The King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF), South Korea's government-funded language education agency, has officially opened a new regional office in Chile as part of its strategic expansion to meet the growing global demand for Korean language and cultural education. The foundation held an opening ceremony in Santiago, Chile on Thursday, with the new office set to serve as a central hub for promoting Korean language and culture throughout Latin America.
The Chilean office will play a crucial role in providing comprehensive support services to KSIF's existing network of 17 institutes spread across 12 countries on the continent. According to the foundation's press release, the office will focus on enhancing both the accessibility and quality of Korean language instruction by spearheading local teacher training programs and continuing education initiatives for educators in the region.
The inauguration event featured a formal ceremony that included a plaque unveiling and ribbon-cutting ceremony, followed by a group photograph session, congratulatory remarks from distinguished guests, and a detailed presentation outlining the office's mission and future roadmap. Among the notable attendees was Kim Hak-jae, South Korea's Ambassador to Chile, along with leading experts in Korean language education from across the region.
This Chilean office represents the foundation's fifth international regional office, following a systematic global expansion strategy. KSIF has been proactively establishing overseas offices to respond to the rapidly increasing worldwide interest in Korean language and culture. The foundation previously opened regional offices in Vietnam in 2017, the United States in 2018, France in 2021, and the United Arab Emirates in 2024.
According to KSIF Acting Secretary-General Choi Hyun-seung, the Chilean office marks a significant milestone in the foundation's regional headquarters structure expansion. "The Chilean office marks an important milestone in expanding the foundation's regional headquarter structure beyond Asia, the Americas, Europe and the Middle East into Latin America," Choi stated during the ceremony.
Looking ahead, the foundation has announced plans to systematically expand its education and cultural programs based on local demand and needs. The Chile office is expected to become a sustainable cultural exchange hub that will strengthen the cultural and educational ties between Korea and Latin America, facilitating ongoing cooperation and understanding between the regions.
