Srija Paul, who won the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award at the 2023 KSI Korean Speech Contest

We met with Srija Paul, who received the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Award at the 2023 KSI Korean Speech and Writing Contests held on October 10, 2023. The story of Srija Paul, who has been studying Korean in earnest through her love for Korea and Korean songs, shows the rules of success: If you want something bad enough, you will find a way.

Hello! Congratulations on winning the 2023 KSI Korean Speech Contest. Please tell us about yourself.

I am Srija Paul, a 19-year-old living in New Delhi, India. It"s been a little over three years since I started learning Korean. I am studying Korean at KSI Korean Cultural Center, India, and majoring in English literature at Amity University. I am also working as a Korean language instructor at a multinational company called I-KETS. Because my dream is to become a singer, I am also studying music.

You said that you encountered Korean by listening to BTS songs six years ago and started learning Korean to understand the lyrics better. Does that mean it"s been six years since you started learning Korean?

It"s been about three years since I started learning Korean in earnest. I started learning about Korea and its culture in 2017 by enjoying Korean songs and dramas. Then, as I became very interested in Korean songs, I started learning the language through YouTube and language learning apps. I wanted to understand the lyrics better, so I applied for a beginner’s class at KSI Korean Cultural Center, India in 2020, but I failed the interview. I learned Korean for two years online at the India-Korea Center Pune, and then joined the KSI Korean Cultural Center, India beginning of this year.

What made you choose KSI Korean Cultural Center, India, among many ways to learn Korean?

Although I studied Korean alone and online for a long time, I had always wanted to enter KSI Korean Cultural Center, India from the beginning. They have a better learning system than any other places, and provide various opportunities for learners through Korean cultural events and various competitions online and offline. They also have beautifully decorated classes and cultural experience spaces. I wanted to feel closer to the country in this place.
When I studied Korean online, I didn’t really enjoy it. However, after I started studying Korean at KSI Korean Cultural Center India, I was happy that I got the chance to meet teachers in person to learn Korean and let them get to know me.

I wonder how you developed your Korean skill to win the KSI Korean Speech Contest.

First of all, I think I was able to learn a lot of Korean naturally by being interested in Korean songs. I practiced imitating the accent and speaking style of Korean women. I also practiced listening by writing down the lyrics line by line while listening to Korean songs. Lately, I’ve been studying Korean by watching Korean animations without subtitles. I also started reading self-help books written in Korean.

What did you think when you participated in the 2023 Korean Speech and Writing Contest?

I was determined to take every opportunity related to Korea to achieve my dream. That is why I decided to participate in this contest. In particular, the fact that the winners get to study in Korea motivated me to prepare for this contest with more passion.

The theme for this speech contest was “The dream I want to achieve with Korean language, my challenge,” and you presented with the title “The dream to become a singer in Korea, the desire to express myself with beautiful songs in Korean.” What is the reason you want to become a singer who sings in Korean?

My parents are both professional singers, and they taught me classical Indian music since I was young. However, I fell in love with Korean songs, and eventually dreamed to become a singer in Korea. The reason I want to become a singer in Korea is because I feel a sense of connection to Korea that is hard to explain in words. The emotions I feel when I sing in Korean are something that I had never felt with songs in other languages. I believe this is also the charm of Korean language. The lyrics of Korean ballad songs, in particular, fill my heart with so many emotions. I think I became more determined to be a singer after seeing those wonderful singers who express those lyrics with beautiful voices.

I assume that you wrote your script according to the theme and practiced speaking with it. Did you have any difficulties? If you did, how did you overcome it?

I received the topic two days before leaving for Korea, when I was in the middle of packing, so I was completely overwhelmed. I can’t even remember how many times I revised the script during those two days. However, since I had decided to tell my true thoughts regardless of how my presentation was evaluated, I made final edits and finished my script in the hotel lobby on the first day I arrived in Korea. Then I started memorizing the script from that night. I had not strength at all when I returned from the program, but I slept less and practiced more.

You toured various places in Korea through the “2023 Korean Cultural Experience Program for King Sejong Institute Learners.” What are your impressions on visiting Korea in person? Which place do you remember the most?

Many people asked me the same question when I returned to India, and I got emotional each time. It was the most special, dream-like moment of my life to actually see Korea, which is something I had desperately longed to do for the past six years. I had even cried secretly while traveling by bus, looking at all the pretty places in Korea. However, I would like to share the feeling that I had on the cruise on Hangang River on the last night of the contest. I sat quietly and enjoyed the beautiful night view of Seoul. Hangang River was a place where I wanted to go the most in Seoul, and the last night was so special to me because it was the day I had received the Grand Prize. On that day, I wasn’t the only one crying. Most of the participants also cried at the thought of leaving Korea. The love I got from other participants of the program was very special, and it was amazing to see that Korea was getting so much love.

Can you give a word of advice to those who are preparing for KSI Korean Speech and Writing Contests in the future?

I am sure that everyone is participating in this contest with some kind of a goal or a dream. Even if you feel insecure or worried when you go on stage, just believe in yourself and think about your dream. You will gain confidence and courage. And first of all, write your script with sincerity. Whatever the theme is, if you write your script with sincere heart, you will be able to memorize it better and your feelings will be conveyed to people, giving you good results.

What kinds of classes do you want to take at KSI in the future?

I am currently taking Sejong Korean 3B*, an intermediate course at KSI. Once I complete the intermediate course which is up to Sejong Korean 4B, I would like to be trained to use Korean more professionally. And I think all the students will like it if classes were provided to help them understand Korean culture more deeply.

* King Sejong Institute around the world operates the “KSI Basic Curriculum” for foreign learners to study Korean at each stage of their proficiency. It is divided into beginner (Sejong Korean 1A, 2B, 2A, 2B) and intermediate (Sejong Korean 3A, 3B, 4A, 4B) courses.