Latest Korean Language News
delivered by KSI Correspondents

I Europe

Germany

The Stuttgart City Library began offering loan services for 200 Korean books donated by Seoul’s Nowon District starting on October 18. The collection includes works by author Han Kang and picture books by Suzy Lee, who received the Hans Christian Andersen Award, often referred to as the Nobel Prize in children’s literature.

* Stuttgart City Library: Recognized as one of the seven most beautiful libraries in the world. Designed in 1999 by Korean architect Lee Eun-young, the library’s exterior features the word “library” written in Hangul.
 

Russia

On October 10, Korean-American author Kim Juhea won the Foreign Literature Award category of Russia’s most prestigious literary prize, the Yasnaya Polyana Award (Tolstoy Literary Award) for her novel “Beasts of a Little Land.”

* Yasnaya Polyana Award: Established in 2003 to commemorate the 175th anniversary of Tolstoy's birth, the award is organized by the Leo Tolstoy Museum in partnership with Samsung Electronics Russia.
 

Sweden

The Nobel Prize Committee announced that during the Nobel Prize awarding ceremony on December 10, the final sentence announcing the laureates on stage will be delivered in Korean. Additionally, author Han Kang will deliver the official lecture for the laureates in Korean, with translations provided in English and Swedish.
 

United Kingdom

On November 20, Professor Cho Ji-eun and her research team from the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford announced plans to establish a Korean Studies and Korean Language Research Center at the university. The center will promote research in various areas of Korean culture, including K-pop, dramas, films, and support activities related to the globalization of Hangul and Korean language research.
 

Austria

On November 5, Vienna Airport began displaying welcome and information messages in Korean on the baggage claim area’s electronic display boards. This is the first time a third language, other than English and German, has been used for such services.
 
 

I America

United States

• Netflix has decided to expand the production of foreign language dubbing for Korean dramas and variety shows to cater to international viewers in countries like Brazil and France, who prefer dubbed content over subtitles. To support this, Korean language education has been provided to foreign voice actors.
 

• The American Council on the Teaching of Foreign Languages (ACTFL) held its annual conference from November 19 to 24 in Philadelphia, attended by over 6,000 language experts. The conference featured 12 sessions related to the Korean language.

* ACTFL: A nonprofit organization founded in 1967 specializing in foreign language education. It is the governing body for the OPIc test and the globally recognized ACTFL Proficiency Guidelines for language proficiency.
 

Brazil

From October to November, São Paulo conducted a pilot Korean language class program at two municipal high schools. Based on the results of this pilot program, a decision will be made regarding the expansion of Korean language classes in 2025.
 
 

I Asia

China

The Center for Korean Studies at Ocean University of China hosted the 3rd International Conference from October 25 to 26 under the theme “Communication and Coexistence: Building and Prospects of East Asia from a Humanities Perspective.” The conference was attended by over 50 experts from Korea and China.
 

Thailand

On November 6, the University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce (UTCC) held the “UTCC Academic Week | Korean Day” event for 400 Thai high school students. The event introduced the university's Korean Language Department and provided career counseling sessions.
 
 

I Sources

(Germany): Yonhap News Report
(Russia): Yasnaya Polyana Award Official Website
(Sweden): Yonhap News Report
(United Kingdom): Yonhap News Report
(Austria): Yonhap News Report
(United States): The Korea Times Report
(United States): Report by Correspondent Lee Mi-young
(Brazil): World Korean News Report
(China): Ocean University of China Website
(Thailand): University of the Thai Chamber of Commerce Website