28 March 2017 saw the official opening of King Sejong Institute at the Jagiellonian University – an institution aimed at promoting Korean language learning and fostering intercultural exchange between South Korea and Poland. The unit is part of a wider network of King Sejong institutes, operating in 174 locations in 58 countries.
The opening ceremony, which was held in the historic building of Collegium Maius, featured the Rector of the Jagiellonian University Prof. Wojciech Nowak, the Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to Poland Choi Sung-joo, as well as the President of King Sejong Institute Foundation Song Hyang-keun, who came to Kraków from Korea specially to attend the event.
Participants from the Jagiellonian University also included the Dean of the Faculty of International and Political Studies Prof. Zdzisław Mach, the Rector’s Proxy for Internationalisation and the Head of the Institute of the Middle and Far East Prof. Adam Jelonek, as well as the newly appointed Head of King Sejong Institute at JU Dr hab. Grażyna Strnad.
In an opening address, the JU Rector pointed out that the University has long recognised the great potential of Korea and made it a priority to establish cooperation with this country. These efforts first came to fruition in 2014, when Korean Studies course was launched and soon became one of the most popular programmes of study offered by the JU.
“With establishing King Sejong Institute at the Jagiellonian University our dream of creating a dynamic and flourishing Korean Studies center comes true. The institute will be a solid foundation for all Korea-related research and cultural activities within the Jagiellonian University and beyond”, said the Rector.
In his address, Ambassador Choi Sung-joo recounted the achievements of King Sejong the Great - one of the most important figures in the history of Korea. His accomplishments included creating the Korean alphabet in 1443 – less than 80 years after the foundation of the Jagiellonian University. The diplomat pointed out that there are only three European countries with as many as three King Sejong Institutes, and thanks to the Jagiellonian University Poland has just become one of them. Choi Sung-joo expressed his conviction that the newly established institute will make a substantive contribution to promoting the friendship between the two countries.
The Ambassador’s speech was followed by a short address of the President of King Sejong Institute foundation, who pointed to the exponential growth in the interest in Korean culture in both Europe and other parts of the world and said that he is very pleased with the fact that the institute “has found a great home within a prestigious university, where the role to promote Korean language and culture will be handled with utmost professionalism.”
After the ceremony, the Ambassador delivered the lecture entitled “Future shape of Korea-Poland strategic partnership”.
