Vivek Sharma, New Delhi, January 15, 2026 — Strengthening
the growing educational partnership between India and the Republic of Korea,
the Korea Education Centre was officially inaugurated in New Delhi on Thursday,
January 15. The opening marks a significant step in promoting Korean language
education and enhancing academic cooperation between the two countries under
their established “Special Strategic Partnership.”
The Ministry of Education of the Republic of Korea, led by
Minister Choi Gyo Jin, announced the formal opening of the Korea Education
Centre with the objective of strengthening educational services for overseas
Koreans and expanding international educational cooperation. The Centre has
been established as an overseas educational institution under the Overseas
Koreans Education Act, in consultation with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
The Korea Education Centre focuses on identity education and
lifelong learning for overseas Koreans, while also serving as a hub for Korean
language education and international student attraction. Since the
establishment of the first Korea Education Centre in Japan in the 1960s, the
network has expanded to 47 centres across 22 countries worldwide.
In response to increasing globalization, the Ministry of
Education has steadily expanded both the number and roles of Korea Education
Centres. Following the launch of the “Study Korea 300K Project” in August 2023,
these centres have been further strengthened as public platforms for supporting
international students seeking education in Korea and for promoting Korean
language education in strategically important countries. Through this
initiative, the Ministry aims to stimulate demand for studying in Korea and
support the long-term settlement of international students.
Currently, 11 Korea Education Centres globally are assigned
specific international student attraction functions, including centres in Los
Angeles, Osaka, Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City, Tashkent, Almaty, Thailand, Seattle,
Mexico, Indonesia, and India.
At present, the Korea Education Centre network comprises 47
centres across 22 countries, with regional distribution as follows: Japan (15),
North America and Latin America (13), Russia and CIS countries (7), Southeast
Asia (6), and Europe and Oceania (6).
India, the world’s most populous country, has long-standing
ties with Korea, including medical support and peace mediation efforts during
World War periods. Since 2015, when the two nations elevated their relationship
to a Special Strategic Partnership, educational exchanges and cooperation have
continued to expand.
The opening ceremony in New Delhi was attended by a
delegation from the Korean Ministry of Education, including Mr. Seol Sehun,
Director General of Planning and Coordination. Also present were Mr. Lee Seong
Ho, Ambassador of the Republic of Korea to India, Mr. Ravikesh, Registrar of
Jawaharlal Nehru University, and Mr. Lee Kwang Il, Chairman of the Korean
Association in India.
More than 120,000 overseas Koreans currently reside in India
and are actively engaged in sectors such as education, industry, culture, and
research, serving as an important bridge between the two nations. With growing
interest in Korea driven by the Korean Wave, the Korea Education Centre in
India plans to focus on promoting Korean language education and attracting
Indian students to pursue higher education in Korea.
Commenting on the occasion, Education Minister Choi Gyo Jin
stated, “The role of the Korea Education Centre in India should be greatly
strengthened in line with Korea’s elevated economic and cultural status in the
international community and the global education powerhouse strategy aimed at
attracting 300,000 international students.”
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