King Sejong Institute-Hits Chennai Established At Hits

Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science, Chennai is the only institution in India chosen this year by The King Sejong Institute Foundation under the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, for establishing KSI HITS Chennai. The centre at HITS is established to provide high quality education in Korean Language and Korean culture for the public. This initiative will play a major role in strengthening relations between India and the Republic of Korea.

The inaugural ceremony of the KSI-HITS Chennai Institute, was held in virtual mode on 2 August 2021. The event commenced with the Welcome Address by Dr. S.N. Sridhara, Vice Chancellor, Hindustan Institute of Technology and Science. He extended a warm and cordial welcome to the Chief Guest, Mr. Youngsub Kwon, Consul General of Korean Consulate-General in Chennai; Mr. lyong Hwang, Director of Korean Cultural Centre India (Delhi) & Director of KSI-Chennai2 (HITS); and Sanghyun Jo, Chairman of Korean Association in Chennai, the Guest of Honour. He also welcomed Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, CEO, Hindustan Group of Institutions; Dr. Aby Sam and Dr. Ashok G. Verghese, Directors, HITS; Dr. R.W. Alexander Jesudasan, Pro Vice Chancellor; Dr. Ilavazhagan, Director International Affairs; Dr. David Easow, Deputy Director International Affairs; Ms. Sukhee Lee, International Advisor; Dr. Akkara Sherine, Head Languages & Rankings, HITS; all Heads of Hindustan Group of Institutions, dignitaries, participants and students.

Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Pro Chancellor, HITS declared the KSI-HITS Chennai Centre open. He appreciated the fact that the KSI-HITS Chennai is inaugurated today in the presence of Chief Guest, Mr. Youngsub Kwon, Consul General of Korean Consulate-General in Chennai, Mr.lyong Hwang, Director of Korean Culutral Centre India(Delhi) & Director of KSI-Chenna (HITS) and Sanghyun Jo, Chairman of Korean Association in Chennai. He informed that the official declaration ceremony was held online on 9 June 2021, at Seoul, South Korea, wherein there was a delegation representing HITS in the presence of Mr. HwangHee, Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism, South Korea. It is noteworthy to mention that The King Sejong Institute Foundation under the Korean Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism selected HITS as the only institute from India for the purpose of establishing a Korean Language and Culture Centre at HITS, this year. The centre not only offers the programme to HITS students but also students from other institutions and for the public to learn the Korean language and culture. He reiterated that Chennai is one of the key cities in the country that not only hold maximum number of Koreans but also is the hub for Korean companies. Korean Culture Centre India, had already enrolled 230 students for the Beginner Korean Language course and will operate in India along with Korean Cultural Centre, India, King Sejong Institute, and will be functional at Hindustan University campus as KSI-HITS Chennai. He appreciated the efforts of Ms. Sukhee Lee, Advisor International Affairs, HITS and Administration Head of KSI-HITS-Chennai, and also the entire Hindustan team Dr. Ilavazhagan, Director International Affairs, Dr. David Easow, Deputy Director, International Affairs and Dr. Sherine Joy, Head Languages for their untiring efforts to establish the KSI-HITS Chennai.

Korea has always looked out for opportunities to establish ties with India, in a recent communication it was reiterated that both countries upholding values in high regard. Going back few centuries, India’s and Korean’s historical connection, he mentioned the special significance about South Koreans belief they can trace their ancestry to Ayodhya, the story of an Indian princess - Suriratna - who married a South Korean king and started a dynasty.

Indo-Korea friendship has been strengthened with several initiatives by both the nations.

I sincerely wish that the KSI HITS Chennai centre and project will attract the students to learn Korean Language and culture across the nation. This partnership will go way forward in strengthening the relationship between India and South Korea.

Dr. S.N. Sridhara, Vice Chancellor, HITS and Mr. Ilyoung Hwang, Director of KCCI released the Logo of KSI HITS Chennai. This was followed by the introduction of the Chief Guest by Dr. Sherine Joy, Head Languages and she invited him to deliver the congratulatory message. In his message Mr. Youngsub Kwon, Consul General of Korean Consulate-General in Chennai, said on behalf of Republic of Korea he expressed his heart felt appreciation to Dr. Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, Pro chancellor, all the HITS fraternity and Ilyoung Hwang, Director of Korean Culutral Centre India(Delhi) & Director of KSI-Chenna (HITS) and Guest of Honour, Sanghyun Jo, Chairman of Korean Association in Chennai for their strong commitment in establishing the KSI-HITS centre at Hindustan Institute of Technology & Science. He specially thanked Ms. Sukhee Lee, Admin KSI HITS Chennai for her sincere efforts in establishing the centre. This initiative is very unique and symbolic, keeping in view of the popularity of Korean Language and culture and the digitization has helped a lot. Even during the lockdown the Korean dramas, food, music has been tremendously increasing popularity in India, and there are considerable number of Koreans residing in Chennai and there are several Korean companies in India. He said he has high expectations that this centre will definitely excel in promoting Korean language to public through this KSI HITS Chennai center and he expects tremendous support from the Chennai community to support this initiative.

Dr. Ilavazhagan, Director International Affairs, proposed the Vote of Thanks. He thanked Chief Guest for his congratulatory message, he appreciated Ilyoung Hwang, Director of Korean Culutral Centre India(Delhi) & Director of KSI-Chennai (HITS) and Guest of Honour, Sanghyun Jo, Chairman of Korean Association in Chennai for their efforts to establish the centre KSI HITS Chennai. He also appreciated HITS Management Dr. Mrs. Elizabeth Verghese, Chancellor, Dr. Anand Jacob Verghese, CEO, Hindustan Group of Institutions, Dr. Aby Sam and Dr. Ashok G. Verghese, Directors, HITS, Dr. S.N. Sridhara, Dr. R.W. Alexander Jesudasan, Pro Vice Chancellor, Dr.Ilavazhagan, Director International Affairs, Dr. David Easow, Deputy Director International Affairs, Ms.Sukhee Lee, International Advisor, Dr. Sherine, Head Languages & Rankings, HITS for successfully establishing the Centre . He thanked all the participants for their efforts in making this event a success.