Latest Korean language news
delivered by KSI correspondents
I Asia
Saudi Arabia
On May 30, the College of Humanities at Prince Sultan University marked the first semester(January to May) of
offering 'Basic Korean' as an elective, the first university in Saudi Arabia to do so. Six students from Prince
Sultan University completed the ‘Basic Korean’ course.
Iran
• On April 23, the head of the East Asian Languages and Literature department at Tehran University,
Ayat Hoseini, celebrated the opening of the department’s office, stating, "Currently, the department
focuses on Chinese and Japanese, but plans to introduce Korean courses soon."
• On May 23, three graduates of KSI who opened the Korean language academy KFL (Korean Fast
Learning) in Tehran held a TOPIK preparation special lecture attended by 30 locals interested in
learning Korean.
Indonesia
On May 16, about 20 students majoring in Korean at Universitas Nasional(one of the four universities in
Indonesia offering a four-year major in Korean) visited the Korean Cultural Center in Indonesia. They received
explanations about university life in Korea and experienced Korean culture.
China
• Since 2022, Sichuan Science and Innovation Technology High School has been operating a Korean
language club and conducted a Korean language class on May 16.
• At Sichuan Electronics Science and Technology University, located in the same region, over 100 students
have been enrolling in Korean language classes each semester since the 'Korean Conversation' course
was established as a general education subject in 2020.
China(Taiwan)
The enrollment quota for the Department of Korean Language and Literature at the Chinese Culture University has
approximately doubled in five years(from 60 to 110 students). The number of TOPIK(Test of Proficiency in Korean)
examinees has tripled from about 3,000 in 2011 to nearly 10,000 in 2023.
Thailand
On May 21, the Royal Chulalongkorn University in Bangkok hosted the 4th Korean Studies Conference in 2024 as
part of the opening celebration for its Korean Studies Center.
I Americas
Brazil
• On May 20, the São Paulo Department of Education signed a memorandum of understanding with the
Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in São Paulo to officially designate Korean as a second foreign
language. São Paulo city plans to actively promote Korean language education in primary and secondary
schools across Brazil.
• On May 21, the Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas(PCU-Campinas) conducted a reading discussion on
the Portuguese version of the Korean novel during an event at its Korea Corner.
Colombia
In May, the Colombian National Police Academy concluded the first half of 2024's beginner Korean language
classes in collaboration with KSI Bogotá, with about 40 police officers completing the course.
I Europe
Russia
In May, Korean language classes started as after-school programs at Arista Middle School and School No. 639 in
Saint Petersburg, successfully running through the first semester and graduating about 50 students.
United Kingdom
On May 14, the British Museum released an audio tour recorded by the K-pop group NewJeans as a donation,
available through its official app.
I Source
(Saudi Arabia) Article from KSI Riyadh website
(Iran) Official website of Tehran University / Report KSI Tehran Correspondents
(Indonesia) Official website of the Korean Cultural Center in Indonesia
(China) Report from a Korean language teacher at Sichuan Science and Innovation Technology High School
(China (Taiwan)) Report from YTN News
(Thailand) Official website article of Royal Chulalongkorn University
(Brazil) Press release from the Korean Education Institute in São Paulo
/ SNS of the Korea Corner at Pontifical Catholic University of Campinas
(Colombia) Report from KSI Bogotá correspondent
(Russia) Report from a local teacher at KSI Saint Petersburg / SNS of Arista Middle School and School No. 639
(United Kingdom) Official SNS of the British Museum