Yogyakarta, 19 December 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Program of Universitas Gadjah Mada held the K-Speech UGM 2025 Oratory Competition as a Final Semester Project for the Speaking and Listening III course, taught by Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A. The event took place from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. WIB at Poerbatjaraka Auditorium, 3rd Floor, and was attended by the President of the K-Speech Eloquence Association of Indonesia, Mr. Woo Yong Taek.

A total of 22 teams, each consisting of two to three students, along with one individual participant, took part in the competition. The oratory topics were grouped into three main themes: bullying in universities, world peace, and cultural exchange between Korea and Indonesia.

Prior to the competition, students participated in one oratory technique class and two consultation sessions with the course instructor. Unlike conventional speeches, oratory requires a strong voice and clear articulation. Beyond technical skills, the purpose of oratory is not merely to convey a narrative, but to encourage audiences to reflect on surrounding social issues and to propose meaningful solutions.

Following the performances of all 23 participants, Mr. Woo Yong Taek expressed his appreciation for the students. He praised their Korean pronunciation, noting that it closely resembled that of native Korean orators. He also selected four best teams and awarded each team a scholarship of IDR 2,500,000. The selected teams were:

• Ardhanika Brahmadhinata, Nasywa Amelia, Theresia Chindyawati
• Allysa Fadhia Pramudita, Brigitta Angela Limanto, Paula Maureen Christella
• Irene Xaviera Lovryna, Vivian Valerie Boru Tambunan, Rosalia Pramoda Wardhani
• Alfinda Fidela Daniswara Azarine, Febriana Valentia Andhiera Putri, Jovita Oryza Ananda Naita

The course instructor, Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., expressed her hope that the competition and the presence of the K-Speech Eloquence Association of Indonesia would serve as a source of motivation for UGM students to continue developing their communication skills, social awareness, and readiness to participate in the annual K-Speech competition in the coming year.

Written : Alfiana Amrin R
Edited : Eunike Serafia N.S

Yogyakarta, 28 November 2025 — INAKOS, in collaboration with the Korean Language and Culture Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada, held the third online public lecture on Friday, 28 November 2025. Supported by grant funding from the Korea Foundation, this final session concluded the series of public lectures conducted throughout November 2025. The lecture featured Professor Chae Ho Seok from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, who presented a talk titled “Literature and Literary History: Literature, History, Memory.”

Professor Chae opened the lecture by raising the question of why much of Korean literature centers on themes of sorrow. He then discussed how the development of Korean literature has been shaped by major historical events in Korea, including Japanese colonial rule, the Korean War, various revolutions, industrial reform, and the nation’s democratization movements.

During the session, Professor Chae also presented examples of representative Korean poems that continue to appear in school textbooks, as well as poems that have been removed due to the authors’ backgrounds being considered at odds with government perspectives. The lecture concluded with his message highlighting the importance of reading Korean literary history and comparing different books to gain a broader understanding.

The lecture was attended by approximately 24 participants and moderated by Febriani Elfida Trihtarani, S.S., M.A., a lecturer in the Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM. Participants were given the opportunity to ask questions about the material and broader topics related to Korean literature.

Looking ahead, it is hoped that more public lectures and seminars on Korean literature will be organized to deepen the knowledge of students and the general public about Korean literary studies.

Written by : Febriani Elfida Trihtarani
Edited by : Eunike Serafia N.S

Yogyakarta, 21 November 2025 — INAKOS, in collaboration with the Korean Language and Culture Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and supported by grant funding from the Korea Foundation, continued its online Korean Studies Series Lectures with the second installment of the program. The lecture, held on 21 November 2025 via Zoom, featured Dr. Kim Jihye from the University of Melbourne, who presented a talk titled “K-drama Under the Blanket: Hallyu and Everyday Life in South Korea.”

During the one-hour session, Dr. Kim delivered an English-language presentation explaining how modern South Korean cultural content—particularly Korean dramas (K-dramas)—circulates in North Korea through smuggling networks. Despite strict governmental bans on South Korean cultural media, many North Korean citizens continue to access and watch K-dramas as part of their daily lives.

The lecture was attended by more than 70 participants and moderated by Alfiana Amrin Rosyadi, S.S., M.A., a lecturer in the Korean Language and Culture Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, UGM. Throughout the session, participants actively engaged in the discussion and had opportunities to ask questions directly to the speaker.

Through the continuation of this second lecture series, INAKOS and the Korean Language and Culture Program at UGM reaffirm their commitment to expanding academic collaboration and strengthening platforms for knowledge exchange. In the future, the organizers hope to offer more public lectures and further collaborative initiatives.

Written by : Alfiana Amrin R
Edited by : Eunike Serafia N.S

Yogyakarta, 14 November 2025 — INAKOS, in collaboration with the Korean Language and Culture Undergraduate Program at Universitas Gadjah Mada and supported by funding from the Korea Foundation, held the first lecture in the Korean Studies Series Lectures. The session took place online on 14 November 2025 under the title “Korean Language Education in Singapore.” The invited speaker was Dr. Ji Seowon from the Centre for Language Studies, National University of Singapore.

For approximately one hour, Dr. Ji delivered a lecture in Korean, presenting an overview of Korean language education at NUS, where the subject is offered as a minor and an elective. Although Korean is not offered as a primary undergraduate major, the program at NUS enables students to reach an advanced level of proficiency. The teaching approach incorporates various methods, including flipped learning, reflection notes, project presentations, and the integration of AI in language learning.

The lecture was attended by more than 33 participants, including undergraduate students from the program, master’s students in Korean Language Education from institutions such as Chulalongkorn University and Kyung Hee University, as well as Korean language instructors from universities and training institutions (LPK). The event was moderated by Dr. Hwang Who Young, M.A.

This lecture is expected to serve as a platform for educators and learners to enhance the quality of Korean language education in Indonesia, while also strengthening international academic networks that contribute to the advancement of quality education.

Written by : Alfiana Amrin R
Edited by : Eunike Serafia N.S

Yogyakarta, October 13, 2025 — The Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, once again demonstrated its commitment to supporting the improvement of educational quality through the KAGAMA Korea Scholarship Awarding Ceremony for the Odd Semester of the 2025/2026 Academic Year. The event was held in Room 305, Building F, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, from 08.30 to 09.00 WIB, and was attended by all scholarship recipients as well as students enrolled in the course Cross-Cultural Understanding Between Korea and Indonesia.

The program began with an opening by the master of ceremonies, followed by a welcoming speech from Achmad Rio Dessiar, S.S., M.A., Head of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program. In his remarks, he expressed his appreciation and congratulations to the scholarship recipients for their hard work and academic achievements. He also gave a brief introduction about KAGAMA Korea and provided information about the scholarship programs offered by the study program.

The event continued with the presentation of scholarship certificates to ten outstanding students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, namely:

1. Naufal Java Fakhriansyah (GPA 3.88)

2. Vira Ardiana Puspaningrum (GPA 3.87)

3. Rohadatul ‘Aisy Hamdaini (GPA 3.85)

4. Safrina Kurnia Dewi (GPA 3.78)

5. Nayla Nur Shadrina (GPA 3.85)

6. Lian Lina Purnama (GPA 3.85)

7. Sofia Rahma Ismulyanti (GPA 3.82)

8. Tamara Nasrina Prameswari (GPA 3.94)

9. Irene Xaviera Lovryna (GPA 3.90)

10. Theresia Chindyawati (GPA 3.87)

The awarding of this scholarship not only served as a form of recognition for students’ academic excellence but also as an encouragement to foster continuous learning and active contribution in the field of Korean language and culture. Through this support, students are expected to further develop their personal and academic capacities in a holistic manner.

In addition to providing direct benefits for the recipients, this event also strengthened the collaboration between the Korean Language and Culture Study Program and KAGAMA Korea. The partnership stands as a tangible example of shared commitment to creating equal and sustainable educational opportunities, while fostering the improvement of human resource quality.

The event concluded with a group photo session involving the scholarship recipients, lecturers, and representatives from the study program.

Through this initiative, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program reaffirms its dedication to creating an inspiring and collaborative learning environment, while contributing to the achievement of sustainable development goals through the enhancement of educational quality and the strengthening of academic partnerships.

Author: Aura Adiba WIjaya