Composer and producer Kim Hyung-seok has joined hands with the prestigious University of Oxford in the UK to globalize the Korean language.
On the 8th, according to composer Kim, he will collaborate with Professor Jieun Kiaer's research team at Oxford's Department of Middle Eastern and South Asian Studies to publish a songbook for Korean language education.
The songbook will include 50 carefully selected beautiful children's songs from Korea, presented in both Hangul and English. It is reported that the collection will include songs widely known to the public and easy to learn.
Song selection and translation will be handled separately by composer Kim and the research team. Researcher Lee Hak-jun of the research team said, "We will study the effectiveness and sustainability of Korean language education through songs."
Earlier, in July 2024, composer Kim provided the copyrights to about 1,400 songs he created to the Oxford research team free of charge for the purpose of Korean language education.
While preparing the publication of the songbook, he plans to teach children's songs directly to British youths at the opening event of the Oxford Schwarzman Humanities and Arts Centre next year in the first half.
Composer Kim said, "Not only K-pop but K-children's songs have so many beautiful pieces," and added, "I hope it can contribute to the globalization of the Korean language."
Meanwhile, the Oxford research team has been steadily continuing Korean language education using children's songs since May with support from the Korean Educational Center in the U.K.
The "K-Song Academy" program drew participants from areas near Oxford as well as British students and parents in London, and the research team noted that the age group seeking to learn Korean is gradually getting younger.
On Hangul Day in particular, about 100 local British youths were invited to learn the basics of Hangul by singing a chorus of a song included in the popular animation K-Pop Demon Hunters. Participants enjoyed kimbap and hot dogs while simultaneously enjoying K-language, K-Pop and K-Food.
Composer Kim expressed expectations that "the Korean language will become the new center of the Korean wave," adding, "I will continue to consider the role of popular artists for a sustainable Korean wave."
[Photo] Korean Educational Center in the U.K., provided by composer Kim Hyung-seok
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