Named after Sejong the Great (1387~1450) who invented Hangeul, the state-run King Sejong Institute opened its first center in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia in 2007 to promote Korean language and culture globally. As of 2023, there were some 248 institutes in about 85 countries, with some 216,226 online and offline students.
Thanks to the growing global popularity of K-pop and Korean soaps, there has been a surge in demand for these language institutes. According to the ministry, nearly 100 organizations from 40 countries applied to open such branches on their campuses. After thorough evaluations, 18 candidates in 15 countries were selected this time with Cuba and Nepal included for the first time.
Nepal has shown growing interest in Korean language due to a large number of Nepalese workers heading to Korea. About 500,000 Nepalese workers and their families migrate to Korea annually. To obtain a three-year visa, they are required to score an average of 60 out of 100 on the EPS-TOPIK, a test of proficiency in Korean.
Cuba, which restored bilateral relations with Korea in February this year, will see its first King Sejong Institute open in Havana.
"The first King Sejong Institute in Havana is expected to expand the learning of the Korean language and become a hub for cultural exchange, especially in the Latin American region where there is high enthusiasm for learning Korean," said the ministry.
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