Participants in the 2017 World Korean Educators Conference pose for a photo with their national flags, at the COEX convention center in southern Seoul on July 18.
By Hur SomEe and Lee Hana
Photos = King Sejong Institute
July 18, 2017 | Cheong Wa Dae
The 2017 World Korean Educators Conference kicked off at Seoul's COEX convention center on July 18.
Korean language teachers from 48 countries are participating in the annual convention that runs until July 21. The schedule for this year includes a number of forums on topics such as "Hangeul in Korean history" and "Koreans and their ways of communication." Classes on pronunciation, writing and speaking norms, and teaching methods using online resources are also on offer.
This year's convention brings together a total of 370 educators. There are 155 teachers from King Sejong Institutes in 47 countries, 132 teachers from specifically Korean language schools in 48 countries, and then 83 educators from schools or colleges in 29 countries that offer Korean language classes.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon gives the opening speech at the 2017 World Korean Educators Conference, at Seoul's COEX convention center on July 18.
Prime Minister Lee Nak-yeon attended the opening ceremony and provided words of encouragement to the participants.
"Of the thousands of languages in this world, Korean has risen to the No. 13 spot for its widespread usage," said the prime minister. "Annual numbers from the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) applicant pool, and students choosing to take Korean as a second language, are both on the rise. Our government will work hard to spread the Korean language and our Hangeul alphabet to more parts of the world. Remember that as Korean language educators, all of you here today are playing a crucial role in letting the world learn about Koreans and Korea at large."
Isabel Delicia-Alancay, principal at the Fernanado Pedreo Riera high school in Argentina, said, "Interest in the Korean language has gone up so much at our school that next year we will expand our Korean language program from just one class to six courses. Right now, there is only one Korean language teacher in Tucuman Province who can teach at the high school and college level. Using this year's convention as leverage, I hope to attract more Korean language educators to Argentina."
sehp91@korea.kr
