Latest Korean Language and Korean Culture News Delivered by KSI Correspondents
글쓴이홍보협력팀
태그
작성일 2026-09-18
조회수70
Latest Korean Language and Korean Culture News
Delivered by KSI Correspondents
Delivered by KSI Correspondents
| Americas
Brazil Piracicaba, Brazil, Officially Designates “Korean Culture Week”
On July 13, the city of Piracicaba in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, enacted Law No. 10608, officially designating the week that includes August 15 each year as “Korean Culture Week” (Semana da Cultura Coreana).
Previously, the city of Sao Paulo designated August 15 as “Korean Culture Day” in 2017, followed by Sao Paulo State in 2022. Through this new law, Piracicaba has expanded what had been a one-day commemoration of Korean culture into a weeklong celebration. Meanwhile, the 19th Korean Culture Day event was held from August 15 to 16 at Praça Coronel Fernando Prestes in Bom Retiro, São Paulo. The two-day event drew around 100,000 visitors and featured a wide range of programs, including traditional performances, a K-pop concert, hansik and hanbok experiences, and a study-in-Korea fair. In particular, this year marked the first time since Korean Culture Day was designated that the related festival was held on August 15 itself.
On July 13, the city of Piracicaba in Sao Paulo State, Brazil, enacted Law No. 10608, officially designating the week that includes August 15 each year as “Korean Culture Week” (Semana da Cultura Coreana).
Previously, the city of Sao Paulo designated August 15 as “Korean Culture Day” in 2017, followed by Sao Paulo State in 2022. Through this new law, Piracicaba has expanded what had been a one-day commemoration of Korean culture into a weeklong celebration. Meanwhile, the 19th Korean Culture Day event was held from August 15 to 16 at Praça Coronel Fernando Prestes in Bom Retiro, São Paulo. The two-day event drew around 100,000 visitors and featured a wide range of programs, including traditional performances, a K-pop concert, hansik and hanbok experiences, and a study-in-Korea fair. In particular, this year marked the first time since Korean Culture Day was designated that the related festival was held on August 15 itself.
| Asia
Malaysia University of Malaya to Launch Malaysia’s First Bachelor’s Program in Korean
On July 18, the University of Malaya (UM), together with the Korean Education Center in Malaysia (KEC), hosted “The 21st Korean Speech Contest 2026.”
The event was attended by Hasniza Zaman Huri, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UM, and Ambassador Yeo Seung-bae of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia, among others. At the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Hasniza announced plans to open Malaysia’s first specialized undergraduate program in Korean, the “Bachelor of Korean Communication,” starting next year. Ambassador Yeo noted that the contest was especially meaningful because it returned to UM for the first time in seven years since 2019. He also said the launch of the bachelor’s program would be an important opportunity to expand access to systematic and in-depth Korean language learning in Malaysia.
On July 18, the University of Malaya (UM), together with the Korean Education Center in Malaysia (KEC), hosted “The 21st Korean Speech Contest 2026.”
The event was attended by Hasniza Zaman Huri, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of UM, and Ambassador Yeo Seung-bae of the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia, among others. At the event, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Hasniza announced plans to open Malaysia’s first specialized undergraduate program in Korean, the “Bachelor of Korean Communication,” starting next year. Ambassador Yeo noted that the contest was especially meaningful because it returned to UM for the first time in seven years since 2019. He also said the launch of the bachelor’s program would be an important opportunity to expand access to systematic and in-depth Korean language learning in Malaysia.
Indonesia Palembang Successfully Holds “Korean Festival 2026”
The “Korean Festival 2026” was held from July 15 to 19 at Indah Mall in Palembang, Indonesia.
The event was jointly organized by a local shopping mall operator and Hansarang Club Palembang, a private group of Korean culture enthusiasts. Based on its interest in the Korean language and Korean culture, Hansarang Club Palembang has carried out a wide range of Korean culture promotion activities, including Korean language education at local elementary, middle, and high schools, volunteer work, and broadcasting. The event was especially meaningful because it was led by a private community group in Palembang, where there is no Korean Cultural Center or KSI. During the festival, participants enjoyed diverse programs to experience the Korean language and Korean culture, including a Hangeul calligraphy contest, traditional dance performances, a Korean cooking contest, a K-pop dance cover competition, and K-beauty experiences.
The “Korean Festival 2026” was held from July 15 to 19 at Indah Mall in Palembang, Indonesia.
The event was jointly organized by a local shopping mall operator and Hansarang Club Palembang, a private group of Korean culture enthusiasts. Based on its interest in the Korean language and Korean culture, Hansarang Club Palembang has carried out a wide range of Korean culture promotion activities, including Korean language education at local elementary, middle, and high schools, volunteer work, and broadcasting. The event was especially meaningful because it was led by a private community group in Palembang, where there is no Korean Cultural Center or KSI. During the festival, participants enjoyed diverse programs to experience the Korean language and Korean culture, including a Hangeul calligraphy contest, traditional dance performances, a Korean cooking contest, a K-pop dance cover competition, and K-beauty experiences.
Kazakhstan Turan University in Kazakhstan Opens Kazakhstan-Korea Cooperation Center
On July 1, the opening ceremony for the “54th World Friends Korea PAS Youth Volunteer Summer Camp 2026” and the opening ceremony of the “Kazakhstan-Korea Cooperation Center” were held at Turan University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The event was attended by key figures from both countries, faculty members, students, and volunteers, including Kim Beom-su, president of the Pacific Asia Society (PAS), and Rakhman Alshanov, president of Turan University. The cooperation center was established under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Turan University and PAS in January. The center will operate as an educational and cultural platform supporting Korean language and Korean culture education, academic exchange, youth leadership programs, start-up and career development, as well as a hub for exchange with the local Koryo-saram community. PAS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1994 that works to promote friendship with countries in the Pacific and Asia region, international youth exchange, and overseas volunteer programs. Meanwhile, the youth volunteer summer camp, held from June 28 to July 11, featured various programs, including Korean language classes, taekwondo, traditional Korean games, and exchanges with Korean university students.
On July 1, the opening ceremony for the “54th World Friends Korea PAS Youth Volunteer Summer Camp 2026” and the opening ceremony of the “Kazakhstan-Korea Cooperation Center” were held at Turan University in Almaty, Kazakhstan.
The event was attended by key figures from both countries, faculty members, students, and volunteers, including Kim Beom-su, president of the Pacific Asia Society (PAS), and Rakhman Alshanov, president of Turan University. The cooperation center was established under a memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed by Turan University and PAS in January. The center will operate as an educational and cultural platform supporting Korean language and Korean culture education, academic exchange, youth leadership programs, start-up and career development, as well as a hub for exchange with the local Koryo-saram community. PAS is a non-governmental organization (NGO) established in 1994 that works to promote friendship with countries in the Pacific and Asia region, international youth exchange, and overseas volunteer programs. Meanwhile, the youth volunteer summer camp, held from June 28 to July 11, featured various programs, including Korean language classes, taekwondo, traditional Korean games, and exchanges with Korean university students.
| Africa
Egypt Aswan University Department of Korean Resumes Education with New Faculty Appointments
The Department of Korean at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Aswan University, Egypt, officially announced on August 1 that it would resume Korean language education for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The department had faced difficulties in operation due to a shortage of faculty, but with the approval of the appointment of two Korean faculty members, it is now able to resume its curriculum. The Faculty of Al-Alsun at Aswan University is a college specializing in languages and translation, operating departments in various languages including English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Persian. Along with the resumption of Korean language education, the faculty also announced plans to establish a German department.
The Department of Korean at the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Aswan University, Egypt, officially announced on August 1 that it would resume Korean language education for the 2026-2027 academic year.
The department had faced difficulties in operation due to a shortage of faculty, but with the approval of the appointment of two Korean faculty members, it is now able to resume its curriculum. The Faculty of Al-Alsun at Aswan University is a college specializing in languages and translation, operating departments in various languages including English, Spanish, French, Russian, and Persian. Along with the resumption of Korean language education, the faculty also announced plans to establish a German department.
| Europe
United Kingdom The Languages Gateway Spotlights Korean Amid Crisis in Foreign Language Education in the UK
On July 15, The Languages Gateway, the United Kingdom’s national language strategy platform, published a report titled “Learning ‘K-’ in the UK: Reimagining MFL Education from a ‘Trans-’ Perspective,” written by Alfred W. T. Lo, a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford.
The report noted that modern foreign languages (MFL) education in UK public education is facing challenges amid an English-centered language environment and declining enrollment in traditional European languages. Against this backdrop, it focused on the voluntary rise in demand for learning Korean, a language with relatively limited historical or geographical ties to the UK. In particular, it pointed out that, unlike conventional foreign language education, which has tended to emphasize employment or economic practicality, Korean language learning is often motivated by interest in Hallyu and Korean culture. The report also suggested that for this interest to lead to continued Korean learning in public education, an educational model is needed that links language learning not only with popular culture, but also with Korean history, society, and everyday culture.
On July 15, The Languages Gateway, the United Kingdom’s national language strategy platform, published a report titled “Learning ‘K-’ in the UK: Reimagining MFL Education from a ‘Trans-’ Perspective,” written by Alfred W. T. Lo, a doctoral researcher at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, University of Oxford.
The report noted that modern foreign languages (MFL) education in UK public education is facing challenges amid an English-centered language environment and declining enrollment in traditional European languages. Against this backdrop, it focused on the voluntary rise in demand for learning Korean, a language with relatively limited historical or geographical ties to the UK. In particular, it pointed out that, unlike conventional foreign language education, which has tended to emphasize employment or economic practicality, Korean language learning is often motivated by interest in Hallyu and Korean culture. The report also suggested that for this interest to lead to continued Korean learning in public education, an educational model is needed that links language learning not only with popular culture, but also with Korean history, society, and everyday culture.
| Source
(Brazil) https://bomdianews.com
(Malaysia) https://twentytwo13.my/
(Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/DakZaa3lJHE
(Kazakhstan) https://turan.edu.kz
(Egypt) Official Facebook page of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Aswan University
(United Kingdom) https://www.thelanguagesgateway.uk/
(Malaysia) https://twentytwo13.my/
(Indonesia) https://www.instagram.com/p/DakZaa3lJHE
(Kazakhstan) https://turan.edu.kz
(Egypt) Official Facebook page of the Faculty of Al-Alsun, Aswan University
(United Kingdom) https://www.thelanguagesgateway.uk/
