Gaining Momentum in Promoting Korean Language Overseas... Establishing AI and Big Data Learning Platform

Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism Announces 'Sejong Institute Innovation Plan'
'i-Sejong Institute' to be Established by 2027
Sejong Institutes Expanded to 300 Locations

The government is building a platform suitable for the digital environment in response to the increasing demand for Korean language learning overseas.

On the 22nd, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism announced the 'Sejong Institute Innovation Plan (2024~2027)' to expand the spread of Korean language overseas at the 44th Government Policy Meeting chaired by the Prime Minister, and stated that it will establish the 'i-Sejong Institute.'

This is a learning platform based on artificial intelligence (AI) and big data. The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will integrate and reorganize existing online and metaverse Sejong Institutes and smart learning applications, and enhance learning functions by applying advanced technologies such as generative AI. Unlike before, servers will be located at local bases to provide customized learning without time and space constraints.

Yong Hoseong, the first vice minister of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, explained, "Considering the internet environment in underdeveloped countries and the demand from foreign workers in Korea, we will try to make the educational program operate as much as possible within mobile devices." He added, "AI technology is currently at a considerable level, so we plan to combine it with the curriculum, textbooks, and know-how we have accumulated." He continued, "We will build this by 2027 to strengthen accessibility to Korean language learning."

The demand seems sufficient. Since the opening of Korean language courses at the Sejong Institute in 2007, the number of learners has increased about 300 times over 17 years. The cumulative number of online and offline learners is approximately 1.06 million. The number of people waiting to enroll in the Sejong Institute was also identified as about 15,000 as of February this year.

The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to expand the number of Sejong Institutes from 256 this year to 300 by 2027 based on statistics. As an intermediate management organization, it will strengthen the function of regional base Sejong Institutes and establish a system to support general Sejong Institutes locally. Vice Minister Yong said, "We will increase the number of base institutes from the current five locations in Vietnam, the United States, France, etc., to 10 by 2027," adding, "We will strengthen the role of the Sejong Institute as a 'small cultural center.'"

The Ministry will also double the number of Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) testing centers, which measure Korean communication skills, to 100 by 2027 compared to last year. An internet-based, level-specific adaptive Sejong Korean Language Assessment (iSKA) will also be implemented.

Yoo In-chon, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, said, "The Sejong Institute is the forward base of Hallyu where people experience Korean culture and learn about Korea through the Korean language," and added, "Based on the innovation plan, we will take the lead in widely spreading and promoting our language and script worldwide."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.