The grand opening of the «King Sejong Institute Riga» will take place on Wednesday, September 21 at 17:00 in the International Relations Centre of Riga Technical University (RTU) located in 1 Kronvalda blvd.
Joining the President of King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF), Head of Mission of the Republic of Korea in Riga and RTU representatives will be dignitaries from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of Education and Science, as well as representatives from other Latvian higher education institutes.
The main objective of the KSIF is to promote cooperation in culture, education and science of the Republic of Korea by introducing Latvians to Korean language and culture. The Institute offers students of RTU and other interested persons the opportunity to learn Korean language. The studies have already received an unexpected response – 57 applicants now have started studying Korean language. The response to the large number of applications is the additional intake for language studies. The new study groups are expected to start the lectures in the middle of October. The primary teaching language is English, and the classes are taught by Korean lecturers residing in Riga.
RTU has been chosen as the home of King Sejong Institute due to the long-lasting academic and scientific cooperation between various universities of the Republic of Korea and RTU. Students are interested in the Korean achievements in technological fields that are based on a very high level of education in engineering. The knowledge of Korean language and deeper comprehension of Korean culture and work ethics will further assist in forging a more profound cooperation. To this date there are 143 King Sejong Institutes in 58 countries, such institutes are already successfully working in Vilnius and Tallinn.
King Sejong is the creator of Korean alphabet, he promoted the development of Korean nation, and encouraged the idea that knowledge should be available to all citizens. After creating the alphabet, he decided to create a farmer's handbook that contained information about the different farming techniques that helped Korea to develop intensive agriculture. King Sejong revolutionized government by appointing people from different social classes as civil servants thus starting the victory march of Korean achievements in innovations and technologies.
