Students play gayageum, a traditional Korean musical instrument, during an event at Concordia Korean Language Village in the U.S. state of Minnesota, Saturday. Courtesy of Sejong City Government

BEMIDJI, Minn. — At the Concordia Korean Language Village in the U.S. state of Minnesota, students immerse themselves in the Korean language through daily routines and a variety of activities. These include playing traditional Korean musical instruments and learning poetry, offering a hands-on approach to cultural education.

"I recognized the need for an American initiative that employs proven, engaging pedagogical techniques to teach Korean in a fun and engaging way," said Ross King, a professor of Korean language at the University of British Columbia and the first dean of Concordia Korean Language Village.

"This approach is essential for encouraging children to learn and share the Korean language, especially those without Korean heritage."

King stressed the importance of creating methods that appeal to non-Korean heritage learners, ensuring they are motivated to learn and share the Korean language.

The signboard in front of Concordia Language Village in Minnesota / Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun

Since its inception in 1999, the Concordia Korean Language Village has attracted over 2,500 students aged 7 to 18 from across the country.

Known as "Sup sogui Hosu," meaning "a lake in the woods" in Korean, the village offers one-, two- and four-week sessions for all proficiency levels, from beginners to advanced speakers.

Concordia Language Villages, sponsored by Concordia College, operates language and cultural immersion programs in 18 languages. Each program features architecturally and culturally authentic village sites, all named "a lake in the woods" in their respective languages.

Students participating in the program show interest not only in K-pop but also in Korean food and authentic culture. The immersive environment allows them to learn the language as part of their daily lives.

"I really like the program because we can learn a lot of useful phrases. It's not just in the classroom; it's immersive, with Korean cultural experiences all the time," Raven Glaser, a 17-year-old student attending the program for the second time, said.

"It gets to a point where it's more effective to learn a language by being immersed in the environment and through everyday interactions," Kira Robertson, a 17-year-old student participating in the program for the first time, said.

Participants also appreciate the opportunity to learn about Korean culture and traditions beyond textbooks in an environment where staff and students support each other in their learning.

"I feel welcomed and supported. The program allows everyone to explore interests and what is relevant to each of us," Amelia Goodwin, a 16-year-old student who has been learning Korean for two years, said.

"I think students can always learn more about the culture through experiences than through books."

Participants line up for Korean instant noodles during lunch break at Concordia Korean Language Village in Minnesota, Saturday. Courtesy of Sejong City Government

The experience at the language village also influences participants' future career choices. Victoria Caudle, a teacher in this year's four-week program, first learned Korean by attending the village in 2007.

"I didn't know any Korean when I started. I had a Korean friend in my hometown in Florida, and I thought it would be fun to learn Korean to speak a 'secret language,' so I joined the program," she said.

Victoria was fascinated by how the meaning of words changed with different Korean vowels and found studying poetry particularly enjoyable.

She also earned a master's degree in Korean language and literature at Seoul National University. She is currently pursuing a doctorate in Korean culture at the University of California, Los Angeles, and is dedicated to translating Korean literary works into English.

"This program sparked my interest in Korean literature, which I continue to study and translate," she said.

As cases like Victoria's increase, the staff composition at Concordia Korean Language Village is gradually diversifying.

"It used to be difficult to find American staff who had learned Korean in the past, but now we have both Korean and American staff," said Park Hyeon-jeong, an assistant dean of Sup sogui Hosu who has worked at the village for 20 years.

"The proportion of students without Korean heritage is also much higher now."

Ross King, a professor of Korean language at the University of British Columbia and a founding dean of Concordia Korean Language Village, gives a speech during an event at the village in Minnesota, Saturday. Korea Times photo by Jung Da-hyun

In response to the growing demand for Korean language education in the United States, Concordia Language Village held a ceremony on Saturday to celebrate the expansion of Sup sogui Hosu.

"This Korean Language Village is set to feature a plaza dedicated as a lasting symbol of the relationship between the two nations," U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota said, highlighting the significance of the expansion.

King emphasized the need for Korean language education to become more inclusive and accessible to everyone.

"Koreans need to learn how to share their language and culture, and we aim to support that effort," he said.

The ceremony also saw a delegation from the Sejong City Government in Korea, which visited to gain insights from Concordia's experience in operating a Korean language village. This visit is part of Sejong's efforts to develop its own Hangeul culture village in the city.

Sejong Mayor Choi Min-ho expressed interest in fostering future exchanges between Korean teachers, foreign students and Korean students.

As the city seeks to become a global hub for Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and language, it has expressed a strong interest in establishing exchanges with Concordia Language Village.

The city plans to build a culture village focused on Hangeul and Korean culture, including museums showcasing authentic Korean traditions. The initiative aims to offer programs where international students can learn both the language and cultural practices.