HUFS Institute for Special Foreign Language Education Holds '2025 Special Foreign Language Education Seminar'

Ministry of Education and Participating Institutions
Discuss Third Phase of Special Foreign Language Collaboration

The Institute for the Promotion of Special Foreign Language Education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies announced that it held a policy seminar for the Special Foreign Language Education Promotion Project, hosted by the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education, in the Faculty Club lecture hall on January 20.

The seminar was attended by representatives from Busan University of Foreign Studies, the Dankook University-Cheongun University consortium, and lead professors from departments participating in the project at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies. They engaged in in-depth discussions on the operational direction for the 2025 project and strategies for expanding the dissemination of its achievements.

Hankuk University of Foreign Studies Hosts '2025 Special Foreign Language Education Promotion Project Policy Seminar'

On this day, Baek Yonghun, a professor at Dankook University and head of the Special Foreign Language Project Group of the Dankook University-Cheongun University consortium, shared an analysis of performance indicators for phases one and two under the theme “Achievements and Proposals for the Development of the Special Foreign Language Education Promotion Project.” Professor Baek emphasized that 2025 should be designated as “the year of project innovation and achievement sharing,” highlighting the importance of focused promotion and the concretization of project content in line with the goals and strategies of the second five-year plan. He particularly stressed the need for specialized foreign language education institutions to further strengthen their collaborative framework through a joint forum before entering the third phase of the project.

Following this, Lim Sora, head of the Department of Portuguese at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, delivered a presentation on “The Significance and Challenges of the Special Foreign Language Education Promotion Project.” She underscored the importance of cultivating specialized talent in foreign languages, the need to revise relevant laws and regulations, and the necessity of linking with other government initiatives. Lim emphasized, “Only by fostering professionals who combine expertise with language proficiency can we contribute to enhancing national competitiveness and promoting international exchange in the future.” She called for close cooperation between the government and universities to maximize synergy effects.

Additionally, participants-including officials from the Ministry of Education and the National Institute for International Education-exchanged a variety of opinions on the outcomes and areas for improvement in the operation of the second phase of the project. At the same time, they agreed to actively participate in policy research for the upcoming third phase and to offer diverse proposals, thereby joining forces for the successful implementation and sustainable development of the Special Foreign Language Education Promotion Project.

In his keynote address, Lee Eungu, director of the Institute for the Promotion of Special Foreign Language Education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, stated, “The ultimate goal of this project is to enhance national competitiveness and diversify educational opportunities by nurturing professionals in special foreign languages.” He added, “I hope this seminar serves as a turning point in strengthening the close collaborative framework between the Ministry of Education, the National Institute for International Education, and participating institutions.”

Meanwhile, the Institute for the Promotion of Special Foreign Language Education at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies is systematically developing and operating curricula for rare and strategic foreign languages through this project, and plans to continue its efforts to cultivate specialized foreign language professionals and expand exchange and cooperation based on these achievements.