Sejong Institute partners with Kyungpook Nat'l Univ. to expand Korean language testing

The King Sejong Institute Foundation logo

The King Sejong Institute Foundation said Wednesday that it signed an agreement with Kyungpook National University in Daegu to administer Korean language proficiency exams, marking its first partnership with a regional hub university in Korea.

The agreement aims to expand the testing base for the Sejong Korean Language Assessment (SKA) and improve access for learners by working with Korean language education institutions across the country.

Under the deal, the foundation will oversee test administration and score reporting, while the university will handle promotion, recruitment of test-takers, staffing and IT infrastructure. The two sides also plan to pursue joint projects to promote Korean language and culture.

The foundation said it will administer the third internet-based Sejong Korean Language Assessment (iSKA) on April 18 at Kyungpook National University. The adaptive test designed to gauge communicative proficiency more precisely in less time, with fewer questions.

The Sejong Korean Language Assessment evaluates learners of Korean as a second or foreign language across listening, reading, writing and speaking. It is offered in both paper-based and digital formats. The foundation introduced the internet-based adaptive version in 2024, allowing test difficulty to adjust automatically based on a test-taker’s level.

Kyungpook National University, a regional hub in the Daegu Regional Innovation System and Education initiative, enrolls around 2,800 Korean-language trainees each year and operates 23 classrooms with 850 seats, along with five internet-based testing rooms with 100 person capacity, supporting stable administration of the exam.

The King Sejong Institute Foundation said it plans to expand access points so foreign learners can more easily take the test.

The university said the partnership is expected to widen opportunities for local learners to take the Sejong Korean Language Assessment, in line with efforts to build a regional Korean language education network.