SEOUL – The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) announced today the official launch of the "2025 Da+Eum Korean Language (KSL) Education Support Project," starting this June. This initiative aims to provide vital Korean language education to middle-entry and foreign multicultural students residing in areas with a lower concentration of such students, often referred to as "under-served" or "less-dense" multicultural student regions. The expansion of support to these areas addresses the growing demand for basic Korean language instruction, particularly with the recent increase in middle-entry and foreign multicultural student populations.

The SMOE's primary objectives for this project are to enhance multicultural students' Korean communication abilities, facilitate their adaptation to school life, boost their self-esteem, and prevent academic underachievement. The support program is structured around two key components: the "Visiting Korean Language (KSL) Classroom" and "AI-Based Korean Learning Material Support."

The "Visiting Korean Language Classroom" program offers personalized, one-on-one instruction by matching multicultural students with Korean language instructors. These instructors will visit schools directly to conduct in-person after-school sessions. When necessary, a bilingual instructor will be assigned as an assistant. From June to August, a total of 44 elementary, middle, and high school multicultural students requiring Korean language education will receive 60 sessions – 40 during the academic semester and 20 during school holidays.

Complementing this, the "AI-Based Korean Learning Material Support" component provides individual student licenses for AI-powered Korean language learning courseware. This resource supports students in developing Korean literacy, from phonological awareness to a second-grade elementary school level. Students will have access to a 7-month license, from June to December, with 75 students benefiting from this program.

The project targets a total of 119 middle-entry and foreign students enrolled in elementary, middle, and high schools within Seoul's less-dense multicultural student areas. Each school can select a maximum of two students for the "Visiting Korean Language Classroom" and up to three students for the "AI-Based Korean Learning Material Support." In cases of high demand, preference will be given to older students with lower Korean language proficiency.

The "2025 Da+Eum Korean Language (KSL) Education Support Project" is a collaborative effort between the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education, the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, and the Multicultural Edu-Center Atti. The Green Umbrella Children's Foundation is responsible for securing project funding, while the Multicultural Edu-Center Atti will manage student-instructor matching, class operations, and administrative tasks. This initiative builds upon an existing partnership between the SMOE and the Green Umbrella Children's Foundation, established in 2024, which has provided educational activity support for immigrant background students in underserved areas.

Superintendent Jeong Geun-sik of the Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education expressed his optimism about the program. "We anticipate this Korean language education support project will significantly aid multicultural students in their Korean language acquisition," he stated. "We are committed to fostering an environment where all students can receive education without discrimination." This comprehensive approach underscores Seoul's dedication to ensuring equitable educational opportunities and successful integration for its diverse student population.

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