The Honorary Reporters on May 20, 2019, pose for a photo at Seoul's Gyeongbokgung Palace after receiving their appointment certificates. (Korea.net DB)

By Kim Eunhee and Lee Jihae

The Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS), an affiliate of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, has appointed this year 3,432 Honorary Reporters from 105 countries, both record highs.

The previous record for the number of participant countries was 103, and that of successful applicants saw a big jump of 1,278 from last year. Launched in 2011 with 42 members in 2011, the program has added nearly 3,400 members this year to cement its status as a leading supporters group for promoting Korea worldwide.

The reporters consist of foreign nationals both in and out of Korea who promote Korean culture, information and events around the world for a year on www.korea.net and its social media accounts.

The number of applicants this year was 6,804, more than triple the 2,154 who applied last year and showing the extent of global interest in Korea thanks to K-pop and Hallyu. The country with the most applicants was Mexico (1,519), followed by Egypt (558), reflecting the Hallyu boom in Latin America and the Middle East. 

This year also saw the first applicants from Bhutan, Zimbabwe and Andorra, attesting to Korea's growing influence in all corners of the globe.

Among the 3,432 successful applicants, 1,218 will write in English, 1,305 in Spanish, 426 Arabic, 139 Russian, 120 Vietnamese, 74 French, 60 Japanese, 57 Chinese and 33 German.

A record number of appointees came from countries targeted by Seoul's New Southern Policy such as Indonesia (236), the Philippines (202) and Vietnam (120). Among those eyed in Korea's New Northern Policy, Belarus produced its first Honorary Reporter, while others included Russia (95) and Ukraine (12).

Several of the Honorary Reporters selected this year have had unique experiences. Pinky Bilika Intan Sari from Indonesia, a TikTok influencer with 50,000 followers, said she will actively utilize social media to promote Korean culture.

Uras Kanat Aydınkaptan from Turkey is the founder of Koreanturk, a K-drama website well known in his country. He said he will apply his experience in running a Hallyu site to his Honorary Reporter activities.

Diana Dwika Jayanti, a freelance journalist for CNN's bureau in Indonesia, and Alaa Abdel Aty El Husseiny, an Arabic translator of Korean dramas for the Korean production company CJ ENM, are also among the new members.

The 11th class of Honorary Reporters appointed this year will begin their activities by promoting the P4G (Partnering for Green Growth and the Global Goals 2030) Summit in Seoul slated for May 30-31.

KOCIS Director Park Jung-Youl said, "COVID-19 has created a difficult situation for moving between countries, but interest in Korea by foreign nationals is further expanding."

"We can confirm that the activities of KOCIS and 32 Korean Cultural Centers around the world are continuing interest in the Republic of Korea."

enny0611@korea.kr