By Honorary Reporter Jasmin Mikolay from Germany
Photos = Mari Piirisalu

The TV competition show "Quiz on Korea" gathers fans of the Korean language and culture from around the world. After national preliminaries are held in multiple regions, a finalist from each country travels to Korea to compete in the televised finals.

This year, 22 countries took part, with the final round held on Sept. 7 at KBS studios in Seoul and broadcast on Oct. 10 on KBS World TV following a week-long cultural tour.

Among the finalists was Estonia's Mari Piirisalu, 25, a Tallinn University student majoring in English and a learner of Korean for several years. Formerly an exchange student in Seoul, she impressed viewers with her knowledge and admiration for Korean culture, ultimately winning the grand prize.

Finalists of this year's "Quiz on Korea" on Sept. 7 celebrate on stage after recording in Seoul, where Mari Piirisalu from Estonia (holding the winner's check of KRW 10 million) took home the grand prize.

The following are excerpts from an email interview with Piirisalu from Oct. 20-30 on her experience learning Korean and winning her prize.

How did winning the contest feel?

I'd been dreaming of winning the competition for months at that point so that when it happened, I didn't know how to react. I was definitely happy but also felt a load fall off my shoulders. Now that I'm back home and settled into university again, I feel proud and thankful to the amazing people around me.

How many times have you visited Korea?
I've been to Korea several times, mostly for travel but also for study. In 2020, just as the COVID-19 pandemic started, I took a 10-week intensive course in Korean at Seoul National University and spent last year at Sungkyunkwan University as an exchange student. I love the vibe that Korea has. As someone from a small country, it feels liberating to be in Seoul with millions of people going about their daily lives.

Mari Piirisalu's Korean-language materials and Hangeul calligraphy

How did your journey with the Korean language begin?
It started like it did for many people my age. My friends were always talking about K-pop groups like EXO, BTS and 2NE1 but I didn’t pay much attention until one autumn afternoon when I randomly watched an EXO music video on YouTube and became hooked. I was in my final year of middle school, and while I can't explain exactly what drew me in, my life suddenly shifted toward everything related to Korea.

At first, I had no intention of studying the language, but naturally began searching K-pop song lyrics, writing them down and looking online for Korean learning resources. It all happened very naturally, so there wasn't a specific moment I would call the beginning.

How has studying Korean influenced your life, studies or career goals?
I’ve been studying Korean for about 10 years and it has changed my life in many ways. I never planned to learn a second foreign language, but as I grew more interested in Korean culture, my long-term goals naturally shifted toward Korea. Through daily conversations with friends, Korean content and lessons at my King Sejong Institute, Korean gradually became a major part of my life.

Mari Piirisalu was invited as a finalist of this year's "Quiz on Korea."

How did you prepare for the competition?
I began preparing even before the preliminaries, starting with basics like the alphabet order and gradually moving to deeper topics. I studied everything from pop culture and traditions to holidays, beliefs and key historical figures, essentially any topic that seemed relevant. Most of my research came from YouTube, Wikipedia and even Korean history sites for elementary students.

Was this your first time?
Yes, and it was also the first year I had even heard about the competition. Estonia only opened a Korean embassy this year, so participating wasn't possible before. I previously entered other writing and speaking contests and won the speaking competition at my local King Sejong Institute, I also recently visited Korea for a cultural training program for winners, and I'm hoping to compete more.

What are your goals both for Korean and career?
My goals are quite clear: graduate from university, apply for the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) for graduate school, do my masters in Korea and eventually take the Korean History Proficiency Test. I started preparing for the GKS in February, so hopefully my hard work will pay off again.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article was written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.