> ‘Online KSI Seoul’ opened on July 1st (www.iksi.or.kr).

KSIF (President Lee Haiyoung) has partnered with the Seoul Metropolitan Government to run a 6-month pilot program for an online King Sejong Institute, ‘Online KSI Seoul’ (www.iksi.or.kr) on July 1st, as a way of supporting Korean language education for foreign residents living in Seoul as well as those wishing to immigrate to Korea.

Anyone wishing to learn Korean can study Korean regardless of time and location on the online education platform ‘Online KSI Seoul,’ made possible by collaborative efforts between KSIF and the Seoul Metropolitan Government.

Foreign nationals interested in learning Korean can sign up for various Korean courses during the 6-month pilot period the Online KSI Seoul is in operation. Some courses offered include ‘Cyber Korean’ for learners of varying proficiency, ‘Korean for International Workers’ developed in collaboration with Human Resources Development Service of Korea, and ‘K-Wave Korean’ for K-Pop and K-drama enthusiasts.

The two institutions are planning on expanding the scope of collaboration in the future to reach more potential learners of the Korean language and culture by leveraging their resources and expertise. This pilot program is part of the KSIF’s goal to operate a nationwide online KSI cooperative with local governments in order to widen the opportunities for the underprivileged who wish to study the Korean language. “We are confident that a nationwide online KSI cooperative with local governments will make quality Korean education available to more learners, build a good reputation for the country, and reach more people interested in the Korean language and culture,” pointed out President LEE.