“We will widely promote the beauty and appeal
of the Korean language and culture.” A Conversation with Director Lee Hae-don,
Participant of the 2025 KSI Workshop
in North America

Lee Hae-don, Director of the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, previously served as Director General for Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism. From June 11 to 13, he participated in the 2025 KSI Workshop in North America, engaging in in-depth discussions on the role and operational strategies of KSIs in the region. We spoke with Director Lee Hae-don about his impressions of the workshop and his insights on promoting the Korean language and culture throughout North America.

Hello, Director Lee Hae-don! It’s a pleasure to meet you. To begin, could you please briefly introduce yourself to the readers of Monthly Knock Knock and tell us about the King Sejong Institute operated by the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles?
 

Hello. The KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles is an institution that provides Korean language education to local residents in the southwestern region of the United States. In order to deeply understand and appreciate the culture of another country, it is essential to learn the language that embodies its traditions, culture, and sentiments. That’s why learning Korean serves as the first gateway to truly understanding and experiencing Korea.

The Korean language courses at the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles were first launched in November 1995 and have been operating under the name “King Sejong Institute (KSI)” since 2007. As demand for Korean language education continues to grow in Los Angeles and neighboring areas, the program has steadily expanded. Currently, there are nine classes offered across seven levels, ranging from beginner to advanced. While our learners have diverse goals—such as communicating with family—they all share a strong interest in and affection for the Korean language and culture.

Since the spring semester of 2020, we have also offered real-time online courses via Zoom, providing more opportunities to students who previously had difficulty participating due to time or location constraints. In addition, starting in the fall semester of 2021, we signed a memorandum of understanding with the KSI Center, U.S.A., located in the LA Korea Center, to offer a combination of online and in-person classes. This collaboration has laid the groundwork for the effective spread of Korean language education across the U.S.A. Moving forward, the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles will continue to collaborate with other Korean language education institutions and utilize a variety of Korean cultural programs to actively promote and spread the beauty and appeal of the Korean language and culture.
 
 

Before assuming your current role as Director, you served as Director General for Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, overseeing Korean language promotion policies. Now that you've transitioned from a policy-making position to the front lines of KSI operations, what has your impression been, and how do you envision the direction of KSI management moving forward?
 

I served as Director General for Cultural Policy at the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism for about one year and two months, where I was responsible for widely promoting the identity, diversity, and excellence of Korean culture. In particular, I oversaw Korean language-related policies and projects through the Korean Language Policy Division. One of my main responsibilities was to support, manage, and supervise the KSIF, which is in charge of spreading and teaching the Korean language abroad. Together with the KSIF staff, I worked hard to find effective ways to respond to the growing global demand for Korean language education.

In Korea, my work focused on indirect tasks such as policy development, budget support, and organizational management related to overseas Korean language education. However, here in Los Angeles, I’m directly involved in on-the-ground operations—designing Korean language programs, assigning teachers, and managing learners. Through this hands-on experience, I’ve witnessed firsthand the dedication of local learners in the U.S.A. and the passion of Korean language teachers—something I hadn’t fully felt back in Korea. Many of our students attend Korean language classes in the evening after finishing their work or school day. Watching them engage in conversation during class, their expressions were both serious and joyful. Having struggled with learning foreign languages myself as a student, I was genuinely impressed and a bit envious of how our learners are enjoying learning Korean. I also felt proud of the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles, for offering such meaningful opportunities.

Going forward, we plan to develop and operate curricula, teacher placement strategies, textbooks, Korean cultural experience programs, and a variety of activities tailored to learners’ needs—so they can learn Korean more easily and over a longer period, while also deepening their love for the Korean language, culture, and Korea itself. More than just a hobby or casual interest, we want learners to gain a deeper understanding of Korean history and culture, and ultimately pursue meaningful Korea-related work. To that end, we will continue to provide diverse and high-quality programs across various levels and fields through the KSI Korean Cultural Center, Los Angeles.
 
 

You attended the 2025 KSI Workshop in North America, held from June 11 to 13. Was there a particular moment from the workshop that stood out to you the most?
 

This workshop brought together more than 40 participants—including directors, staff, and teachers—from 13 KSIs across North America. It was a valuable time of sharing and learning, as each KSI presented its operational status, accomplishments, and challenges. While the founding background, circumstances, and difficulties varied among the institutes, everyone agreed on two key points: the growing interest and preference for Korean language and culture among local residents, and the increasingly favorable environment for Korean language education.

In light of this, the role and stature of KSIs must be further strengthened. I believe that to achieve this, long-term and systematic local support and management from both the Korean headquarters and KSIF are essential. In particular, there was a consensus that rather than a standardized, centralized management system led solely by KSIF, we urgently need region-specific support and oversight centered around local KSI centers. Although the schedule was short, it was a meaningful opportunity to directly hear and exchange candid, on-the-ground feedback from local staff and teachers, as well as to gather ideas for improving the current system. It was truly a valuable moment for reaffirming the direction and goals that KSIs should pursue in the future. One memorable moment was at the end of the workshop, when each KSI’s name was written in Korean brush calligraphy and presented as a hanging scroll. Seeing the participants light up with childlike pride and joy left a lasting impression.
 
 

How do you view the current demand for Korean language and culture in North America? We’d also love to hear your thoughts on the roles that the Korean Cultural Center and KSI should play to further expand this demand.
 

The Korean Wave in North America is just as vibrant and rapidly growing as in other regions. While interest initially centered around teenagers and Korean pop culture, it has recently expanded across various sectors and age groups. Interest in K-pop, dramas, and films is evolving from a passing trend to a broader and more sustained curiosity about Korea and Korean culture as a whole. This growing demand represents a meaningful opportunity to introduce Korea and its culture in a deeper and more accurate way to local audiences.

Within this context, if the Korean Cultural Center and KSIs can develop and implement diverse programs and initiatives that reflect the authenticity, identity, and excellence of Korean culture—tailored to local needs—they are likely to be well received. It’s important to introduce programs that represent the core of Korean identity and characteristics, including traditional culture and rituals, fine arts, everyday lifestyle, humanities, and religion, while also offering practical opportunities for local people to enjoy and experience these elements in their daily lives. To achieve this, we must build and maintain strong, ongoing networks with mainstream institutions and figures in North America—such as government agencies, schools, law enforcement, and arts and cultural organizations. Furthermore, the Korean Cultural Center and KSIs should strengthen their collaboration as key overseas platforms for Korean cultural exchange and outreach. By fulfilling their respective professional roles and sharing resources, they can create powerful synergies and maximize their collective impact.