Yogyakarta, June 15, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, held an inspiring talkshow titled “From Language Major to the Professional World” featuring alumni from the class of 2010. This event was part of the learning series for the course Comprehensive Korean II, aimed at providing students with insight and motivation regarding various career opportunities after graduation.

The 90-minute talkshow featured three alumni who have built careers across different professional sectors. Angela Pehulisa Meliala, currently serving as Head of the Analysis Division for the Indonesia and Vietnam regions at PT Mitra Aktif Adiperkasa, Tbk., shared her career journey that began through a management trainee program. She highlighted the importance of communication skills and critical thinking as essential competencies in the workplace.

The second speaker, Rachmat Aditya Hutama, is now a public servant in the Government of Victoria, Australia. He spoke about how the networks he developed during his studies at UGM—both within and beyond the Korean language field—greatly influenced his career path. Adit also shared tips on accessing essential career-related information, including Working Holiday Visa (WHV) registration, which became the starting point of his international career.

The third speaker, Sukmawati Nur Salamah, currently a civil servant lecturer in the Tourism Program at Universitas Brawijaya, emphasized the need to develop both hard and soft skills beyond language proficiency. She reminded students that there are no shortcuts to success, and that achieving one’s goals requires dedication and effort.

The talkshow was moderated by Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., the course instructor. In her remarks, she emphasized the importance of such forums to foster synergy between academia and the professional world. “Talkshows like this are important to broaden students’ perspectives. In the future, we hope to hold similar events regularly, in addition to organizing industry visits,” she stated.

Student enthusiasm for the event was notably high, with many sharing their impressions in the class group chat.

“We gained so many new insights and valuable lessons from this talkshow. It gave us a better idea of what to expect in the professional world, along with helpful career preparation tips. 감사합니다^^”

“Thank you so much for providing us with this opportunity to learn from insightful speakers. I’m so glad I joined!”

“This talkshow truly broadened our horizons. We feel fortunate to have participated in this class and to have gained so much knowledge and experience. 감사합니다! ”

Through this event, students of the Korean Language and Culture Program are expected to become more prepared and confident in navigating the professional world, equipped with both academic knowledge and relevant skills.

[Author: Alfiana]

K-Lit UGM, supported by the Literature Translation Institute of Korea (LTI Korea), organized a Korean literary translation workshop for 16 students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada. This year, the workshop focused on translating the novel “아주 희미한 빛으로도 (A Very Faint Light Though)” by Choi Eunyoung, a South Korean novelist known for her poetic and meaningful works.

Each participant received a complimentary copy of the novel as the main translation material. Following last year’s online format, this year’s workshop was held offline at the Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. Sessions were conducted twice a week, each lasting one hour, and were facilitated by lecturer Ms. Feby.

In a separate interview, Hada, one of the workshop participants, shared her impression: “This was a very valuable experience. Thank you for organizing this workshop.” Another participant, Eunike, added, “At first, I was hesitant to join the workshop because I had no experience in translation. But it turned out to be more enjoyable than I expected.”

To conclude the series of activities, K-Lit UGM plans to invite the author herself, Choi Eunyoung, for a meet-the-author session and official closing of the workshop in August. The event will be open to the public. Don’t miss this special opportunity to meet one of Korea’s most prominent contemporary writers!

[Author: Sherina Azmi]

Yogyakarta, May 18, 2025 — Students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada once again achieved outstanding success at the King Sejong Institute (KSI) Yogyakarta 2025 Speech and Writing Competition. The event was held on Sunday, May 18, 2025, at the Soegondo Building, Faculty of Cultural Sciences UGM, and was attended by active KSI students, KSI alumni, as well as students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program.

In this competition, two students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program succeeded in achieving remarkable accomplishments. Adzini Nurul Fatima Juliani won 1st Place in the Writing category, while Adhyva Kaana Taqqiyaa won 3rd Place in the Speaking category. These achievements reflect the students’ comprehensive Korean language skills, both oral and written, and demonstrate the results of continuous learning within the study program.

One of the winners, Adzini, shared her enthusiasm for participating in the competition. “Since the beginning, I had been looking forward to KSI’s competition, so when the opportunity came, I immediately joined both the writing and speaking contests. I personally feel more confident in writing because it is my hobby, especially as the theme was about ‘dreams,’ which felt very close to me. The words just flowed naturally, as if I was writing in my diary. In my piece, I portrayed dreams through the metaphor ‘마음속에 있는 불빛이’ (the light inside the heart) with an emotional nuance to give it more depth. I’m so happy that my message was delivered and I was selected as the 1st place winner. This competition has been a valuable experience to test my abilities. I hope KSI continues to hold such events, and that more participants will join in the future. Thank you! KSI Yogyakarta 화이팅!”

Meanwhile, Adhyva, who participated in the speaking category, also shared her experience. “처음으로 참가한 대회라 정말 떨리기도 하고 설레기도 했어요. 전체적으로 너무 즐거웠고, 한국어문화학과 학생으로서 정말 값진 경험이었어요.” (“This was the first competition I’ve participated in, so I felt both nervous and excited. Overall, it was very enjoyable, and as a student of the Korean Language and Culture Program, it was truly a valuable experience.”)

The students’ participation in this event not only serves as a platform for developing Korean language proficiency but also contributes to supporting the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), particularly Goal 4 (Quality Education) and Goal 17 (Partnerships for the Goals), through strengthening inter-institutional collaboration and enhancing the quality of globally-oriented education

[Public Relation of Korean Language and Culture, Sherina Azmi]

Yogyakarta, May 16, 2025 — Students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), once again demonstrated their active participation at the national level. On Friday (5/16), six students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM took part in the Preliminary Round of the National Korean Debate Competition organized by KCCI. The preliminary round was conducted online via the Zoom platform.

This competition was joined by 12 participants from various universities across Indonesia who had previously passed a selection interview. The participants were then divided into two groups, each consisting of six individuals. In addition to their Korean language proficiency, the competition also tested participants’ critical thinking skills and their ability to deliver arguments effectively before the judges.

The UGM students who participated in this event were Ferdinanda Melinda Suryaningrum, Adzini Nurul Fatima Juliani, Alma Naya Kamila, Sabrina Zalfaa Arisanti, Mulya Ghefira Azzahra, and Layla Maryam Al-Muqaddas. Their participation became a valuable opportunity to sharpen their Korean language skills and broaden their academic horizons.

In separate interviews, the participants shared their impressions and messages regarding the competition.

“I’ve always wanted to try new things, but there’s always a lot to worry about. I was afraid, afraid of failing. But it’s okay to fail, right? So I gave it a try. I’m very grateful for making it to the semi-final; no matter what the result will be, I’m already thankful. However, it’s unfortunate that some of my friends from UGM didn’t make it. Meeting amazing people and gaining new experiences is such a wonderful thing. 모든 것이 새로우면 설레게 만든대요. 그리고 그것이 맞다고 생각해요^^.” — Ferdinanda Melinda Suryaningrum

“I joined this competition with strong determination to challenge myself. Even though the team assignment was random, I was actually glad to meet new friends and exchange experiences and knowledge. I learned a lot during the preparation for the preliminary round, and I believe that thanks to our teamwork and cohesion, our team was able to win. It’s a bit funny that we will have to compete against each other later, but that’s what competition is. Finishing one round doesn’t mean I can relax right away because the semi-final and final are still ahead. I’m also a bit sad that not all UGM teams can go together to Jakarta, but I will do my best to represent them and the department. 마지막으로, 여기까지 함께했던 친구들 모두 정말 수고했고 멋졌어! 다음에 또 다른 대회 있으면 우리 꼭 다시 도전해보자!!”  — Adzini Nurul Fatima Juliani

“I’ve never even debated in Indonesian before, so I was extremely nervous participating in this. Even though I didn’t make it to the semi-finals, the experience was truly priceless!” — Alma Naya Kamila

“At first, I joined just to challenge my courage, even though I was scared and worried because I had to compete against fellow UGM friends. But thanks to that, I got to meet new people and quickly became close with them even though we had never met before. This competition will definitely be an unforgettable experience. Thanks to all members of 태양팀 and good luck to my UGM friends who advanced!”  — Sabrina Zalfaa Arisanti

“Initially, I didn’t plan to join this competition because I felt scared and lacked confidence. But eventually, I challenged myself to at least try once. Having randomly assigned team members was a challenge in itself due to distance and each person’s busy schedule. On the competition day, the event went smoothly despite being held online. Interestingly, most of the opposing teams were friends I already knew. Even though our team didn’t make it to the semi-finals, we finished the competition feeling relieved and cheerful. It was a meaningful and memorable experience.” — Mulya Ghefira Azzahra

“When my friend invited me to join this debate competition, I was quite hesitant at first due to my lack of confidence. But with the support of my friends, I gathered the courage to participate. The training process was very enjoyable because I got to meet many amazing new people. Although I didn’t manage to advance, I’m glad I dared to take part in this competition. It was a very valuable experience for me. ⊂⁠(⁠(⁠・⁠▽⁠・⁠)⁠)⁠⊃” — Layla Maryam Al-Muqaddas

Through participation in this competition, it is hoped that UGM’s Korean Language and Culture students will be further motivated to continue developing their Korean language skills and build confidence in facing various challenges in the future.

[Public Relation of Korean Language and Culture, Nisa Khairuna S./Sherina Azmi]

Yogyakarta, 23/5/2025 – Korean Major Talk Show, also known as KOMETS, is an annual event organized by the Korean Language Student Association (Himahara) with the aim of introducing the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada. The event features inspiring speakers from the program and is open to the general public. This year’s KOMETS was held online via Zoom on March 9, 2025, starting at 09:00 AM (WIB).

For 2025, KOMETS adopted the theme “Korean High School” with the tagline “A Journey To The Glory”, inspired by the popular South Korean drama Study Group. The theme reflects the perseverance and spirit of students in navigating a challenging journey toward discovering and preparing themselves for admission into the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. The event aspires to provide prospective students with in-depth insights into the academic environment and opportunities offered by the program at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

The event commenced with welcoming remarks from the Chair of Himahara, Khalisha Zukhrufa Hayya Risatmoko, the Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Dr. Achmad Rio Dessiar, B.A, M.A, and the Chief Organizer of KOMETS 2025, Uut Sriutami. The opening was followed by a presentation by Sherina Azmi Ahmad, an administrative staff member of the study program.

The session continued with presentations from two speakers who have participated in exchange programs in South Korea: Nyimas Aliyah Prajnia Paramitha, recipient of the 2024 Hyundai CMK Global Scholarship, and Raden Ajeng Dian Sari, recipient of the 2024 Global Korea Scholarship. In the middle of the session, a fun interactive quiz on South Korea was held to engage the participants.

The final speaker was the event’s special guest star, Kim Suengwon, a student from Busan University of Foreign Studies and a 2024 awardee of the AIMS Program Exchange, who is currently studying at Universitas Gadjah Mada.

KOMETS 2025 was attended by approximately 55 enthusiastic participants and received overwhelmingly positive feedback. The event successfully introduced the Korean Language and Culture Study Program to a broader audience. “Don’t be afraid to try, and keep striving until you succeed.” — KOMETS 2025 Speaker.

[Public Relation of Korean Language and Culture, Justin Liepangi]