Bryl Christian R. Sario, a Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language (BAFL) major in Korean at West Visayas State University, earned the Excellence Award at the 2025 King Sejong Institute Speech Contest Finals held Oct. 15 in Seoul, South Korea.

Representing both the King Sejong Institute (KSI)–Iloilo and the Philippines, Sario was among the top 10 finalists chosen from hundreds of contestants across more than 240 KSI branches worldwide. His winning speech shared his five-year journey of learning the Korean language, his motivations for pursuing Korean studies, and his future goals in the field.

Before the competition, Sario and other finalists participated in a weeklong cultural immersion program in Korea. As part of his competition, he will remain in South Korea until Oct. 20 for further cultural activities and engagements.

The KSI Speech Contest is held annually by the King Sejong Institute Foundation (KSIF) to foster global appreciation for Korean language and culture participated in by outstanding learners from across the world, each representing their respective KSI branches.

Sario first secured his spot in the finals after winning the local competition hosted by KSI–Iloilo on May 31. The preliminary round, joined by 11 participants, highlighted the learners’ experiences in studying the Korean language and culture.

He was mentored by Ms. Reeran Park, instructor at KSI–Iloilo, which operates under the College of Arts and Sciences at WVSU. The institute, formally inaugurated last August following a Memorandum of Agreement between WVSU and the King Sejong Institute in Korea, aims to strengthen Korean language education and cultural exchange in Western Visayas.

According to Ms. Krizza S. Cañete of KSI–Iloilo, this achievement reflects the strength of WVSU’s Korean language program and the success of the institute in promoting Korean language and culture in the region.

“Since may ara kita BAFL nga program, mas gina-strengthen ang aton Korean program, especially sa pagpalaganap sang Korean culture—not just sa WVSU but in the whole Western Visayas. Kita lang ang KSI sa Western Visayas. Aside sa internationalization sang aton university and as the only university nga naga-offer sang Bachelor of Arts in Foreign Language program, mas na-help pa gid ni KSI nga maging stronger ang program ta for Korean language,” Cañete said.

Sario’s international recognition marks a milestone for both WVSU and KSI–Iloilo, showcasing the growing impact of the university’s foreign language programs on the global stage.

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