- From August 6 to 9, the “World Korean Educator Conference 2024” hosted 300 participants, including teachers from the King Sejong Institute

- On August 6, the First Vice Minister YONG attended the opening ceremony, where he recognized and encouraged the best teachers of King Sejong Institute

On August 6, First Vice Minister YONG Ho Seong of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism (MCST) attended the opening ceremony of the “World Korean Educators Conference 2024”, where he presented the MCST Minister’s Award to the best teacher at King Sejong Institute and expressed his gratitude and encouragement to all Korean educators who are spearheading the global expansion of the Korean language and culture.

The MCST and the King Sejong Institute Foundation (President LEE Hae Young) hosted the “2024 World Korean Educator Conference” from August 6 to 9 at the Shilla Hotel in Seoul. Marking its 16th year, the conference serves as a professional development program, bringing together teachers from the King Sejong Institute and Korean language educators from around the world to refine their skills and learn the latest teaching methods. This year, approximately 300 educators attended, including 173 teachers from 118 King Sejong Institutes across 46 countries.

A contest held to award the best teacher, and for the first time, a foreign language teacher won the grand prize

Appointments were made to 16 newly established King Sejong Institutes, and certificates of merit were awarded to the top three King Sejong Institutes

At the opening ceremony, the best teacher was awarded, and exemplary cases of Korean language education were showcased. Baimaganbetova Dilbar, a teacher at the King Sejong Institute, Korean Cultural Center, Kazakhstan, was recognized as the best educator and received the MCST Minister’s Award. She was celebrated for her innovative use of the “game teaching method,” making her the first foreign teacher to win the grand prize. During the presentation of outstanding Korean language teaching practices, she shared her exceptional experience in teaching Korean at the King Sejong Institute. In addition, teachers KWON Ji Sun (King Sejong Institute, Budapest, Hungary) and SHIM Hye Yeon (King Sejong Institute, Korean Cultural Center, Spain), who received the Best Award, shared their unique and effective teaching methods used in their classrooms.

Before the awards were presented, Professor PARK Seok Joon of Pai Chai University delivered a lecture on the role of Korean language teachers in globalizing the Korean language. During this time, appointments were also given to 16[1] newly designated King Sejong Institutes. In 2023, three Sejong Institutes—Tainan Sejong Institute, Bishkek Sejong Institute, and Bogota Sejong Institute—were selected as the top 3 King Sejong Institutes and were awarded certificates of merit.

On August 7 and 8, the program offered a variety of training sessions designed to enhance the expertise of Korean language teachers. Participants learned practical teaching methods applicable in their classrooms through lectures on the role of educators in guiding the future of Korean language education at the King Sejong Institute. Sessions covered topics such as utilizing the Sejong Korean Language Assessment, teaching Korean pronunciation, using advanced technology in language instruction, and teaching the Korean language and culture from an intercultural perspective. Teachers also had the opportunity to share best practices by presenting lesson plans developed during the training sessions.

“We hope that, just as the theme of the contest, Teaching Korean, It’s Cool, suggests, this conference will not only enhance teachers’ expertise and introduce teaching methods that improve the quality of education but also serve as a platform for exchanging excellent teaching practices,” said the First Vice Minister YONG. “The MCST is committed to strengthening and providing professional training to support Korean language teachers, who are at the forefront of expanding the reach of Korean language and culture worldwide.”