A Korean Learner’s Journey– An Interview with Sawako MIZUBUCHI

In Focus: Stories from Our Students

This month, we spoke with Sawako MIZUBUCHI, one of the participants in the recent Korean writing contest (May 24, 2025) held at King Sejong Institute Luxembourg. We asked her to share her journey of learning Korean, what keeps her going, and how the language has changed her life.

 Q1. What made you start learning Korean?

The biggest reason was when my favorite Korean celebrity enlisted in the military. I wanted to cheer him on and understand what he said or wrote in Korean. I thought that maybe, someday, I could even communicate with him directly in Korean.

Q2. How long have you been studying Korean?

Since April 2019, this is my 7th year! I first tried learning with Korean radio, but without knowing Hangul, it was too difficult. Eventually, I joined weekend Korean classes run by the YMCA in Japan. After moving to Luxembourg in 2023, I continued studying and joined King Sejong Institute this spring. I also completed intermediate Korean online courses with Kyung Hee University in 2021.

Q3. What was the most memorable activity at King Sejong Institute Luxembourg?

Definitely the spring picnic in May! All the students and teachers came together for traditional Korean games and delicious food. It was a heartwarming day and such a special memory. Huge thanks to the teachers for organizing everything!

Q4. Have you ever wanted to give up?

Not really. Sometimes I struggle with vocabulary, but I know it just means I need more practice. The more I study, the more fun it gets, so I’ve never truly felt like quitting.

Q5. Do you have any study tips?

Three things!

1. Have fun – It’s my time and investment, so I make it enjoyable. Watching Korean dramas, YouTube, or anything I love helps a lot.

2. Apply new grammar right away – Whether speaking or writing, using it quickly helps it stick.

3. Preview the lesson – Looking up unknown words in advance helps me stay focused in class.

Sawako attended a K-pop concert in London with her friend and teacher as part of her prize for winning the 2024 King Sejong Institute Luxembourg Writing Contest.

Q6. How has learning Korean changed your life?

It’s opened up a whole new world! I’ve made new friends, discovered new interests, and found joy in learning new things.

Q7. Any future goals?

In the short term, I want to improve my typing speed to 150 characters per minute (I’m at 90 now!). In the long term, I want to keep learning joyfully, and one day, I hope to hear someone say, “I thought you were Korean!” That would be the ultimate compliment.