Turning the Dream of Studying
in Korea into Reality
A Meeting with Director Joung Ho-hyun of
KSI Havana, Cuba, and Four Learners
Selected for the Jeollanam-do Office
of Education Foreign Talent Program

Cuban youth, filled with passion for the Korean language and culture, have made their dreams of studying in Korea come true. KSI Havana, Cuba, provided a month-long intensive education program for learners selected for the Jeollanam-do Office of Education Foreign Talent Program, offering strong support for their first steps. In this interview, we spoke with Director Joung Ho-hyun of KSI Havana to learn about the learners’ study abroad preparation process and their personal stories of growth.

Hello, Director Joung Ho-hyun! Please introduce yourself and tell us a bit about KSI Havana, Cuba.
 

Hello. I’m Joung Ho-hyun, Director of KSI Havana, Cuba. KSI Havana is a newly established King Sejong Institute, founded in June 2024, and we are currently in our first year of operation. Recently, the Korean Wave has sparked a growing interest in the Korean language in Cuba. As word spreads that KSI Havana is “a place where you can learn both Korean language and culture,” more and more learners are coming to us.

I majored in geography in Korea and studied documentary filmmaking in Toronto, Canada. Although I have not received formal training in teaching Korean as a foreign language, I became involved in teaching Korean and introducing Korean culture to Cuban students by chance. Currently, I’m also actively engaged in online promotion through social networking services (SNS).
 
 

Director Joung Ho-hyun of KSI Havana, Cuba Director Joung Ho-hyun and members of KSI
Havana

Recently, to mark the first anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and Cuba, four Cuban youth were selected for the Jeollanam-do Office of Education’s Foreign Talent Program, giving them the opportunity to study in Korea. We heard they received pre-departure training at KSI Havana. Could you tell us more about the purpose of the program, the selection process, and the backgrounds of the students?
 

The Jeollanam-do Office of Education is running the “Foreign Talent Study Abroad Program” to address challenges such as population decline and a shortage of young talent by attracting outstanding students from abroad, providing them with education, and supporting their settlement in Korea. Four Cuban students were selected through this program and were given the opportunity to study in Korea. The selection was based primarily on attendance and learning attitude at KSI. One of the students, a fifth-generation Korean descendant living in Camagüey—over eight hours away from Havana—intensively studied Korean after being selected and quickly improved her language skills. The remaining three students have been steadily studying at KSI Havana and have shown excellent academic performance in their respective schools. In particular, instructor Jang Dong-wook personally led intensive Korean training using KSI textbooks and worked hard to ensure that the students could adjust well in Korea without feeling overwhelmed.
 
 

Please share specific examples of the educational support KSI Havana provided to students preparing to study in Korea.
 

KSI Havana offered a variety of programs to support learners preparing for study abroad. To help students get a feel for what classes in Korea would be like, they used Korean language textbooks from Mokpo Girls" Commercial High School in Jeollanam-do, where the students would be attending. In addition, a one-month intensive Korean language course was conducted using KSI textbooks, focusing on the four core areas of speaking, writing, listening, and reading. A cultural class titled “When You Go to Korea…,” led by a second-generation Korean high school student whose mother is Korean and father is Cuban, taught practical topics closely related to daily life in Korea such as transportation, food, and slang. Other activities included Korean cooking classes, traditional holiday events, and experiences with traditional games, helping students feel more familiar with Korean culture and deepening their understanding of cultural traditions.
 
 

Could you introduce the students selected for the study abroad program in more detail? Please share some of their stories as well.
 

The four students selected this time—Jazmin, Ketlin, Rashel, and Biatriz—began studying Korean out of pure interest and enthusiasm. Since this opportunity was completely unexpected, the students said it felt like “suddenly boarding an express train.” This experience has likely taught them that continuing to pursue what they love can bring life-changing opportunities.

In January, just before their departure for Korea, the students participated in an intensive residential training program at KSI Havana, studying more than eight hours a day. Jazmin, a student from Camaguey Science High School, came alone to Havana and stayed in housing provided by KSI while attending classes. Ketlin, currently enrolled in a music high school, adapted faster than anyone else thanks to her artistic sensitivity and excellent adaptability. Rashel is a model student with an outstanding academic record—an average grade of 99.9—known for her strong sense of responsibility and diligence, and with her exceptional appearance, she’s also seen as having potential for a future modeling career. Biatriz, the last to join the group, quickly improved her Korean skills and brought balance to the team, playing a vital role as the group’s cheerful and positive mood-maker. Throughout their study-abroad preparation, the students supported each other. On weekends, friends living in Havana would invite Jazmin to their homes, treating her like family and helping build strong bonds and a deep sense of connection.
 
 

Director, on the day of the departure, you referred to it as “the day the children’s lives changed.” Could you tell us what you meant by that?
 

Cuba is currently facing a severe power shortage and economic crisis. Power outages frequently cause schools to close and prevent school meals from being provided. During the scorching summer months, they can’t even turn on electric fans and have to sleep on the floor. Charging a smartphone is difficult—this is a situation that would be hard to imagine in Korea.

In this reality, getting on a plane for the first time, leaving Cuba, and beginning a new life through study in a completely different world is, for these students, nothing short of a miracle. Experiencing adolescence outside the hardships of blackouts and material shortages, and within an entirely different culture, is more than just studying abroad—it’s a true turning point in life. That’s why I called it “the day the children’s lives changed.”
 
 

Learners saying farewell to their families before
departing for Korea on February 14 Learners posing for a commemorative photo with
Foreign Talent Program staff upon arriving at
Incheon International Airport in Korea

This case seems likely to expand the educational role of KSI Havana. Could you share any upcoming plans or goals?
 

Since this case, inquiries from Cuban students aspiring to study in Korea have significantly increased. The demand has grown to the point where classrooms are insufficient. To address this, we are discussing the possibility of opening KSI Korean language courses in partnership with institutions such as the Department of Linguistics at the University of Havana and University College of San Geronimo.

We are also planning to launch “mobile Korean classes” to reach students living far away. In addition, we aim to expand various cultural classes, including Korean history lectures, cooking experiences, and traditional games. KSI Havana will continue to strive to become the central hub for Korean language education and cultural exchange in Cuba.
 
 

Lastly, is there a message you’d like to share with the four students who left for Korea to study?
 

I am truly proud of you for traveling halfway around the world, separated from your families at such a young age, to continue your studies in a completely unfamiliar environment. I still vividly remember the day you departed—your grandmothers, uncles, aunts, and other relatives all came to the airport to see you off. I hope you carry their love and support in your hearts and shine like the brightest stars as you pursue your own dreams. Whether in three years you enter a university in Korea, find a job, or return to Cuba, the future you’ve dreamed of will be waiting for you. I’ll always be cheering you on. Let’s keep working hard!
 
 

Introducing the Four Learners from KSI
Havana, Cuba, Who Came to Study in Korea!

■ Rashel (15 years old)

Hello. I’m Rashel Moya Hernandez. I first started studying Korean on my own and then began learning it more formally at KSI Havana about two years ago. I was selected for the Jeollanam-do Office of Education’s Foreign Talent Program, which allowed me to study abroad in Korea together with my friends. I’m currently attending Mokpo Girls’ Commercial High School. It’s always been my dream since I was little to study in Korea. Being selected as a study abroad student and actually getting to study here still feels like a dream come true. The month-long intensive course I took at KSI Havana after being selected really helped me adapt once I arrived in Korea. I’m currently majoring in AI (Artificial Intelligence) in high school, and in the future, I hope to work for an AI-related company in Korea. If I get the chance, I also dream of trying out acting or modeling in Korea!
 
 

■ Biatriz (15 years old)

Hello. I’m Biatriz Gonzalez Brizuela. I’m currently living in Mokpo, Jeollanam-do. I’ve been studying Korean for two years now, and I was first introduced to the language through KSI Havana. I made many friends and created wonderful memories at KSI Havana. Among them, the most memorable was the day we played traditional Korean games during the Lunar New Year event! I was overwhelmed with emotion when I was selected as a scholarship student for studying in Korea. I’ve been interested in Korea since I was young, so the thought of actually going to Korea made me incredibly happy. I feel that this opportunity has been a major achievement for me. My dream is to become an interior designer, and one day, I hope to run my own interior design company under my name.
 
 

■ Jazmin (17 years old)

I’m Jazmin, currently studying abroad in Mokpo. I began learning Korean about four months ago. The classes at KSI Havana weren’t just about learning the language—they also allowed me to explore Korean culture and traditions, which I really enjoyed. Thanks to Teacher Jang Dong-wook and Director Joung Ho-hyun, I was always engaged and interested in learning Korean. When I first heard that I was selected for the Foreign Talent Program, I was so surprised—it felt surreal. From that moment on, I kept imagining what life in Korea would be like, and I believed this opportunity would help me grow a lot. Now, I really enjoy going to school in Korea to talk with my friends and learn new things. In the future, I want to major in computer science and biochemistry. Through my studies, I hope to build expertise while also deepening my understanding of Korean culture and traditions, so that I can contribute to Korean society as well.
 
 

■ Ketlin (15 years old)

Hello. I’m Ketlin, also currently studying abroad in Mokpo and attending Mokpo Girls’ Commercial High School. I’ve been studying Korean for three years, and my dream of going to Korea grew while learning Korean at KSI Havana. The Korean classes at KSI Havana were always enjoyable. In particular, watching Korean dramas without subtitles helped me not only improve my language skills but also deepen my understanding of Korean culture—it was a huge help in learning Korean. Since I was young, I dreamed of studying in Korea, so when I found out about the Foreign Talent Program, I knew I had to go for it. I was thrilled when I heard I was selected, and even now, it sometimes still feels unreal. After finishing high school in Mokpo, I want to attend a university in Seoul and study artificial intelligence. Even after graduating, I want to live and work in Korea. I’m determined to make that dream come true!