Korean Language Educators Conference 2025
- Sejong King
- Aug 29
- 6 min read
In Focus: Sharing Luxembourg in Korea
This summer, Bohyun LEE, a Korean language teacher at the King Sejong Institute Luxembourg under the Korean Cultural House, represented our institute at the 2025 World Korean Language Educators Conference in Seoul.
The conference brings together Korean language educators and education professionals from over 50 countries to share teaching methods, exchange cultural education practices, and discuss the future of Korean language education worldwide. Organized by the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism and the King Sejong Institute Foundation, this year’s event featured lectures, workshops, and cultural experiences, creating a meaningful platform to promote the Korean language and culture across the globe.
At the conference, Bohyun LEE received the Second Price for the “Korean Movie Club” project conducted at the King Sejong Institute Luxembourg. This recognition, awarded under the name of our institute, was a proud achievement and a valuable opportunity to introduce Luxembourg to educators from around the world.
In this newsletter, we sat down with her to hear about her experience at the conference and her visit to Korea.
Q1. Could you share what you presented and experienced at the 2025 World Korean Language Educators Conference in Seoul?
I (Bohyun LEE) was honored to receive the Excellence Award (2nd place) for the “Korean Movie Club” program, developed together with the students of the King Sejong Institute Luxembourg. This moment was made even more meaningful as I had the opportunity to introduce Luxembourg and share details about our classes in front of over 300 Korean language educators from more than 50 countries, alongside distinguished guests such as the Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, the Director of the National Institute of the Korean Language, and the President of the King Sejong Institute Foundation.
Beyond the award ceremony, the conference provided an invaluable platform to reflect on the unique position of Korean language education. Compared to globally established languages like English, French, or German, Korean has a relatively short history as an international language. For much of its history, Korea used Classical Chinese characters, later endured periods of Japanese linguistic influence during colonial rule, and until recently, Korean was primarily spoken within an ethnically homogeneous population. Yet in just a few decades, Korean language education has expanded rapidly around the world—driven by cultural exchange, the global rise of Hallyu, and increasing academic interest.
Over the three-day program, educators exchanged ideas on how to teach Korean more effectively to students whose linguistic and cultural backgrounds vary greatly depending on their home countries. Discussions covered how teaching approaches must adapt according to learners’ native languages, how to address the persistent differences between written and spoken Korean, and how to equip teachers for the evolving role of education in the age of AI.
It was an inspiring experience to engage with colleagues from across the globe, sharing not only pedagogical strategies but also a shared commitment to advancing Korean language education in diverse contexts.
Q2. What do you think made your Movie Club program stand out and receive an award?
I believe one of the key reasons our Movie Club program was recognized is the unique linguistic environment of Luxembourg. In many discussions among educators, we often talk about how a student’s mother tongue influences our teaching approach. Here in Luxembourg, most of our students are what we might call “polyglots” – people who can speak several languages, not just conversationally, but with remarkable fluency.
When designing this program, we thought carefully about what such students expect when they come to the King Sejong Institute. This reflection shaped the way we structured the classes and discussions. It also prompted a deeper question about the essence of Korean language education: beyond the influence of a learner’s native language or cultural background, how can we, as educators, deliver Korean in the most effective way to this specific group of learners? In our Movie Club, we take advantage of this multilingualism. Students naturally draw from the mechanisms of multiple languages, which allows us to approach Korean not in isolation, but as part of a broader linguistic learning process. Whether it’s the short history of Korean as an international language, or the differences between spoken and written Korean, the real challenge and joy is in finding ways to connect the language to the learners right in front of us.
I also introduced some of the practical tools we use in class, such as custom handouts, simultaneous translation apps, and other resources adapted to the AI era. I think the combination of these methods, shaped entirely by the needs of our students, contributed to the strong impression our program made.
Of course, none of this would have been possible without our students and I made sure to say so when introducing Luxembourg to the audience. Interestingly, Luxembourg is already somewhat known in Korea because of a rather unexpected reason: a song titled Luxembourg that many Koreans recognize. Because of that, people knew the name, but they were curious about the real Luxembourg. Many came up to me afterwards saying they wanted to visit, or even teach here. With the Korea–Luxembourg Working Holiday program now in place, I half-jokingly said that from later this year into next year, I might just run into Koreans on the street here, and I honestly think it could happen.
Q3. What is the Movie Club?
The Movie Club is not simply a gathering where we watch films together. In today’s world where OTT platforms make movies easily accessible, choosing to come here on a Saturday afternoon means meeting friends and companions who have an open mind toward learning and culture, and a genuine enthusiasm to share the experience.
It is a small community of cinephiles and a circle of people who truly value Korean culture. Here, we use multiple languages to explore Korea from different perspectives through the medium of Korean cinema. Each session lasts about two to two and a half hours, during which I personally select a film to match the day’s theme. (I never thought I would mention this here, but I actually majored in film at university, and my professor was Hong Sang-soo, an acclaimed director who has received numerous awards at international film festivals. If there’s interest, we might even watch one of his films next semester.)
After watching the film, participants are free to join the discussion in the language they feel most comfortable with. Each group includes native Korean speakers, myself, our institute director, trainee Korean teachers, and members of the Korean community in Luxembourg, all ready to answer questions and join the conversation with an open heart.
Our goal is simple, to leave with at least one new Korean word, or to discover one new aspect of Korean culture from a fresh perspective. With that spirit, we warmly invite you to join us at every session.
Q4. Any message you’d like to share with the readers of this newsletter?
The King Sejong Institute Luxembourg is relatively young compared to other institutes, yet receiving an award on such an international stage and introducing the name of Luxembourg to the world is, I believe, proof that we are moving in a very positive direction. Of course, there is still much room for improvement, but every program we have carried out and every achievement we have made so far has been possible thanks to all of you.
As a non-profit educational institution supported by the Korean government, we are preparing even more programs for the future. To make them truly meaningful, nothing is more important than your open-mindedness and active participation. When you reach out to us, we will do our utmost to share the Korean language you wish to learn and the Korean culture you wish to discover, in a way that is both engaging and deeply enriching.
This fall semester, many of the projects we have been planning and developing over the past months will come to life. We hope this space will be more than just a classroom—becoming instead a community where you can find joy, rest, and meaning, and above all, learn the value of people.
Our vision is to keep professional adult Korean language education at the core, while creating a space where laughter and learning go hand in hand. We invite you to continue watching our journey and to be part of building it together.
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