Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI) organized '14th All India Korean Language Speech Contest', a virtual event to mark the 575th Hangeul (The Korean script name) Day. 106 participants from 16 Indian Korean Language Educational Institutions participate. Alongside Speech contest, ASN Senior Secondary School and Learners International School with 50 students also celebrated the day. Both the schools also ran a video competition on topic "Congratulations on Hangeul Day" and the first prize winners were awarded with Laptop.
The Speech contest had 3 categories; Beginner, Intermediate and Advanced level, there were 12, 12 and 8 finale participants respectively. The topics were ‘The Korean travel destination I want to visit," "Korean Words / Korean expressions that I want to introduce," and "The Korean I met through Korean Literature" for 3 levels respectively. After delivering the prepared speech, Advanced level participants also went through Korean language skills examined based on various aspects through a questions and answers session related to their speeches.
The skills of the students participating in this contest is proved further with the international recognition of two of the participants of the 13th All India Korean Language Speech Contest, which was held last year in November.
Participants in 2020 contest named Anubhuti Kakati(1st best prize in World Korean Speech Contest 2021) and Vaani Goel(3rd best prize in World Korean Writing Contest 2021), these two students from Korean Cultural Centre India just swept the whole world in Korean speaking and writing this year. Just on 8th Oct, there was award ceremony through online from Korea, and these two proud Indian daughters' amazing results came out. King Sejong Institute Foundation which is under South Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports & Tourism has held 'world Korean Speaking & writing contest every year, and 2021 this year each national representatives from 58 countries participated to the contests. Our Indian students proved India is the top of the world in Korean also. Two winners will be invited to South Korea with honor as their prize.
From beginner level Ishwar Dutt (King Sejong Institute, KCCI, New Delhi), intermediate level Tashee Lhamu Bhutia (Korean Culture and Language Centre, Kolkata) and advanced level Abeer Khan (King Sejong Institute, KCCI New Delhi) secured 1st first rank.
H.E. Chang Jae-bok, The Ambassador of Republic of Korea to India said, "I'm happy to celebrate the 575th anniversary of King Sejong making Hangeul, which is a cultural heritage of mankind. "I think the efforts of Indian students and teachers who attended the competition paid off in July 2020 as the Indian government's recommended foreign language for secondary schools was chosen as Korean, and I have no doubt that today's event will serve as a great bridge for Korea-India relations, which began 2,000 years ago." He expressed his anticipation for the contest that continued despite the COVID-19 situation without any suspension for 14 years.
Ms. Manisha Trivedi, Head of Junior School, Learners International School thanked KCCI for opening the window for learning Korean and Korean culture to the school, and said that through Korean language, the students can become global citizens having a mindset of embracing and understanding the world.
Ms. Swarnima Luthra Principal, Principal of ASN School said "With the support of the KCCI since 2013, my students were able to learn Korean culture through various programs such as Samulnori and Taekwondo, and now when I hear my school students speak Korean confidently, I feel very proud .
Hwang Il-yong, Director of Korean Cultural Centre said, “To improve the quantity and quality of Korean language education at Indian schools, we are conducting a Korean Language Teacher's Training Program for locals in India, to ensure the growth and stabilization of Korean Language Education," he said. He added that KCCI will donate about 100 Traditional Korean Fairy Tales English books to both the schools.
