DILI, 21 january 2025 (TATOLI) – The South Korean Embassy in Timor-Leste, in collaboration with the National University of Timor-Lorosa’e (UNTL), on monday, established a branch of the King Sejong Institute (KSI) at the UNTL to promote South Korean Language and Culture.
The King Sejong Institute (KSI) is a network of institutes that promote Korean language and culture around the world. The KSIs are part of the King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF), a public institution under the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports, and Tourism.
With its branch established at UNTL, the KSI will offer Korean language courses, develop cultural activities, and introduce Korean culture to UNTL’s students from various faculties.
Forty-five university students were enrolled to learn the Korean language with KSI at UNTL.
UNTL’s Rector João Martins, in his speech at the opening ceremony, said that the initiative provides great learning opportunities for UNTL students who want to improve their speaking skills in a foreign language.
“This is a great opportunity to promote the South Korean language in the country. So I want our students to take this opportunity wisely to improve their South Korean language skills,” said Martins, at UNTL’s Faculty Education hall, in Dili, today.
Meanwhile, the Deputy Chief of Mission of the South Korean Embassy in Timor-Leste, Park Sungheui said that KSI will offer opportunities for cultural exchange through Korean language learning between Timorese and the South Korean people.
“KSI is a learning hub that teaches the Korean Language and Culture,” added Sungheui.
Sungheui thanked UNTL and the South Korean Embassy in Dili for signing the Memorandum of Understanding in 2023 to promote the Korean language and culture in the country.
The South Korean language will be taught by KSI teacher Kim Na Yai.
The King Sejong Institute Foundation is a foundation established by the South Korean government that encourages learning of the Korean language around the world. It was founded in 2007. Its name refers to Sejong the Great, the inventor of the Korean alphabet.
As of february 2024, there were 248 King Sejong institutes in 85 countries, including Timor-Leste.
Journalist : Hortencio Sanchez
Editor: Cancio Ximenes
Translation: Filomeno Martins
