KSI Center France introduces the charm of Hangeul and Hanji to the global audience at the 2024 Paris Olympics

> From July 19 to 20, a 'Korean Language and Culture Experience One-Day Class' was held at the Paris Korea Center

> Designated as an official event of the Paris Olympics (Olympiade Culturelle), it garnered signifi cant interest and response from foreigners

The King Sejong Institute Foundation (President Lee Hai-young, hereinafter referred to as the KSIF) held a one-day class on Korean language and culture for foreigners at the Paris Korea Center from July 19 to 20. Organized by the KSI Center France, the class was themed "Hangeul and Hanji, Korea's Language and Paper Art" and aimed to introduce Korean language and culture to the international crowd gathered in Paris for the Olympics.
 
 

(Left Photo) Participants of the 'Korean Language and Culture Experience One-Day Class' learning about the creation of Hangeul
(Right Photo) Participants engaging in a Hanji craft session, making red dahlias, the official flower of the Paris Olympics

100 foreigners who were new to Korean language and culture participated in this one-day class, which was conducted in four sessions over two days, each consisting of a 30-minute Korean language lesson and a one-hour Hanji craft experience. During the Korean lessons, participants gained an understanding of the significance of the creation of Hangeul and learned to write in Korean. The subsequent Hanji craft session explored the cultural value of Hanji as a heritage material, with participants creating red dahlias using Hanji. Additionally, foreigners visiting the Paris Korea Center engaged in various activities such as trying on Hanbok, decorating fans, and participating in quizzes about Korea in the cultural experience space set up inside the center.
 
 

Visitors at the Paris Korea Center decorating their own fans using colorful Hanji

This event, designated as an official Paris Olympics event (Olympiade Culturelle) through collaboration with the Korean Cultural Center in France, garnered substantial interest from foreigners, attracting more than double the expected number of participants from the initial registration. President Lee Hai-young of KSIF expressed hope that the Korean language and culture experience from this one-day class would remain a special and meaningful memory for the foreign participants visiting KSI Center France in the lead-up to the Olympics.
 
 

Scenes from the 'Korean Language and Culture Experience One-Day Class' held at KSI Center France

The 'Korean Language and Culture Experience One-Day Class' held at KSI Center France for the 2024 Paris Olympics will be featured in the 'France' episode of KBS 1TV's ‘Backpack Travels’, airing on Saturday, August 10.