Vietnam,Nepal,Bangladesh,Uzbekistan,Cambodia in the list

South Korea -the dream job destination for Nepali youths -is opening Korean language schools in nine source countries including Nepal.

According to The Korea Herald, Tribhuvan University will carry out Sejong Hakdang (The King Sejong Institute), the government-run Korean language programme, in Nepal.

The Culture Ministry and International Korean Language Foundation has selected 10 institutions to run Korean language classes in France, China, Thailand, Russia, Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Cambodia. Last year, some 7,780 people across the globe attended Sejong Hakdang class es to learn the Korean language.

Currently, Sejong Hakdang programme is available in 28 branches in 16 different countries. Despite large number of Nepalis being participated in Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), there is not a single South Korean government approved language institution.

About 57,000 Nepalis are studying Korean language this year to appear in the TOPIK going to held on July 22-23. Employment Permit System (EPS) under Human Resource Department of South Korea is hiring 7,100 Nepalis in manufacturing sector jobs in 2011-12.

Last year, the quota was almost the half at 4,100. South Korea is publishing books for new Sejong Hakdang centres by the end of July and distributing them to 10 schools of nine countries. “We are trying to have all reading, speaking and writing materials in one book,“ said deputy director of Korean Language Policy Division of the ministry Kim Hye-ju. Currently, there were three separate books for each learning category. “But from September, every branch will have the same official textbooks,“ he said.

Aside from the newly opening branches, the ministry plans to open five `special' Sejong Hakdang classes in Vietnam, Nepal, Bangladesh, Uzbekistan and Cambodia for people who wish or plan to work in Korea. “These classes are for them to learn Korean language and culture before they arrive in Korea,“ the ministry said, adding that the pro gramme has been jointly planned by both the culture ministry and Ministry of Employment and Labour.

Lucrative jobs of South Korea have been attracting thousands of Nepali youth every year after the EPS process started in 2007.

About 32,000 Nepalis had appeared in Korean language test in 2008 and the number had reached to 42,000 in 2010. Over 200 Korean language institutes spreading across the country are molding future of over 50,000 EPS job aspirants this year. Nepalis are spending about Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 30,000 in tuition fees and Rs 70,000 in service fees for South Korean Job that offers at least five times more salary than popular destinations like Malaysia and Gulf countries.

Published on: 21 July 2011 | The Himalayan Times