The Era of 1.1 Million Foreign Workers: Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and Hyundai Motor Group Introduce 'Safety Korean' to Manufacturing Sites

Business Agreement Signed by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hyundai Motor Group, and Sejong Institute Foundation
Support for 130 Partner Companies by 2028
Pilot Program at 20 Sites... Development of Job- and Safety-Focused Materials

"I often wonder how much more meaningful and enjoyable my studies and social life would have been if I had known the language of the country."

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hyeeyoung Choi and Sung Kim, President of Strategic Planning at Hyundai Motor Group, are posing for a commemorative photo after signing a business agreement on the 19th at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. The agreement involves support for Korean language education for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector between the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, Hyundai Motor Group, the Sejong Institute Foundation, and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

On the afternoon of May 19, at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul, Sung Kim, Chief Strategy Officer at Hyundai Motor Group, shared his experiences living abroad, making this remark. He emphasized that for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector, Korean is not just a work tool but a fundamental condition for ensuring safety, communicating with colleagues, and becoming members of the local community.

On this day, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed a business agreement with Hyundai Motor Group, the Sejong Institute Foundation, and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation to provide customized Korean language education support for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector. The focus of the agreement is not on 'general Korean.' Instead, it is a special-purpose Korean language program that teaches language skills directly needed in manufacturing settings, such as understanding work instructions, safety regulations, and job responsibilities.

Minister Hwee-young Choi of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism also stated at the event, "The role of foreign workers in Korea's manufacturing sector is becoming increasingly important. However, difficulties in communication due to limited Korean proficiency, lack of understanding of safety guidelines, and challenges in adapting to job tasks continue to be raised." He added, "I hope this collaboration will enhance the safety, communication abilities, and job understanding of foreign workers, and also contribute to the stable operation and productivity improvement of manufacturing sites."

The number of foreign workers employed in Korea exceeded 1.1 million last year. While foreign workers have already become a crucial part of the workforce in industrial sites, language barriers have continued to be cited as critical vulnerabilities in both safety and productivity. This agreement is meaningful in that it directly addresses issues of safety and adaptation in the workplace, rather than limiting Korean language education to cultural exchange.

Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Hwee-young Choi and Sung Kim, President of Strategic Planning at Hyundai Motor Group, signed a business agreement for Korean language education support for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector on the 19th at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art Seoul in Jongno-gu, Seoul. From left in the photo: Chairman An Jung-gu, President Sung Kim, Minister Hwee-young Choi, Chairman Jeon Woo-yong. Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism
Photo by Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism

Under the agreement, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will be responsible for establishing policies and support systems for special-purpose Korean language education. The Sejong Institute Foundation will handle content development and curriculum design. Hyundai Motor Group will plan the business model, provide funding, and coordinate with domestic and overseas workplaces, while the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation will support manufacturing companies and on-site education operations.

This year, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism will pilot the education program at around 20 Hyundai Motor Group partner companies. Over the next three years, by 2028, the project will be gradually expanded to include 130 partner companies and provide customized Korean language education to more than 1,300 foreign workers. The developed textbooks and content will be made available as public resources so that they can be used in other industrial fields as well.

The Sejong Institute's overseas network will also be utilized. As of the end of 2025, the Sejong Institute Foundation operates 252 institutes in 87 countries. Based on this network, the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism plans to expand Korean language education not only in domestic manufacturing sites but also in overseas industrial sites, thereby supporting both the overseas expansion of Korean companies and the spread of the Korean language.

Minister Choi stated, "Korean language communication skills in the workplace are a crucial issue directly tied to workers' safety," and added, "I hope this agreement will serve as a model case of public-private cooperation that helps foreign workers with safety and job adaptation, and also contributes to productivity and social integration."

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