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I America

United States

2025 Annual Conference and Professional Development Workshop Commemorating the 30th Anniversary of the American Association of Teachers of Korean (AATK)
From June 18 to 20, the American Association of Teachers of Korean (AATK) held its 30th Anniversary Conference and Professional Development Workshop in Honolulu, Hawaii. AATK is an organization of Korean language educators working in universities and secondary schools across North America, hosting annual conferences and workshops. This year, in celebration of its 30th anniversary, the event was held under the theme “Building a Global Community for a New Era,” reflecting on past achievements in Korean language education and exploring future directions suited to a changing world. The conference featured discussions on Korean language teaching methods and materials, including the use of AI, as well as presentations of the latest research in the field.
 
 

I Asia

Vietnam

The 1st Internet Olympiads of Korean (IOK) Award Ceremony Held
On May 11, the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Vietnam hosted the award ceremony for the 1st Internet Olympiads of Korean (IOK). A total of 80 students who earned awards among the 1,176 finalists and participants in the self-study rounds for the 2024–2025 IOK season attended the ceremony, along with their parents and teachers. The event also featured a variety of Korean cultural experiences, such as Hangeul calligraphy and hanbok try-ons, helping raise interest in Korean language education in Vietnam and promoting mutual understanding between the two countries.
*Internet Olympiads of Korean (IOK): First held in the 2024–2025 academic year, hosted by VTC Online (Vietnam’s largest digital content company). The competition consisted of 16 self-study rounds and 2 official test rounds, including practice questions in listening, reading, vocabulary, and grammar, as well as cultural elements to help students engage with Korean in a fun and effective way.
 
 

India

University of Delhi Introduces Korean Language Certificate and Diploma Programs in the School of Open Learning (SOL)
The University of Delhi in India announced its plan to launch certificate and diploma programs in Korean, along with Chinese, French, Spanish, and Portuguese, through its School of Open Learning (SOL) starting in the 2025–2026 academic year. The program was approved by the university’s Academic Council and is expected to begin in July or August, coinciding with the start of the semester.
*School of Open Learning (SOL): A division that offers remote (non-face-to-face) learning opportunities for working professionals and learners who are unable to attend regular university programs due to various constraints.
 
 

Indonesia

2025 Indonesian University Student Korean Debate Contest Held
On May 23, the semifinals and finals of the 5th Indonesian University Student Korean Debate Contest were held at CGV in Jakarta. This year’s event was co-hosted by the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Indonesia and KSI Jakarta. Following a rigorous selection process that included interviews and preliminary rounds beginning in April, six students from Gadjah Mada University (UGM), Indonesia University of Education (UPI), Petra Christian University, and Binus University advanced to the semifinals. The semifinal debate centered on the topic “University libraries should be open 24 hours for the convenience of students,” and four students progressed to the finals. The final debate, held under the theme “Anonymity on social media has more negative than positive effects,” saw Narisa and Safitri of Indonesia University of Education (UPI) on the affirmative team claim the championship. Safitri was also awarded Best Speaker.
 
 

I Sources

(United States) https://www.aatk.org/
(Vietnam) https://iok.vn/trang-chu
(India) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
(Indonesia) https://www.aal.ac.id/