Korea seeks to merge language and cultural centers overseas

The Education Ministry announced Tuesday that it will combine language centers and cultural centers run overseas to enhance efficiency in promoting Korean culture and language.

The ministry said a revised bill to the act on education support for Korean nationals residing abroad was passed at the Cabinet meeting held on Tuesday.

The amendment removes clauses about the establishment and management of language centers, which will allow the integration of language and cultural institutes.

The bill will be submitted to the National Assembly next month.

There was criticism that the separate running of the two institutes did not respond cohesively to the increasing demand.

The integration is expected to help increase the popularity of Korean culture and language with various content, said the Education Ministry.

The ministry also said it expects to conduct integrated policies in close cooperation with the Culture Ministry.

Currently, 38 language centers are run in 16 countries, and 24 cultural centers in 20 nations.

Recently, Korean cultural and language education is in high demand thanks to hallyu, a cultural wave that has hit the world.

By Kim Young-won (wone0102@heraldcorp.com)