handle operations and settlements themselves.	Domestic institutions or South Korean diplomatic missions (embassies, cultural centers, etc.) apply for designation after signing a business agreement with the overseas local operating institution regarding the operation of the King Sejong Institute. The overseas local operating institution and the domestic operating institution collaborate to jointly run the King Sejong Institute, with the domestic operating institution managing and settling the funds received from the King Sejong Institute Foundation.	Local governments, overseas diplomatic missions, public institutions under the "Act on the Operation of Public Institutions," businesses, and public interest corporations under the "Act on the Establishment and Operation of Public Interest Corporations" operate King Sejong Institutes without receiving funds.

Purpose of Designation

To promote Korean culture through Korean language education for those wishing to learn Korean as a foreign language or second language abroad.

Appointing Process

King Sejong Institute appointments are processed and determined by the following procedure. ※ Note: The detailed schedule and procedure are subject to change.

지정절차 step01 ~ step08까지 상세테이블
Step 01	Announcement of designation application Online application submission
Step 02	Document review
Step 03	On-site inspection
Step 04	Final review and announcement of results
Step 05	Service agreement and disbursement of funds
Step 06	Pilot operation
Step 07	Review of service agreement renewal

Application Announcement Guide

Announcement Method Posted on the "Notice Board of the King Sejong Institute Foundation website."

Announcement Timing and Duration At least 6 months prior to the planned designation date of King Sejong Institute / Minimum of 10 days

Announcement Contents Qualifications for institutions applying for the designation of new King Sejong Institutes, application procedures, etc.

Conditions for designation of a King Sejong Institute

신청기관 준비 요건 상세 테이블
Founding entity	Local operation organization	Institutions operating or intending to operate a Korean language education institution under local government agencies, universities (including graduate schools), or affiliated institutions in the local country. Non-profit organizations or private organizations officially registered in the local country that operate or intend to operate Korean language education institution for public interest purposes. ※ Individual and private language institutes are excluded. ※ If foreign language education requires a permit, the institution must be legally authorized by the local government. ※ In the case of non-profit organizations or private organizations, the CEO and board members must all reside locally and be able to participate substantially in operations. Additionally, they must have articles of incorporation allowing board members to participate in corporate decision-making.
Founding entity	Domestic operation organization (Connective-type)	Domestic government agencies (including diplomatic missions) or local governments that operate or intend to operate a Korean language education institution directly or by delegation abroad. Domestic universities (including graduate schools), non-profit organizations, or private organizations operating or intending to operate a Korean language education institution abroad in collaboration with foreign institutions for public interest purposes. ※ Private institutions established under the Act on the Establishment and Operation of Private Educational Institutes and Tutoring are excluded. ※ In the case of non-profit organizations or private organizations, the CEO and board members must be able to participate substantially in operations, and they must have articles of incorporation allowing board members to participate in corporate decision-making.
Facility		(Classroom) Secure at least two classrooms that can accommodate more than 10 students. ※ The classrooms must be available for King Sejong Institute courses at any time and should be fixed from the start to the end of the course, equipped with audiovisual equipment for lectures. (Administrative Office) An administrative office for the management and operation of the King Sejong Institute. ※ The office should have desks and office supplies (e.g., copiers) necessary for the operational staff and teachers to perform their duties. (Resource Room - Publicly Accessible) A resource room where Korean language and culture materials can be accessed and stored. ※ It should be usable in conjunction with the administrative office or classrooms and must be readily available for students to use whenever they wish. ※ Facilities unsuitable for the operation of the King Sejong Institute, such as shared offices, private homes, or rented spaces unrelated to the operating institution, should be excluded.
Personnel	Director of King Sejong Institute	Appoint a 'Director of King Sejong Institute' who will oversee the overall management of the King Sejong Institute. ※ Director of King Sejong Institute: This position must represent the applying institution and should be someone who can effectively manage operations on-site.
	Korean Language Teachers	100% of all teachers who have signed (or are expected to sign) a valid employment contract with the operating institution must meet at least one of the following requirements: Hold a Korean language teacher certification (issued by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism) - Secondary school teacher certification does not apply. ② Completed a Korean language teacher training program (from an accredited educational institution by the National Institute of the Korean Language). ③ Hold a bachelor's degree or higher with at least one year of experience in Korean language education. (Institutions or organizations where Korean language teaching experience is recognized are based on the Enforcement Decree of the Korean Language Basic Act.) ※ Proof of teacher qualification must be attached. ※ If it is difficult to hire Korean language teachers who meet the above conditions locally, a request for the dispatch of teachers from the foundation can be submitted along with reasons for inability to hire. However, the applying institution must cooperate in obtaining valid local visas for operating classes in the designated year, and it should be noted that if there are no applicants, there may be delays in starting operations or difficulties in conducting pilot operations.
	Operation personnel	Secure at least one Korean or a person proficient in Korean who has (or is expected to have) a valid employment contract with the operating institution. The individual must be capable of performing tasks related to the King Sejong Institute operations, including document preparation (in Hangul, MS Word, Excel), ongoing reporting through the King Sejong Institute Integrated Operations Management System, and management of financial settlements. ※ In the case of a linkage with overseas diplomatic office, separate operational personnel for the King Sejong Institute must be secured in addition to the staff hired by the diplomatic office (administrative staff).
	Remarks	Individuals intending to work at the institute locally must be verified whether they hold a valid visa for employment at the institute before hiring, or the operating institution must assist them in obtaining an appropriate visa for their activities. ※ Visas such as tourist, student, or family visas, which are not suitable for employment under local law, are excluded.
Courses		Offer at least two courses at the beginner or intermediate level, operating for more than 30 weeks annually. ※ During the pilot operation period (6 months), courses should operate for approximately 15 weeks. Each course must consist of at least 120 minutes (including breaks) of Korean language instruction per week. It is recommended to operate at least one cultural course.
Operation		The bank account for the King Sejong Institute's operations must be in the name of the operating institution and should not be mixed with other businesses within the institution. A separate bank account for King Sejong Institute operations must be opened (if there is revenue, an additional account should be opened). ※ Those who intend to apply for duplicate funding from similar government projects and operate simultaneously are not eligible to apply.

Review Procedures and Methods

Review ProceduresDocument Review → On-Site Inspection → Final Review → Announcement of Designation Results
※ The detailed schedules and procedures may be subject to change

Review Method Selection of suitable institutions through the review by the King Sejong Institute Designation Review Committee.

Review Criteria

심사 절차 및 방법 심사항목, 심사내용 상세 테이블
Category	Review Items	Review Details
Capability	Systematic nature of the business plan	Understanding of the King Sejong Institute project Clarity of business goals and feasibility of plan implementation Systematic and transparent budget management
Capability	Professional Composition of Operational Personnel	Expertise of the Director* and Operational staff * Director: Understanding of the King Sejong Institute project and overall capability ** Operational staff: Communication skills and administrative management abilities
Educational Capacity	Expertise in Korean language and culture education	Systematic operation of Korean language and culture education courses Professionalism of Korean language and culture teachers Facility status necessary for promoting the King Sejong Institute project * Facilities suitable for Korean language education and cultural guidance
Location Conditions	Demand and Regional Impact of Korean language and culture	Necessity for the King Sejong Institute's entry based on current and potential demand for Korean language and culture in the region Local reputation, operational stability, and regional impact of the applying institution Policy and strategic importance of the applying region

Required Documents

구비 서류 상세테이블
Category	Required Documents	Remarks
Mandatory	Commitment Letter for the Implementation of the King Sejong Institute Entrustment Agreement	The form for the commitment letter can be downloaded from the integrated application system. Both institutions must submit it in the case of connective-type KSI.
Mandatory	Business Registration Certificate (Corporate Registration Certificate) or Institution Registration Certificate	These documents serve as proof of eligibility, and both institutions must submit it in the case of connective-type KSI.
Mandatory	In the case of connective-type KSI, MOU between the two institutions for the application and operation of the King Sejong Institute.	The MOU must be established for the purpose of operating the King Sejong Institute and should specify the division of roles between the institutions.
Mandatory	For non-profit organizations, the organization's articles of incorporation and list of registered directors	This should include verifiable information such as the year of establishment, purpose (non-profit), decision-making requirements, quorum, etc.

※ Note 1. All required documents must be fully uploaded as attachments in the system without omission. Foreign language documents must be accompanied by notarized copies of the originals, notarized Korean translations, and must be confirmed with an apostille or consular verification.

※ Note 2. For detailed preparation requirements by application type, refer to [Preparation Requirements for Applying Institutions].

Notes

Applications can only be submitted through the online integrated application system, and you must click the 'Submit' button to complete the submission. Once submitted, no modifications can be made.
※ It is recommended to submit well in advance of the deadline, as an increase in users on deadline may prevent normal processing of applications.
Submitted documents will not be returned, and if any information is found to be false, the designation will be revoked.
Applicants should thoroughly understand the King Sejong Institute's operational regulations and the contents of the entrustment agreement when filling out the application form.
If it is deemed necessary to supplement information during the review stage, additional materials may be requested.
The responsibility for any errors or omissions in the application form and submitted documents, or for being unreachable, lies with the applying institution.
If no qualified institutions are found as a result of the review, no designation may be made.
After designation, a 6-month pilot operation will be conducted to evaluate the feasibility of continued operation, and if standards are not met, the designation may be revoked.
Progress regarding the designation review will be announced on the Foundation's website and through the integrated application system.
Detailed information about the results of each review stage (such as reasons for rejection) will not be disclosed.
Media reports related to the institution and letters of recommendation are required only if applicable (not mandatory documents).
Institutions receiving support for similar projects that overlap with the objectives or contents of the King Sejong Institute project are not eligible to apply.
The contents of this announcement are subject to change by the Foundation.

Contact: King Sejong Institute Foundation, new King Sejong Institute Designation review staff

E-mail: newksi@ksif.or.kr
Tel: 02-3276-0730

Reference materials

[In the case of connective-type KSI] Download Sample MOU for Newly Designated Institutions Download 2025 New King Sejong Institute Designation Application Guidelines King Sejong Institute Operational Regulations (Revised July 31, 2024) King Sejong Institute Operational Guidelines (Revised July 31, 2024)