KSIF announces the five best KSI locations in 2023

> As a result of the 2023 KSI operational evaluation, KSI Bogota, Brussels, Bishkek, Tainan, and Tallinn were selected as the best KSIs

President Lee Hai-young, leading the King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF), selected five locations as the best-performing KSIs as a result of the 2023 KSI operational evaluation. These locations include KSI Bogota, Colombia (Asia-Ibero-America Cultural Foundation), KSI Brussels, Belgium (Korean Culture and Education Association in Belgium), KSI Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan (Kyrgyz National Arabaev University-Kyungwoon University), KSI Tainan, China (Taiwan) (Kun Shan University-Korea University of Media Arts), and KSI Tallinn, Estonia (Tallinn University).

Among them, KSI Bishkek has experienced an explosive increase in student numbers, growing over 2,000% in the 10 years since its opening in 2013 (from 58 students in 2013 to 1,296 in 2022, reflecting a 2,134% increase). In 2023, the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism recognized and commended the institute for its outstanding operational performance and collaboration with various institutions to promote Korean language and culture.

The KSI Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, received recognition for its excellent operational performance and a commendation from the Minister of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.

The 2023 KSI operational evaluation was conducted on 140 KSI locations that had operated consistently without interruption in 2022. KSIF, in collaboration with the Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism, conducted a fair and objective evaluation through written evaluations, on-site assessments, appeals, and evaluation committee reviews of the operational performance of each KSI location for the year of 2022.

The five selected KSI locations, including those in Bogotá and Brussels, have demonstrated outstanding results in cultivating excellent learners, securing students, collaborating with external organizations, and organizing Korean language learning and cultural events. KSIF plans to provide additional support funds, prioritize them for specialized support programs, and qualify them as the leader (mentor) institute for other KSI locations. Furthermore, KSIF aims to encourage the worldwide sharing and dissemination of the operational practices of these best KSIs. It will actively support improvement in areas that may be lacking through ongoing operational consultations for locations requiring enhancement.