What a remarkable and heartwarming celebration of language and culture we had at the 2025 KSI Korean Speaking Contest!
From moving personal stories to moments of uncontrollable laughter, this year’s event showcased the passion, creativity, and growing love for the Korean language in the most unforgettable way. Each contestant brought their own unique voice to the stage, reminding us of the diverse and inspiring journeys behind learning Korean.
A special congratulations goes to Itesiwajuayo Babalola, our first-place winner, whose standout speech had the entire audience smiling — and learning. With wit and charm, she explored the deeper (and cheekier) meaning behind the Korean phrase “라면 먹고 갈래?” (“Do you want to come in and eat some ramyeon?”), often compared to the Western expression “Netflix and chill.” Her clever take turned a cultural idiom into a crowd-pleasing lesson that was as informative as it was hilarious.
To all our incredible contestants — thank you. Your stories, efforts, and energy made this contest not just an event, but a meaningful celebration of connection through language. We are truly proud of each and every one of you.
Here's to the many ways Korean continues to bring us together — one word (and maybe one bowl of ramyeon) at a time.
Korean Cultural Centre in South Africa (KCCSA) | 주남아공한국문화원
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