18 New KSI Locations Designated
in 15 Countries for 2024, Expanding to 256 Locations in 88 Countries

> New KSIs designated in Nepal and Cuba, countries without KSIs

> KSI students surpassed 216,000 in 2023

On June 24, the King Sejong Institute Foundation(President Lee Hai-young, hereafter referred to as the KSIF), together with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism(Minister Yu In-chon, hereafter referred to as the MCST), designated 18 new KSI locations in 15 countries for 2024. This expansion allows Korean language and culture classes to be offered in 256 locations across 88 countries worldwide.

In 2023, a total of 216,226 students studied Korean through online and offline classes at KSIs worldwide, marking a 20.8% increase from the 178,973 students in 2022. When the first KSI was established in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2007, there were only 13 locations in three countries with an annual enrollment of 740 students. However, since the KSIF's inception in 2012, systematic support for Korean language proliferation has resulted in over 216,000 students by 2023.

* Number of KSI students: (2020) 101,675 → (2021) 138,425 → (2022) 178,973 → (2023) 216,226
* Number of KSI locations: (2007) 13 locations in 3 countries → (2012) 90 locations in 43 countries → (2014) 130 locations in 55 countries → (2018) 172 locations in 57 countries → (2020) 213 locations in 76 countries → (2023) 248 locations in 85 countries

The recent application process for new KSIs saw 97 institutions from 40 countries apply, recording the highest competition rate* in the past five years at 5.4 to 1. The KSI Designation Review Committee, consisting of experts from various fields such as Korean language education and international cultural exchange, conducted thorough document reviews, on-site inspections, and final evaluations over approximately four months to select 18 locations with excellent operational capabilities.

* Annual competition rates: (2020) 3:1 → (2021) 3.3:1 → (2022) 3.6:1 → (2023) 4.3:1 → (2024) 5.4:1

Notably, Nepal and Cuba, countries without existing KSIs, were designated for the first time this year. Nepal, a country with high demand for Korean language learning due to the Employment Permit System, had limited learning conditions. However, with the designation of a KSI in the capital city of Kathmandu, it is expected to lead systematic Korean language education and cultural proliferation. Additionally, Cuba, which established diplomatic relations with Korea for the first time in 65 years this February, is anticipated to become a center for cultural and human exchanges. The first KSI in Havana, Cuba, is expected to expand the horizon of Korean language proliferation and serve as a center for cultural exchange through Korean in the Latin American region, where interest in learning Korean is high. The 18 newly designated KSIs for this year will undergo the necessary procedures, including the signing of outsourcing contracts, and will be piloted for six months before officially starting operations in 2025.

Moving forward, the KSIF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, plans to regularly evaluate and monitor the operations of existing KSIs to support improvement measures according to the demand for Korean language learning. Furthermore, the KSIF will strengthen its management and supervision to ensure that KSIs are operated effectively by decisively revoking designations where operations are inadequate or not meeting expectations.
 
 

List of New KSI Designations for 2024
 

New Designations by Region/Country
 

* Bold letters indicate countries without existing KSIs(2 countries)