Latest Korean Language News Delivered by KSI Correspondents
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작성일 2026-03-20
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Latest Korean Language News Delivered by KSI Correspondents
| Asia
Nepal Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal Hosts 2026 Korean Language Dissemination Day Event
On January 22nd, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal held a 2026 Korean Language Dissemination Day event at the Bishwa Bhasa Campus in Kathmandu to highlight the current status of Korean language education in Nepal. Ambassador Park Tae-young urged officials from major educational institutions, including KSIs and hangul schools, to continue cooperating in the spread of korean language education. Currently, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal is supporting Korean language education in cooperation with the Employment Permit System (EPS) Center, Tribhuvan University, and secondary education institutions across Nepal, and the EPS Center has donated 100 Korean textbooks to a high school located in Lumbini Province. Moving forward, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal plans to cooperate with Korean public institutions in Nepal to improve the quality of Korean language education and expand accessibility to educational materials.
On January 22nd, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal held a 2026 Korean Language Dissemination Day event at the Bishwa Bhasa Campus in Kathmandu to highlight the current status of Korean language education in Nepal. Ambassador Park Tae-young urged officials from major educational institutions, including KSIs and hangul schools, to continue cooperating in the spread of korean language education. Currently, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal is supporting Korean language education in cooperation with the Employment Permit System (EPS) Center, Tribhuvan University, and secondary education institutions across Nepal, and the EPS Center has donated 100 Korean textbooks to a high school located in Lumbini Province. Moving forward, the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Nepal plans to cooperate with Korean public institutions in Nepal to improve the quality of Korean language education and expand accessibility to educational materials.
India Shift in Choices of Indian International Students, Growing Demand for Studying in Korea
On January 31st, it was reported that Korea is gaining attention as a new destination for studying abroad. This comes as Indian students are seeking other study-abroad alternatives due to the recent impacts of visa uncertainty, higher tuition fees, and shrinking post-graduation employment opportunities in traditional destinations. The relatively low costs required compared to Western countries and strengths in specialized educational programs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, as well as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, are considered to be the main factors. As a TOPIK score is required as an essential condition for studying in Korea, the local demand for Korean language learning is also expected to increase accordingly.
On January 31st, it was reported that Korea is gaining attention as a new destination for studying abroad. This comes as Indian students are seeking other study-abroad alternatives due to the recent impacts of visa uncertainty, higher tuition fees, and shrinking post-graduation employment opportunities in traditional destinations. The relatively low costs required compared to Western countries and strengths in specialized educational programs in the science, technology, engineering, and mathematics fields, as well as advanced manufacturing, semiconductors, artificial intelligence, and cybersecurity, are considered to be the main factors. As a TOPIK score is required as an essential condition for studying in Korea, the local demand for Korean language learning is also expected to increase accordingly.
| Europe
Bulgaria and Croatia Inaugural 1st Meetings of Korean Language and Korean Studies Subcommittee under K-Initiative Consultative Body
On January 27th, the first meetings of the Korean Language and Korean Studies Subcommittee under the K-Initiative Consultative Body were held in Bulgaria and Croatia to discuss cooperative measures for spreading the Korean language, Korean studies, and Korean culture in accordance with the policy direction of K-Initiative 21. K-Initiative 21 is a comprehensive national strategy designed with the goal of securing global leadership in response to major challenges facing the Republic of Korea, such as limits on growth, regional and class imbalances, and the global competition for technological hegemony. Korean language education officials, including KSI management, participated in this meeting and discussed cooperative measures for the promotion of the Korean language, Korean studies, and Korean culture that align with the policy direction.
On January 27th, the first meetings of the Korean Language and Korean Studies Subcommittee under the K-Initiative Consultative Body were held in Bulgaria and Croatia to discuss cooperative measures for spreading the Korean language, Korean studies, and Korean culture in accordance with the policy direction of K-Initiative 21. K-Initiative 21 is a comprehensive national strategy designed with the goal of securing global leadership in response to major challenges facing the Republic of Korea, such as limits on growth, regional and class imbalances, and the global competition for technological hegemony. Korean language education officials, including KSI management, participated in this meeting and discussed cooperative measures for the promotion of the Korean language, Korean studies, and Korean culture that align with the policy direction.
Poland University of Silesia and Korean Cultural Center, Poland, Host Academic and Cultural Event Centered on Author Han Kang"s Works
On February 4th, the University of Silesia and the Korean Cultural Center, Poland, hosted Painful Silence (Cisza, która boli), an academic and cultural event centered on author Han Kang"s works, in Katowice, Poland. This event was organized to provide an in-depth look at the relationships between silence and language, and memory and history in Korean literature through the works of Nobel laureate Han Kang. It was planned and operated by second-year master"s students in International Polish Studies at the University of Silesia as part of the winter semester course Event Organization, and involved reading excerpts from Han Kang"s works in Korean and Polish, and comparing and appreciating the differences in expression and meaning between the languages. The event was made possible with the support of the Center for Polish-Korean Cooperation at the University of Silesia and the Korean Cultural Center, Poland, and was a meaningful venue for academic and educational exchange reflecting on the relationship between Korean literature and translation languages.
On February 4th, the University of Silesia and the Korean Cultural Center, Poland, hosted Painful Silence (Cisza, która boli), an academic and cultural event centered on author Han Kang"s works, in Katowice, Poland. This event was organized to provide an in-depth look at the relationships between silence and language, and memory and history in Korean literature through the works of Nobel laureate Han Kang. It was planned and operated by second-year master"s students in International Polish Studies at the University of Silesia as part of the winter semester course Event Organization, and involved reading excerpts from Han Kang"s works in Korean and Polish, and comparing and appreciating the differences in expression and meaning between the languages. The event was made possible with the support of the Center for Polish-Korean Cooperation at the University of Silesia and the Korean Cultural Center, Poland, and was a meaningful venue for academic and educational exchange reflecting on the relationship between Korean literature and translation languages.
France • Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Promotes Large-Scale Korean Cultural Exchange Event to Commemorate 140th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations Between Korea and France
On February 10th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced its plan to promote a large-scale Korean cultural exchange event to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Under the official slogans of "Creativity," "Opportunity," and "Solidarity," it plans to strengthen the foundation of cultural cooperation between the two countries by holding various cultural events throughout 2026 that explore the past, present, and future of Korean culture in various fields such as visual arts, performing arts, and content. Exhibitions themed on Korean art and cultural heritage are scheduled to be held year-round at major cultural institutions, and Korean performing arts pieces will be introduced at the Festival d"Avignon and major theaters in Paris.
On February 10th, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced its plan to promote a large-scale Korean cultural exchange event to commemorate the 140th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Korea and France. Under the official slogans of "Creativity," "Opportunity," and "Solidarity," it plans to strengthen the foundation of cultural cooperation between the two countries by holding various cultural events throughout 2026 that explore the past, present, and future of Korean culture in various fields such as visual arts, performing arts, and content. Exhibitions themed on Korean art and cultural heritage are scheduled to be held year-round at major cultural institutions, and Korean performing arts pieces will be introduced at the Festival d"Avignon and major theaters in Paris.
• 2nd Korean Tours Festival Held
On February 27th, the second Korean Tours Festival was held in Tours, a city in central France. This large-scale Korean cultural festival was conducted in collaboration with the local municipality, Tours Événements, and over 90% of the visitors were local French people. With more than 11,000 visitors over two days in 2025, it was expanded to three days in 2026. The festival featured not only Korean culture elements such as K-pop and Korean food, but activities such as writing names in Hangeul and a basic Korean conversation experience with local Korean language educators to promote the beauty of the Korean language. Following the Japan Tours Festival, which introduced Japanese culture to France, this festival is becoming a symbolic event showcasing the independent status of Korean culture.
On February 27th, the second Korean Tours Festival was held in Tours, a city in central France. This large-scale Korean cultural festival was conducted in collaboration with the local municipality, Tours Événements, and over 90% of the visitors were local French people. With more than 11,000 visitors over two days in 2025, it was expanded to three days in 2026. The festival featured not only Korean culture elements such as K-pop and Korean food, but activities such as writing names in Hangeul and a basic Korean conversation experience with local Korean language educators to promote the beauty of the Korean language. Following the Japan Tours Festival, which introduced Japanese culture to France, this festival is becoming a symbolic event showcasing the independent status of Korean culture.
| Americas
Canada 20th Toronto Korean Speech Contest to be Held
The twentieth Toronto Korean Speech Contest is scheduled to be held on March 14 at the Earth Science Centre of the University of Toronto. This event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is targeted at non-Koreans and is co-hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto, the Korean Education Centre in Canada, and the University of Toronto"s Centre for the Study of Korea and Department of East Asian Studies. The grand prize winner and the first-place winners in each category will be provided with vouchers to take summer semester Korean language programs sponsored by five universities in Korea, including Seoul National University. Additionally, through side events on the day, there are plans to provide information on summer Korean language learning and cultural experience programs conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization.
The twentieth Toronto Korean Speech Contest is scheduled to be held on March 14 at the Earth Science Centre of the University of Toronto. This event, which celebrates its 20th anniversary this year, is targeted at non-Koreans and is co-hosted by the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Toronto, the Korean Education Centre in Canada, and the University of Toronto"s Centre for the Study of Korea and Department of East Asian Studies. The grand prize winner and the first-place winners in each category will be provided with vouchers to take summer semester Korean language programs sponsored by five universities in Korea, including Seoul National University. Additionally, through side events on the day, there are plans to provide information on summer Korean language learning and cultural experience programs conducted by the Korea Tourism Organization.
| Sources
(Nepal) https://thehimalayantimes.com/
(India) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
(Bulgaria & Croatia) https://bg.mofa.go.kr/
(Poland) Korean Cultural Center, Poland Facebook
(France) The Asia Business Daily
(France) https://www.koreantoursfestival.com/
(Canada) Hankook Ilbo
(India) https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/
(Bulgaria & Croatia) https://bg.mofa.go.kr/
(Poland) Korean Cultural Center, Poland Facebook
(France) The Asia Business Daily
(France) https://www.koreantoursfestival.com/
(Canada) Hankook Ilbo
