Korean language program to promote hallyu, tourism

By Shim Jae-yun

Chung Hae-moon Secretary-General of ASEAN-Korea Center

The ASEAN-Korea Center, working in conjunction with the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism and Creative Economy, will operate the Korean Language Training Course Program in Jakarta, Indonesia, from June 12 to 25.

For two weeks, the program will provide lectures on basic Korean reading, writing, listening and speaking to workers in the Indonesian tourism and hospitality industry.

The lectures are designed to familiarize the participants with expressions commonly used at airports, hotels and other common tourist destinations. It will take place at the Indonesian ministry’s training center in Jakarta.

After the program, participants will be able to use these expressions in their day-to-day work, said Han Bo-wha, deputy head of the culture and tourism unit of the center.

The program is part of the Indonesian government’s efforts to meet the demand for Korean language training as the number of Korean visitors to Indonesia continues to grow. The number of Korean visitors to Indonesia, which stood at 255,000 in 2009, reached 299,000 in 2010 and 300,000 in 2011. It surged to 330,000 in 2012, according to the Korea Tourism Organization.

The program also holds special significance as Korea and Indonesia celebrate the 40th anniversary of their diplomatic relations.

“The two nations have maintained very close and complementary relations at both the government and private level over the past decades and we expect the relation will become better in the future,” said Dewi Gustina Tobing, minister counselor of the Indonesian Embassy here.

She said Korea and its products have been popular in Indonesia, riding on the hallyu (Korean wave) phenomenon there.

The Korean Language Training Course Program was launched in 2012 with the purpose of cultivating the Korean language proficiency of those working in the tourism industry in ASEAN countries. Korean tourists in the region would also benefit from the better communication skills of tourism workers.

The program has been implemented in Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand, and is set to take place in Indonesia, Singapore, Philippines, Malaysia and Brunei Darussalam this year.

The ASEAN-Korea Center hopes the program will not only promote tourism in ASEAN countries but also promote friendship and exchange among Korea and these countries.