King Sejong Institute, which provides Korean-language education throughout the world, will open this year 23 more branches in 19 countries.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and King Sejong Institute Foundation on June 16 announced the list of where the 23 branches will be opened.
Starting in 2007 with 13 branches in three countries, King Sejong will have 244 in 84 countries with this year's additions.
Seven countries will get their first branches: Bangladesh, Saudi Arabia and Kuwait in Asia; South Africa and Tunisia in Africa; and Luxembourg and Finland in Europe. The expansion of the institute's global network reflects the international boom in Hallyu and rising trade with Korea.
Bangladeshis have high demand for employment in Korea, with about 2,000 of them going to to work in Korea every year. The high popularity of Hallyu in the Middle East led to Saudi Arabia and Kuwait showing active interest in getting branches.
Indonesia will get three more branches given the high popularity of Hallyu content there and the steady rise in demand for employment and study in Korea, and Vietnam will receive two more. Another branch will also be opened in Mexico, which marks this year the 60th anniversary of bilateral ties with Korea.
The institute's first branch in Korea will also be opened in Seoul. This center will provide support for Koreans who were adopted by families abroad to systematically learn the language and culture of their motherland.
A combined 82 organizations from 39 countries applied for branches. The institute's designation review committee through its screening process made its selections based on demand in each area for Korean and the capacities and personnel conditions of the operating institutions.
Lee Jin-sik, the ministry's director-general for culture policy, said, "We will do everything we can to provide policy support to boost Korea's status and make people around the world feel the charm of the Korean language and culture through King Sejong Institute."
