India Hosts Preliminary Round for Quiz on Korea 2023 to Select Finalists

NEW DELHI: Neha Cariappa has secured first place and the opportunity to represent India in the final round in Korea. Her name was announced at the 2023 Quiz on the Korea-India Preliminary Round that took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Convention Centre recently. Areeza Saifi claimed the second place, while Mahaveer Prasad Kumawat secured the third place. These talented individuals impressed the judges with their knowledge and passion for Korea.

New Delhi witnessed an exciting display of knowledge and cultural exchange as the 2023 Quiz on the Korea-India Preliminary Round took place at the Jawaharlal Nehru University Convention Centre. Co-hosted by the Embassy of the Republic of Korea, the Korean Cultural Centre India, and Jawaharlal Nehru University, the event aimed to select participants for the final round of the prestigious Quiz on Korea, co-produced by KBS and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.

Quiz on Korea is a global quiz program that seeks to generate interest in Korea and promote its international presence. More than 20 countries hold regional rounds, with each country sending its final winner to participate in the Quiz on Korea finals, set to be held in Korea in September.

This marked the first time the Quiz on Korea preliminary round was held in India. The event commenced with speeches by Korean Ambassador Jang Jae-Bok and Prof Satish Chandra Garkoti, Rector-I of Jawaharlal Nehru University, who encouraged the participants to give their best. The ambassador and his spouse then presented the first and second questions to the contestants. Dignitaries such as Prof. Shoba Sivasankaran, Dean of the School of Language Literature and Culture Studies, Neerja Samajdar, Chairperson of the Centre of Korean Studies, and Hwang Il-Yong, Director of the Korean Cultural Centre of India, were also present.

India displayed its deep admiration for Korea, as over 110 participants took part in the competition, despite the requirement of a considerable level of proficiency in the Korean language to understand and answer the questions. In addition to the quiz, participants showcased their talents through K-pop dance performances and singing Korean songs. The Korean Cultural Centre’s performance team, “Haeohreum,” and the Taekwondo demonstration team in India introduced Korean traditional culture, further deepening the participants’ love for Korea.

The winners of the preliminary round were announced, with Neha Cariappa securing first place and the opportunity to represent India in the final round in Korea. Areeza Saifi claimed the second place, while Mahaveer Prasad Kumawat secured the third place. These talented individuals impressed the judges with their knowledge and passion for Korea.

Supporting Korean language learners, the prestigious Jawaharlal Nehru University’s Korea Studies faculty and students provided valuable assistance for the event. Orion India Corporation also contributed to the occasion by offering Korean snacks to the participants, adding to the cultural experience.

Ambassador Jang Jae-Bok expressed his confidence that events like the Quiz Contest and upcoming celebrations in commemoration of the diplomatic anniversary would strengthen mutual understanding and friendship between the people of Korea and India. He emphasized that these interactions would pave the way for an even brighter future for Korea-India relations.

The Quiz on Korea 2023 India Preliminary Round not only showcased the participants’ knowledge and enthusiasm for Korea but also fostered cultural exchanges and deepened the bond between the two nations. The selected finalists now eagerly await the final round in Korea, where they will compete against representatives worldwide for the ultimate title in the Quiz on Korea.