Solution to Korean language education in the digital age
Han Jae-yeong, President of the International Association for Korean Language Education
▲ Profile of Association President Han Jae-yeong
Professor of Korean Language and Literature, College of Humanities, Hanshin University (present); President of the International Association for Korean Language Education (present); Vice President of the Society of Korean Language and Literature (present); Chairman of the Academic Ethics Committee (present); Member of the Korean Language Deliberation Committee (Ministry of Culture and Sports) (present); Advisory Committee Member of the Advisory Council for Democratic Peace and Unification (President) (present); Secretary General, Hanshin University (present)Graduated from Sungkyunkwan University Department of Korean Language and Literature (Bachelor of Arts); Graduated from Seoul National University Graduate School of Korean Language and Literature; Completed Master's Course in Korean Language (Master of Arts)
Research Institute of Korean Language (until August 1989); Professor, University of Ulsan College of Humanities (until February 1996); Visiting Professor, East Asia Studies, Faculty of Foreign Studies, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies (until March 1999); Foreign Researcher at the University of Tsukuba (until August 2000); Visiting Professor, University of New South Wales (until December 2004)
1. The theme of the 52nd Spring Conference of the International Association for Korean Language Education
was 'Teaching Korean Expressions in a Digital Multimedia Environment'. What kind of discussions did you usually have?
As always, what we had in mind to decide on the theme of the conference was based on the question of what is needed in the field.
As a result of the discussion, we thought that the problem of appropriately applying and utilizing teaching methods in an online
digital multimedia environment, which suddenly became a necessity due to the pandemic, was a problem facing Korean language
educators in the field. We hoped that we would be able to find clues in solving the problems many people in the field are facing
through this conference.
With the emergence of Generations Y and Alpha born and raised in a digital media environment with strong individualized learning
needs, AI, single-person content creators, and non-face-to-face learning experiences can compete with the traditional forms of
offline Korean language education in many ways. Through this lecture, we were able to raise awareness of the need for continuous
consideration of changes in the learning environment and improvement of the ability of teachers to adapt to such a changing
environment in Korean language education, the need to rethink the quality of educational content, and the need to respond to such
changes through active collaboration with other fields.
During the special lecture, we examined the pros and cons of media, learners, and educational methods in non-face-to-face Korean
education through one example of Korean education that has been provided in a purely non-face-to-face manner from its inception
(Talk To Me In Korean) by inviting a special guest who has actually succeeded in providing Korean language education on OTT, and
we were able to delve into specific issues regarding preparations that need to be made for the future.
During the presentation session, online Korean language learning contents using Hallyu contents were analyzed, users' patterns of
participation in Korean learning-related videos on YouTube were identified, and discussions on how to use chatbot builders for
Korean language education were held. In addition, we examined the actual condition of Korean language expression education
connected to digital multimedia media based on the case of the National University of Madrid in Spain.
The original intention was to discuss only education on expressions; however, as we watched the conference program being
organized and implemented, we realized that wanting to discuss expression education separately was not thinking outside the box.
The lecture was a meaningful time for identifying the general direction of education in a digital multimedia environment.
2. The King Sejong Institute Foundation also participated in the presentation under the theme of 'Introduction
to Online Korean Language Education at King Sejong Institute in the Non-face-to-face Era'. Currently, KSIF is
making various efforts to find solutions in the non-face-to-face era, such as commencing online operation
of KSI and mobile apps. How do you rate projects like this? Also, do you have advice for the stable promotion
of non-face-to-face Korean language education projects?
The fact that various media need to be used for stable education in the non-face-to-face era has now become well known. I think
there is a need to try and prepare a wide range of video media and applications, as well as real-time communication spaces and
media that we are not yet familiar with.
In that respect, the various efforts made by the KSIF, such as the online operation of KSI and the launch of mobile apps, are obvious
but meaningful efforts to respond to the digital media environment. In order for the non-face-to-face Korean language education
project to be implemented in a stable manner, a consultative body consisting of experts in related fields such as Korean language
education, digital media and communication, and educational engineering should be formed to discuss and predict the long-term
direction for non-face-to-face language education, and specific plans must be established accordingly. It will also be necessary to
develop teachings tool that effectively utilize the virtual space for using the existing teaching contents and teaching methods in
real-time offline classes held at local KSIs.
An example would be lesson tools that can be used for providing various cultural experiences by securing contents suitable for VR.
3. What will the Korean class in the future non-face-to-face era look like? What might be the right direction
for Korean language education to go in with the transition to a digital environment?
It seems that we are already familiar with the advantages of the digital environment through the non-face-to-face situations that we
have come to experience involuntarily. In the future, I think that non-face-to-face online learning will be more active than ever before.
In particular, the field of Korean language education for learners outside of Korea is expected to transition to a non-face-to-face
online situation. Just as we have been doing so far, I think that teaching methods and textbooks specialized in new environments and
media will be reorganized from a new innovative perspective.
Nevertheless, it is difficult to deny that the advantages of face-to-face education will still exist. In that respect, it will be an important
task in the future to find ways to effectively implement non-face-to-face learning methods in harmony with face-to-face methods
according to the learning stage, the lesson contents, and the learning tendencies of learners.
4. Please share your wishes and sincere advice for the KSIF moving forward.
Since KSIF was founded, its achievements have been remarkable. As KSIF has mainly been focused on quantitative expansion in the
past, it is surprising to see that through the recently opened King Sejong Institute, KSIF is seeking diversity in the contents of education
and teaching methods as well as the operation of KSI. I am grateful to those who remember the days of the predecessor to KSIF,
the Foundation for the Globalization of Korean Language, and the Korean Globalization Promotion Committee, which was the
birthplace of the King Sejong Institute Foundation.
However, it should not be forgotten that there is still more path left to walk than the path we have walked so far. In front of us, there
is a demand for Korean language and culture waiting in India, Arab countries, Africa and South America. I think the path that lies
ahead will not be so difficult compared to the path that lies behind us. I believe that the experience accumulated by the King Sejong
Institute Foundation will be a tremendous strength when walking this path.