HELP University Launches Malaysia’s Inaugural Hangul Day Festival Celebrating Korean Culture
HELP University recently organized Malaysia’s inaugural Hangul Day Festival, marking the first celebration of South Korea’s Hangul Day in the country on October 9, 2024. The event was co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Malaysia and the Korean Education Center. Notable attendees included His Excellency Yeo Seung-Bae, the Korean Ambassador to Malaysia; Professor Dr. Liew Teik Kooi, Vice Chancellor of HELP University; Professor Dr. Jiwon Lee, Head of the Korean Mobility Programme at HELP University; and Mr. Jihoon Choi, Director of the Korean Education Center. Approximately 270 participants, including students and Korean language teachers from ten schools in the Kuala Lumpur area, attended the festival, which integrates Korean as a second language into local curricula.
Cultural Activities at the Festival
The festival featured a range of cultural activities focused on Korean cuisine, games, and crafts. Attendees sampled popular dishes such as tteokbokki and songpyeon, participated in traditional games like jegichagi and tuho, and engaged in crafting activities using traditional Korean methods, including maedeup (Korean knots) and najeonchilgi (mother-of-pearl lacquerware). Additionally, students had the opportunity to create traditional crafts and wore hanbok, the traditional Korean attire, to immerse themselves in the cultural experience.
Significance of Hangul
Ambassador Yeo Seung-Bae addressed the significance of Hangul, highlighting its design and contributions to South Korea’s near-zero illiteracy rate. He noted that proficiency in the Korean language could present students with opportunities to study in Korea or secure employment with Korean companies, thereby enhancing their career prospects.
Hangul Day Quiz Golden Bell Competition
A notable aspect of the festival was the “Hangul Day Quiz Golden Bell” competition, which allowed students to demonstrate their knowledge of Hangul and the Korean language. This event combined educational elements with entertainment and concluded with prizes awarded to top performers.
Promoting Understanding of Korean Culture
Professor Dr. Liew Teik Kooi emphasized the event’s importance in celebrating Hangul and fostering a deeper understanding of Korean culture among students. He articulated the value of embracing diverse languages and cultures within the educational environment as a means of promoting academic and personal development.
Impact of the First Hangul Day Festival
As the first Hangul Day Festival in Malaysia, the event highlighted the growing importance of Hangul and Korean language education in the country, encouraging students to further engage with Korean culture and language and inspiring them to pursue their studies with renewed vigor.
(Source: HELP University)
