King Sejong Institutes Reach Record 239,020 Students as Nine Universities Join

King Sejong Institutes, outposts for promoting the Korean language and culture worldwide, are expanding sharply into previously unserved countries in Africa and Europe. This year, nine South Korean universities, including Seoul National University and Sejong University, have joined the program, and the first King Sejong Institutes will open in three countries — including Greece and Rwanda — strengthening the global network for Korean-language instruction.

King Sejong Institutes expand to 273 sites across 89 countries

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism said on the 30th that it had newly designated 29 King Sejong Institutes in 23 countries. With these new openings, the global King Sejong Institute network has grown to 273 sites in 89 countries. A total of 102 institutions from 45 countries submitted applications in this year's round, the highest level of competition in the past five years, reflecting the elevated status of the Korean language on the international stage. Of the newly designated sites, 19 will be operated in cooperation with 19 domestic educational institutions.

Nine South Korean universities join; first institutes in three previously unserved countries

The most notable change this year is that nine South Korean universities have entered the King Sejong Institute program for the first time, aiming to attract top international students and broaden global exchanges.

• New participating universities (9): Gukrip Kyunggukdae, Dongwon Institute of Science and Technology, Sahmyook Health University, Seoul National University, Sejong University, Chunhae College of Health, Chungwoon University, Hannam University, Halla University

In addition, three countries that previously lacked King Sejong Institutes will now receive new centers for learning Korean.

• Greece: The Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, one of the country's largest universities, will oversee operations in cooperation with Hankuk University of Foreign Studies.

• Rwanda: The International Covenant College in the capital, Kigali, will open an institute in partnership with the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Rwanda.

• Sri Lanka: The University of Ruhuna in the Matara region will run Korean-language courses jointly with the Dongwon Institute of Science and Technology.

Enrollments hit a record 239,020 as ministry vows further expansion

Last year, a total of 239,020 students learned Korean online and offline through King Sejong Institutes worldwide, setting a new record. The figure reflects years of systematic government support for Korean-language education since the first King Sejong Institute opened in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, in 2007.

A Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism official said, "The fact that the largest number of institutions ever applied to be designated as King Sejong Institutes is evidence of the explosive rise in the popularity of Korean on the international stage," and added, "We plan to continue expanding the King Sejong Institutes to meet the rapidly growing global demand for Korean-language education."