Seoul City to Pilot 'Free Online Korean Language Course' for Foreign Residents Starting July

Providing 'Cyber Korean Course', 'Korean for Foreign Workers', and 'Hallyu Korean' Courses

[Asia Economy Reporter Lim Cheol-young] The Seoul Metropolitan Government announced on the 28th that starting from the 1st of next month, it will collaborate with the Sejonghakdang Foundation to pilot operate the free online Korean language learning platform "Seoul Online Sejonghakdang" for foreign residents living in Seoul and foreigners wishing to migrate, for six months.

For foreign residents living in Korea, such as foreign workers and marriage migrants, Korean speaking ability is essential for stable living. Accordingly, Seoul supports Korean language education based on face-to-face classes at foreigner support facilities such as the Southwest Global Center, Global Village Centers (7 locations), Foreign Workers Centers (6 locations), and district family centers (25 locations). However, due to the COVID-19 situation and work conditions, the number of foreign residents unable to use these facilities has increased, raising the need for online education.

"Seoul Online Sejonghakdang" is a self-study Korean language learning platform designed for foreign residents who find it difficult to use facilities, allowing them to study Korean anytime and anywhere with just a smartphone or computer. The educational content consists of three programs: "Cyber Korean," "Korean for Foreign Workers," and "K-wave Korean." All learning courses provided are free to use upon membership registration.

After the six-month pilot operation, Seoul and the Sejonghakdang Foundation plan to expand educational content such as "online correction guidance" and establish a more comprehensive cooperation system. Kim Seon-soon, Director of the Seoul Metropolitan Government's Women and Family Policy Office, said, "Seoul has a foreign resident population ratio of 4.6%, entering the stage of a multiethnic and multicultural society by OECD standards, so supporting Korean language education for their stable settlement is more important than anything else." She added, "We will strive to create an environment where foreign residents can conveniently learn Korean through collaboration with the Sejonghakdang Foundation."