Connection to South Korea – Sejong Institute opens in University Town

The most important centers for the dissemination of Korean language and culture are the Sejong Institutes, of which there are now 252 worldwide. In Hungary, since the establishment of the Korean Cultural Center in Budapest in 2012, there have been more and more opportunities to learn the language and get to know Korean traditions. The new institute in Miskolc is the fourth in Hungary and offers students not only language classes but also courses, cultural events, lectures, and workshops. The initiative aims to further strengthen Hungarian-Korean cultural dialogue and contribute to deepening relations between the two countries.

At the opening ceremony, Yu Hye-Ryong, director of the Korean Cultural Center, said: “The fourth Sejong Institute is proof that interest and enthusiasm for the Korean language and culture is growing in Hungary. I sincerely hope that this new institute will become a place of opportunity for both students and citizens of the city, and

as a center for academic and cultural exchange programs, it will strengthen the relationship between our nations.

The establishment of the new institute is no coincidence, as demand for the Korean language has skyrocketed in recent years. This is partly due to the international popularity of Korean culture—K-pop, movies, and TV series—and partly due to the strengthening of Korean economic and cultural ties.

At the handover ceremony, Prof. Dr. Zita Horváth, Rector of the University of Miskolc, said: “It is a great honor for the University of Miskolc to host the King Sejong Institute. We are particularly proud that out of 77 applicant institutions worldwide, three out of eleven European institutions were ultimately selected, including the University of Miskolc. We are confident that the institute will bring Korean culture closer to our students and the community in the region, and that it will also give us the opportunity to build relationships with other excellent South Korean universities. In addition, we hope that

we will be able to develop further cooperation with South Korean companies present in Hungary in the future.

Cultural festival on the occasion of the opening

On Hangul Day, October 9, and in honor of the opening of the Sejong Institute in Miskolc, the Korean Cultural Center in Budapest organized a festival in the main building of the University of Miskolc as part of the Eoullim (“community, togetherness”) initiative. As part of the program, the audience was introduced to Korean cuisine by chef Kim Taeyeon, founder of the Kimchi Institute, tried their hand at calligraphy under the guidance of the Munbangsau group, and encountered the world of K-pop at playful experience stands. The musical program featured performances by ROZU and the SOAK Korean Music Company, offering a taste of contemporary and traditional Korean music.

BACKGROUND

Who was King Sejong?

The institute’s namesake, King Sejong the Great (1397–1450), was one of the greatest rulers of the Korean peninsula, credited with creating Hangul, the Korean writing system. King Sejong’s goal was to create a writing system that was easy to learn and accessible to everyone, thereby eliminating illiteracy.

Today, Hangul is known as one of the most logical and easiest alphabets to learn: it consists of only 24 letters (14 consonants and 10 vowels), and the basics can be learned in just a few hours. Interestingly, the shape of the letters follows the shape of the speech organs, making it easier to learn how to pronounce the sounds.