The King Sejong Institute Foundation (Acting President and Secretary General Choi Hyun-Seung, hereafter referred to as the KSIF) announced on the 11th that it is now accepting applications for the designation of new KSI operating institutions for 2026. The official notice was posted on the KSIF website (www.ksif.or.kr) on November 28, and applications will be accepted through the online submission system (nbms.ksif.or.kr) until 5:00 p.m. on January 30, 2026. Submitted applications will then undergo a multi-stage professional evaluation process, including a document review, on-site evaluations, and a final review. The designation results are scheduled to be announced in June next year.

Notably, starting with this year’s call, local institutions currently operating KSIs and those wishing to operate KSIs may enter into partnership agreements and apply to be designated as “linked KSIs.” This initiative is intended to support new institutions by leveraging the operational experience and local networks accumulated by existing operators. In addition, applications for “collaborative KSIs” operated by local governments or overseas diplomatic missions will be accepted on a rolling basis, and the number of evaluation rounds has been expanded from once a year to twice a year. These institutional improvements are designed to respond proactively to the rapidly growing demand for Korean language education overseas and the global spread of Korean culture.

Detailed information on the application process, eligibility requirements, and required documents can be found in the “2026 New KSI Designation Announcement” posted in the Notices section of the KSIF website. In addition, to enhance understanding of the KSI program and respond to inquiries regarding the preparation of applications, the KSIF plans to hold project briefing sessions starting in Seoul on December 17, followed by sessions in Busan and Gwangju, with online participation also available.

KSI is the Republic of Korea’s flagship government-supported brand for promoting the Korean language and culture. As of June 2025, a total of 252 KSIs are in operation across 87 countries worldwide. Institutions selected as KSI operating institutions receive a wide range of support necessary for providing education on Korean language and culture, including budgetary support, dispatch and training of teachers, and educational materials. To respond to the growing global demand for Korean language education, the KSIF is pursuing a mid- to long-term goal of expanding the number of KSIs to 360 locations by 2030.

A KSIF official stated, “We plan to add new KSIs in line with the steadily increasing interest in Korean language and culture in regions around the world,” and added, “Through this call for applications, we aim to create a sustainable environment for KSI operations by proactively identifying operating institutions with a strong foundation for high-quality Korean language education and by strengthening cooperation with institutions both in Korea and abroad.”