> Visit from 9 journalists participating in a training program by Korea Press Foundation (KPF) to KSI Center Vietnam.
> Brief on the current situation of Korean language education in Vietnam and an observation of KSI’s cultural experience class.

KSI Center Vietnam introduced Korean language education in Vietnam for a group of Korean journalists. On November 4, Lee Gyu-rim Director of KSI Center Vietnam gave a lecture on the current situation of Korean language education in Vietnam for 9 Korean journalists participating in KPF’s Vietnam Specialist Diploma Program. KPF Vietnam Specialist Diploma Course is a journalist training program, which KPF offers to celebrate the 30 years of diplomatic relations between Korea and Vietnam. The course is designed to improve the expertise of professionals through education and onsite learning on Vietnamese politics, economy, society and culture.

During the lecture of this day, Director Lee explained the meaning the Korean language and culture projects have for the national prestige and introduced the role of KSI in these efforts. Information on the current situation of the education offered by Korean language institutions, including KSI, was shared as well. Vietnam has the largest number of KSI branches, 23, and 53 local universities have a Department of Korean Language or offer related courses. As of 2023, there will be 62 middle and high schools offering Korean language classes as a second foreign language or as part of an after-school program.

After the lecture, the journalists visited the classroom to observe a cultural class on “Making Korean Hanji and Traditional Books” and met with KSI instructors, operational staff and students. On this day, students learned about Hanji and tried to make a book in a traditional way using the traditional handmade paper from Korea. The journalists asked students about their reasons for learning the Korean language, how long they’ve been studying and their future dreams. Some of these visitors were surprised by the students’ fluency in Korean.

One of the participants said, “The popularity of Korean culture and the enthusiasm towards learning Korean language is not a news anymore,” and added, “KSI should take the lead in developing a new agenda on spreading the Korean language and culture abroad.”