Academic Ties Grow as Korea Education Centre Opens in India

 

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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