Choi Hwi-young, Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism, poses for a photo with attendees after signing a memorandum of understanding on Korean-language education support for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector among the ministry, Hyundai Motor Group, the King Sejong Institute Foundation, and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Seoul branch in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on the 19th. (From left) Jun Woo-yong, chairman of the King Sejong Institute Foundation; Sung Kim, president of Hyundai Motor Group; Minister Choi; and Ahn Jeong-gu, chairman of the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation. Photo courtesy of the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.
The Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed a memorandum of understanding on Wednesday with Hyundai Motor Group, the King Sejong Institute Foundation and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation to provide tailored Korean-language education focused on job duties and safety for foreign workers in the manufacturing sector. The agreement was signed at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Seoul branch in Jongno, Seoul.
“The ability to communicate in Korean at industrial sites is a critical issue directly linked to worker safety,” Culture Minister Choi Hwi-young said. “We hope this agreement will become a model case of public-private cooperation that helps foreign workers adapt to their duties safely and contributes to productivity and social integration.”
According to the ministry, the number of foreign workers employed in Korea surpassed 1.1 million in 2025. Calls have grown for stronger Korean-language education, as many workers struggle to understand work instructions and safety regulations at industrial sites.
The agreement aims to address communication challenges faced by foreign workers in manufacturing settings and to support industrial safety and job adaptation. It is notable as a public-private cooperation model bringing together the government, public institutions, private companies and foundations.
The ministry and participating organizations plan to build a Korean-language education system tailored to manufacturing job characteristics and jointly pursue a public-private industrial-site education model. Korean-language textbooks currently exist for industries including agriculture, fisheries and MICE (meetings, incentives, conferences and exhibitions).
Under the agreement, the ministry will establish policies and support systems for special-purpose Korean education, while the King Sejong Institute Foundation will handle program operations, including content development and curriculum design. Hyundai Motor Group, led by Strategic Planning Officer and President Sung Kim, will design the Korean-language education support model, fund implementation costs and strengthen links between domestic and overseas business sites. The K-Mobility Bridge Foundation will connect manufacturers to ensure smooth on-site training.
The ministry plans to pilot the program at about 20 Hyundai Motor Group suppliers this year, then gradually expand the cooperation over three years through 2028 to provide tailored Korean-language education to foreign workers at supplier companies. During that period, the program will cover 130 companies and approximately 1,300 workers.
The textbooks and content developed through the program will be released as public works, and the ministry will consult with relevant agencies to expand the program’s reach to other industrial sites.
“This agreement is significant in that it goes beyond Korean-language education centered on educational institutions and establishes a model linked to industrial sites,” a ministry official said. “It will also contribute to spreading Korean at manufacturing sites worldwide by utilizing the network of 252 King Sejong Institutes in 87 countries.”
Korea’s Culture Ministry signed an MOU on Wednesday with Hyundai Motor Group, the King Sejong Institute Foundation and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation to provide job- and safety-focused Korean lessons for foreign manufacturing workers. The program will pilot at 20 Hyundai suppliers this year, expanding to 130 companies and 1,300 workers by 2028.
– Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed an MOU with Hyundai Motor Group and two foundations on Wednesday to deliver tailored Korean-language training for foreign workers in manufacturing.
– Foreign workers employed in Korea surpassed 1.1 million in 2025, with many struggling to understand work instructions and safety regulations at industrial sites.
– The pilot program will start at about 20 Hyundai Motor Group suppliers this year and expand to 130 companies and roughly 1,300 workers by 2028.
– Hyundai Motor Group will fund the support model, while the King Sejong Institute Foundation handles content development and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation connects manufacturers.
– Educational materials developed under the program will be released as public works and made available to other industries through inter-agency cooperation.
Q: Who signed the Korean-language education MOU for foreign workers?
A: Korea’s Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism signed the agreement with Hyundai Motor Group, the King Sejong Institute Foundation and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation. The signing ceremony took place at the National Museum of Modern and Contemporary Art’s Seoul branch in Jongno on Wednesday, establishing a public-private cooperation model for industrial-site language training.
Q: How many foreign workers will the program cover by 2028?
A: The program will pilot at about 20 Hyundai Motor Group supplier companies this year before expanding gradually over three years. By 2028, it is expected to cover 130 companies and approximately 1,300 foreign workers, providing Korean-language education tailored to manufacturing job duties and workplace safety requirements.
Q: Why is Korean-language training needed for foreign manufacturing workers?
A: According to the Culture Ministry, foreign workers employed in Korea surpassed 1.1 million in 2025, and many struggle to understand work instructions and safety rules at industrial sites. Minister Choi Hwi-young said Korean-language communication at industrial sites is directly linked to worker safety.
Q: What roles will each organization play in the program?
A: The Culture Ministry will set policies and support systems, while the King Sejong Institute Foundation handles content development and curriculum design. Hyundai Motor Group will plan the support model and fund implementation, and the K-Mobility Bridge Foundation will connect manufacturers to ensure smooth on-site training delivery.