By Diplomacy Journal Lee Kap-soo

The Department of Polish at Hankuk University of Foreign Studies (HUFS) held the '14th Polish Speaking Contest' in collaboration with the Embassy of Poland in Korea at the International Seminar Room of Baeknyeon Hall on the HUFS Global Campus in Seoul on Nov. 6.

The contest, which was held under the theme of 'My beloved Poland and Korea', was won by Kim Soo-kyung in the lower grade league and Hwang Seo-yul in the upper grade league.

The winners received certificates, six-month language study scholarships and summer school scholarships from the Polish Ministry of Education, internships at local public institutions, and souvenirs from the Embassy of Poland in Korea and the Institute for the Promotion of Specialized Foreign Language Education at HUFS.

“With the state visit of Polish President Andrzej Duda last month, our bilateral cooperation has grown even stronger, with Poland, known as the big hand of K-Defense, deciding to purchase an additional 50 trillion won worth of Korean-made weapons from South Korea,” said Artur Gradziuk, Charge d'Affaires a. i. of the Embassy of Poland in Seoul, who visited HUFS for the judging.

“We expect this contest to be a meaningful opportunity to foster talented Polish speakers.”

The Polish Department, the only department in Korea where students can major in Polish, has been fostering Polish-speaking professionals who play a pivotal role in Korea-Poland exchanges for the past 37 years.