Yogyakarta, May 21, 2026 – Lecturers from the Korean Language and Culture Study Program, Faculty of Cultural Sciences, Universitas Gadjah Mada, conducted a Community Service Program (Pengabdian kepada Masyarakat/PkM) at SMA Negeri 1 Teladan Yogyakarta. The program aimed to introduce the fundamentals of the Korean language and culture while providing students with an overview of UGM’s Korean Language and Culture Study Program. The participants were members of the school’s Korean language extracurricular club.
The program began with an introduction to the Korean alphabet (Hangeul), the foundation of learning the Korean language. Students were introduced to the shapes, pronunciation, and basic principles of the Hangeul writing system, enabling them to gain a fundamental understanding of Korean orthography.
The participants were then introduced to commonly used Korean vocabulary and expressions frequently encountered in everyday life. The session was delivered interactively, allowing students to connect the material with their prior exposure to Korean culture through popular media such as K-pop, Korean dramas, and other digital content.
To encourage active participation, the PKM team organized an interactive quiz on Korean culture. Through the quiz, students tested their knowledge of various aspects of Korean culture commonly encountered in daily life. Each answer was subsequently discussed, providing an opportunity to clarify misconceptions while expanding the participants’ understanding of Korean culture in a more comprehensive manner.
In addition to the language and cultural sessions, the program also included a socialization session on the Korean Language Proficiency Test. During this session, students received information on the importance of language proficiency certification, the benefits of taking the test, and an overview of its content as preparation for those interested in pursuing Korean language and culture studies at the university level.
Through this Community Service Program, the Korean Language and Culture Study Program at UGM hopes to foster students’ interest in and understanding of the Korean language and culture. The activity also served as an opportunity to introduce the study program to prospective students, enabling more high school students to become familiar with its academic offerings, competency development opportunities, and future career prospects.
As part of the university’s commitment to the Tri Dharma of Higher Education, this community service initiative is expected to strengthen collaboration between the university and secondary schools while inspiring younger generations to develop cross-cultural perspectives and a strong enthusiasm for learning foreign languages, particularly Korean.
(Aura Adiba Wijaya Litianko)
