Students of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program have once again gained the opportunity to participate in a student exchange program at prestigious universities in South Korea. This opportunity has been awarded to three students through a scholarship program from the Hyundai Motor Chung Mong-Koo Foundation (Hyundai Motor CMK), which will take place over two semesters (Fall 2026 – Spring 2027).

Continuing the achievements of previous years, students from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program have once again been selected as awardees of the Hyundai CMK Scholarship for the 2026/2027 academic year. This prestigious scholarship offers various benefits, including full tuition coverage, living expenses support, and opportunities to experience Korean culture firsthand. In addition, recipients will gain insights into corporate culture in South Korea and participate in a variety of academic and non-academic activities organized by the CMK Foundation.

The three selected students will pursue their studies at three renowned universities: Yonsei University, Korea University, and Seoul National University. This achievement is not only a source of pride for the students but also strengthens the academic reputation of the study program.

Justin Liepangi, a 2024 student of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program who will study at Yonsei University, expressed his gratitude and pride:

“Becoming one of the Awardees of the Hyundai CMK Scholarship 2026 is a great honor for me. I was able to obtain this scholarship thanks to the support of my family and friends who have encouraged me to keep moving forward. For me, this journey is clear proof that the limits of our abilities often exist only in our minds. I applied for the Hyundai CMK Foundation Scholarship to go beyond those limits. Do not be afraid to try! We often hesitate because we fear failure, when in fact the greatest failure is never daring to try at all. Seize every opportunity, because we never know which door will lead us to greater dreams.”

Meanwhile, Adzini Nurul Fatima Juliani, a 2023 student of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program who will study at Korea University, shared her excitement and pride:

“Ending up at Korea University feels a bit unreal, in the best way possible. That’s why being selected as one of the Hyundai CMK scholarship awardees means more to me than I can put into words. From this opportunity, I hope to take myself further—both to deepen my education in Korea at its source and to gradually build the direction of my future. And of course, I will devote my youth fully to this experience. ‘나의 청춘을 걸겠습니다,’ just as the words say. I also hope that one day I will be able to meaningfully give back to society as much as I have received.”

Ferdinanda Melinda Suryaningrum, a 2023 student who will study at Seoul National University, also expressed her gratitude for the opportunity:

“I feel extremely grateful to have been selected as an Awardee of the Hyundai CMK Scholarship 2026 and to be given the opportunity to study at Seoul National University. This opportunity will be a very meaningful experience for me. Studying abroad has always been one of my greatest dreams. ‘인생은 뭐가 있어? 도전해야지!’ With this motto, I hope that the dynamics of life I will experience during this exchange will become an unforgettable chapter in my life story, encouraging me to bravely pursue many of the things I aspire to achieve.”

The achievements of these three students are expected to inspire others to continue developing their academic potential and to seize global opportunities. Furthermore, their participation in this program is anticipated to strengthen academic and cultural ties between Indonesia and South Korea.

Author: Eunike Serafia N.S

A lecturer of the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada (UGM), Achmad Rio Dessiar, B.A., M.A., Ph.D., received an official invitation to participate in a series of academic activities in South Korea from 26–30 January 2026. The invitation included participation in the Global Matching Lab program at Kyungpook National University (KNU), as well as meetings to explore academic collaboration with Yeungnam University in Daegu.

The visit began with participation in the Global Matching Lab at Kyungpook National University (KNU), which involved discussions with Prof. Ahn Mi-ae (Kyungpook National University) and Prof. Lee Mi-hyang (Yeungnam University). In addition to these discussions, the agenda included formulating joint research plans, organizing academic seminars, and exchanging perspectives on Korean language education in the Southeast Asian region. Through this program, sustainable research collaboration between researchers of both institutions is expected to be established, along with academic contributions relevant to each country’s local context.

On the same day, a public lecture was also delivered at Kyungpook National University under the theme The Development of Korean Studies Teaching in Indonesia. The lecture served as a platform for academic exchange while introducing the dynamics of Korean language and Korean Studies education in Indonesia to the international academic community.

As a follow-up to the academic collaboration initiative, a visit was also conducted to Yeungnam University. This visit continued the earlier meeting held on 27 December 2025, when several Yeungnam University faculty members visited the Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, to explore potential cooperation.

During the visit to Yeungnam University, discussions were held with the Dean of the Faculty of Humanities, Prof. Noh Sang-rae, and Prof. Lee Eun-jung from the Department of Anthropology, focusing on opportunities for deeper academic and research collaboration. Several forms of cooperation were agreed upon, including a student exchange program that enables students to apply for scholarships and study at Yeungnam University, as well as academic support for those intending to pursue master’s and doctoral degrees in the humanities. Yeungnam University also expressed its willingness to issue Letters of Acceptance (LoA) to support scholarship applications.

Participation in this international forum reflects the active role of UGM faculty in expanding global academic networks, strengthening educational and research collaboration, and promoting cross-border knowledge exchange. These efforts also contribute to advancing quality education, sustainable international cooperation, and increased academic mobility for both students and faculty at the global level.

Penulis: Eunike Serafia & Aura Adiba

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