2024 KSI Specialization Project: Paving the
Way for Korean Tourism Guides
KSI Ulaanbaatar1, Mongolia

Since 2016, the King Sejong Institute Foundation has been operating the "KSI Specialization Project," which tailors programs for the dissemination of the Korean language and culture to the unique circumstances of each institute. This year marks the second year that KSI Ulaanbaatar 1, Mongolia has conducted the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program as part of its specialization project. We spoke with Che Sirchima, a staff at the institute, about the achievements of the training program, the rewards of the initiative, and the joy of her work.

Hello, Ms. Sirchima! It’s a pleasure to meet you. Could you start by introducing yourself to our Monthly Knock Knock readers and share your role in managing the 2024 KSI Specialization Project?
 

Hello, I’m Che Sirchima, a staff at KSI Ulaanbaatar1. I’ve been working at the King Sejong Institute for over two years. Among the various projects undertaken by our institute, I have been in charge of the KSI Specialization Project for two years, starting in 2023. My responsibilities include overseeing the entire process—from application and implementation to final reporting.
 

Could you tell us about the background behind applying for the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program as part of the specialization project for two consecutive years?
 

There are several reasons why KSI Ulaanbaatar 1 applied for the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program as a specialization project for two years in a row, primarily tied to Mongolia’s unique circumstances. First, the increasing number of Korean tourists visiting Mongolia, coupled with the Mongolian government’s initiatives, made it feasible to plan the program. As the COVID-19 pandemic gradually subsided, visits from Korean tourists to Mongolia surged. To revitalize the economy, which had been affected by the pandemic, the Mongolian government designated 2023–2025 as the "Years to Visit Mongolia," aiming to attract 1 million international tourists by the end of 2024. As part of these efforts, visa-free entry for South Koreans was allowed through 2024. Moreover, according to the Mongolian Statistical Information System, the number of Korean visitors to Mongolia exceeded 100,000 for the first time in 2019. Although the pandemic caused a temporary decline, the number rebounded sharply to 139,512 in 2023. In that year, South Korea ranked second in terms of the number of foreign tourists visiting Mongolia, following Russia. By October 2024, the number of Korean tourists had already surpassed 170,000, and the figure is expected to continue rising in the future.

Despite the rising number of Korean tourists in Mongolia, there was a lack of professional tour guides catering specifically to their needs. While many Mongolians were proficient in Korean, there was a significant shortage of guides capable of conveying detailed knowledge about Mongolia’s geography, history, culture, religion, and nature in Korean. This gap led to persistent dissatisfaction and inconvenience for Korean tourists, as translations and interpretations at key Mongolian tourist sites were insufficient. Recognizing the necessity of "Professional Guide Training for Customer Satisfaction," KSI Ulaanbaatar 1 initiated the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program as part of the specialization project. The program aimed to enhance the quality of tourism guides by improving their Korean language skills, understanding of historical and cultural terminology from both countries, and foundational guide etiquette.

The continuation of the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program in 2024, following its launch in 2023, was largely due to the high satisfaction rates among participants. The program not only increased employment opportunities for trainees in travel agencies but also offered intermediate and advanced Korean learners a practical, diverse learning environment to enhance their communication skills. These outcomes solidified the program’s success and led to its operation for a second consecutive year.
 
 

Who typically applies and participates in the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program? Were there specific selection criteria or notable characteristics among the trainees?
 

The 2024 training program selected 30 participants from 50 applicants through an interview process. Anyone aged 16 or older who met the criteria—such as achieving Level 4 or higher on the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), or being a Korean translator, interpreter, or guide—was eligible to apply. Most successful candidates were either currently working as tour guides or had previous guide experience. Among them were university students studying Korean. The program graduated 19 participants in 2023 and 24 participants in 2024.
 

How can someone obtain a tour guide license in Mongolia? What steps are required to work as a tour guide, and how does completing the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program help in this process?
 

The Mongolian Tourism Association and the Professional Guide Interpreter Association administer a multi-step certification process for tour guides. This December, they conducted the first-ever licensing exam, which included 21 days of training and practical sessions covering foundational knowledge and essential skills for tour guides. Graduates of the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program, with its focus on the unique specialization of "Korean-language professional guides," benefit from gaining both knowledge and hands-on experience. This comprehensive preparation is expected to make obtaining the certification significantly easier for them.
 

The museum practicum sounds particularly intriguing. How was the practicum conducted for the trainees?
 

The practicum for the training program followed the official process for acquiring a Mongolian tour guide license, consisting of two main parts: general tour guide practice and Korean-language specialized tour guide practice. First, during the bus ride to the museum, the trainees were evaluated on skills essential for general tour guides. At the museum, their abilities as Korean-language professional tour guides were assessed. Prior to the museum practicum, classroom sessions were held where trainees learned Mongolian history and culture-related terminology and studied museum guiding techniques. Korean language teachers assisted by correcting pronunciation during these lessons. A week before the practicum, trainees visited the museum as tourists, receiving guidance in Mongolian to prepare for their role.

The museum practicum is a critical component, as successful completion often determines whether a trainee graduates from the program. Simply having proficiency in Korean is not enough; without knowledge of Mongolian history and culture, it is impossible to provide proper explanations during the practicum.

On the day of the practicum, the sequence of turns and topics for explanations were determined by drawing lots. The practicum took place at two key locations in Ulaanbaatar: the National Museum of Mongolia and the Bogd Khaan Palace Museum. Once the museum and exhibition hall were assigned, each trainee acted as a tour guide, explaining the exhibits to an audience comprising their fellow trainees, instructors, and KSI representatives, who played the role of tourists. During the practicum, instructors asked questions and provided additional feedback. This year, 28 trainees participated in the museum practicum.
 
 

After running the same program for two consecutive years, were there any improvements or adjustments made based on previous experiences? Could you share any noticeable changes or unique aspects of this year's program?
 

This year, we streamlined the lectures and practical sessions into a shorter timeframe to enable trainees to enter the field more quickly and to make on-site practice more efficient. Additionally, we hosted the “Roundtable with Alumni of the First Training Program”, inviting outstanding graduates from the first cohort to share their experiences. They discussed how they applied what they learned in the field, as well as mistakes they made and tips to avoid them as a guide.

Another new feature this year was the use of a trainee chatroom, where graduates could continue to share their field experiences, observations, and updates about various tourist sites after completing the program. This allowed alumni to support one another, and instructors could provide advice when problems arose. This initiative ensured that learning and collaboration extended beyond the classroom.

Lastly, as part of external collaboration, we actively participated in volunteer activities organized by the newly established Korean Tour Guide Association. These activities helped promote our Korean Tourism Guide Training Program and created further opportunities for cooperation.
 
 

What have been the achievements of the training program over the past two years? Could you share any examples of graduates who are now working as tour guides or contributing to the dissemination of Korean language and culture based on their training?
 

This year’s Korean Tourism Guide Training Program included many trainees with advanced Korean language proficiency. Among the participants, five were already working as guides for local Mongolian travel agencies, with experience ranging from 1 to 7 years. The cohort also included 12 university students preparing to become tour guides, a 16-year-old high school student who had grown up in Korea, and two individuals operating their own travel agencies.

Over the two years of running the program, a significant achievement has been the hiring of graduates by local travel agencies. To support the graduates, KSI Ulaanbaatar 1 established agreements with travel agencies to provide summer internship opportunities. Representatives from these agencies visited KSI Ulaanbaatar 1 to conduct interviews with trainees. As a result, companies such as Bayan Travel, Sky Trip, and Joy Mongolia hired graduates from the program as tour guides.

The training program has also garnered considerable media attention. In Korea, KBS and YTN covered the program, while Eagle TV in Mongolia broadcast related segments. These media appearances helped promote KSI Ulaanbaatar 1 and its contributions to Korean language education.
 

*Broadcast Programs Featuring the "Korean Tourism Guide Training Program"

KBS ❬Hanminjok Hanaro News❭ Episode 83 2023.05.17
KBS ❬World Hanminjok Network: Mongolia News❭ Episode 51 2023.05.24
KBS ❬Hanminjok Hanaro: Friday Meeting❭ 2023.06.09
YTN ❬Global Korean❭ Overflowing "Korean Masters" in Mongvolia
　　– 30 Years of Spreading Hangeul, Dreams of the Korean Diaspora
Mongolia TV Eagle News ❬Practicum Presentation❭ 2023.09.25
Mongolia TV Eagle News ❬Practicum Presentation❭ 2024.10.19
 
 

Lastly, graduates and tourists have reported increased satisfaction as a result of the program. The Korean-language tourism guides traveled across Mongolia with tourists, introducing the country in Korean, which significantly enhanced the tourists’ experiences. Graduates who worked as guides also expressed a sense of fulfillment. I, too, graduated from the training program in 2023. My first assignment was guiding a package tour where most tourists were university directors and professors. Thanks to what I learned during the program, I gained confidence as a Korean tourism guide and became more adept with time. Watching the graduates remain busy as guides throughout the summer made me proud, and it also improved the image of KSI Ulaanbaatar 1, which was deeply rewarding. Graduates often visited the King Sejong Institute to express their gratitude to the instructors, coordinators, and KSIF. Over the two years of the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program, interest in the program has steadily increased. It’s exciting to see more inquiries via our KSI Facebook page or phone calls about when next year’s program will start.
 
 

If you apply for the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program as part of next year’s KSI Specialization Project, what aspects will be crucial? Could you share your insights based on your experience running the program?
 

The most important factor when starting the specialization project is its timing. In Mongolia, the tourism season typically runs from early May to late October. For optimal results, the Korean Tourism Guide Training Program should begin in the fall or winter, but it must start no later than early March. This ensures that practical training conducted in Ulaanbaatar can transition effectively to actual heritage sites, making lectures and practicum more impactful. I would like to thank KSIF for providing such an excellent opportunity to Korean-language guides in Mongolia through the specialization project. Lastly, I want to extend my gratitude to the KSI director, institute staff, instructors, and members of the Korean Tourism Guide Association who contributed to this project.