This is a scene from the finals last year of the annual King Sejong Institute Korean Language Speaking and Writing Competition at a King Sejong Institute branch.

By Lee Jihae
Photos = King Sejong Institute Foundation

Branches of King Sejong Institute (KSI) worldwide are holding Korean speaking and writing contests as well as those for Korean culture to commemorate the birthday (May 15) of King Sejong the Great, who created the Korean alphabet Hangeul and unveiled it in 1446.

The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF) announced the holding of preliminaries around May 15 for its annual King Sejong Institute Korean Language Speaking and Writing Competition and its inaugural King Sejong Institute Korean Culture Competition at KSI branches worldwide.

Marking its 17th year, the speaking and writing contest features the themes "Korean Language in My Daily Life" and "Why I Learn Korean."

The preliminaries will be held at each KSI abroad through next month, the semifinals from July to August remotely through Zoom and the finals in October in Korea during the Korean Cultural Experience Program for King Sejong Institute Learners.

The culture contest accepts individual and group entries in three categories: K-pop dance, traditional music and traditional dance.

The preliminaries run through June and the finals are in July and August in four countries with KSIF offices -- the U.S., Vietnam, United Arab Emirates and France -- and online on Zoom in others. The awards ceremony is slated for October during the experience program in Korea.

The foundation gives winners of each competition the opportunity to attend an invitational training program in Korea comprising trips to historical and cultural sites and experiences in traditional culture.

Invited to the program this year are about 400 people including 230 finalists in the speaking and writing contest, 140 winners of the culture contest, top scorers in the Sejong Korean Language Assessment, and winners of a content event and commemorative campaign for Hangeul Day.

Questions on the speaking and writing contest can be sent to speechkorean@ksif.or.kr and those on the culture competition to k_culture@ksif.or.kr. 

Participants in the Korean Cultural Experience Program for King Sejong Institute Learners last year pose for a group photo at Gyeongbokgung Palace in Seoul.