Pune’s Indo-Korean Center Becomes Official TOPIK Exam Center, Opening Doors to Global Opportunities
Starting January 2025, the newly designated exam center will offer thousands in western India a chance to validate their Korean language skills and pursue international careers.
PUNE: The Youthbuild Foundation’s Indo-Korean Center (IKC), located in Pune, India, has been officially designated as a certified Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) exam center, effective from January 1, 2025. This milestone marks a significant achievement, providing residents of Pune and western India with a valuable opportunity to validate their Korean language skills locally through an official examination.
TOPIK is an internationally recognized proficiency test that assesses the Korean language abilities of non-native speakers and overseas Koreans. It is open to participants of all ages and nationalities.
The results of the exam are widely used for various purposes, including meeting admission and graduation standards for universities in South Korea, applying for jobs in Korean and international companies, obtaining visas for permanent residency and employment, enrolling in courses under the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program, and fulfilling credit requirements for Korean majors at foreign universities.
The test comprises two levels: TOPIK I, designed for beginners, and TOPIK II, aimed at intermediate to advanced learners. It evaluates candidates’ listening, reading, and writing skills.
The National Institute for International Education (NIIED), which oversees the administration of the TOPIK exam, selects exam centers based on their accessibility, facilities, and operational capabilities. The Indo-Korean Center in Pune has been recognized for meeting all the necessary criteria to host the exam and ensure a smooth and well-organized experience for candidates.
Starting in 2025, IKC will conduct the TOPIK exam twice a year, with the capacity to accommodate up to 200 candidates per session for both levels. The exam will be conducted in a Paper-Based Test (PBT) format, ensuring a secure and standardized testing environment.
Dr. Eunjoo Lim, Director of the Indo-Korean Center, shared her joy over the announcement, highlighting the years of effort that went into bringing the TOPIK exam to Pune. She noted that many students from western India had previously been forced to travel long distances to cities like Delhi, Imphal, and Hyderabad, often discouraging them from pursuing their goals.
Dr. Lim expressed hope that this new development would provide students and Korean language enthusiasts with a local platform to demonstrate their proficiency, further their academic ambitions, and explore international job opportunities.
She also expressed gratitude to the Consulate General of the Republic of Korea in Mumbai for its steadfast support and collaboration in making this project a reality. According to Dr. Lim, the establishment of the TOPIK center will serve as a stepping stone for students and Korea lovers, rewarding their perseverance and opening doors to greater success.
The National Institute for International Education (NIIED) is a South Korean government agency operating under the Ministry of Education, dedicated to the development of human resources and promoting international educational exchange. NIIED is responsible for the administration of the TOPIK exam, managing the Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) program, and providing support for international students pursuing studies in South Korea.
The Indo-Korean Center in Pune was jointly established by the Youth Build Foundation, an educational trust registered under the S.R. Act 1860 and M.P.T. Act 1950, and Kiwa Consultants Pvt. Ltd. under a memorandum of understanding signed on March 25, 2021. Since then, the center has been operating under the Youth Build Foundation’s leadership through an executive order from the board of trustees.
Functioning as part of the King Sejong Institute Pune, the Indo-Korean Center serves as a hub for cultural and educational exchange between India and Korea. It offers a wide range of services, including Korean language certification programs, corporate language training, educational and business tours to South Korea, and initiatives to promote Korean culture and organizations. The center boasts modern facilities, including smart classrooms, a library, a recreational zone, and a cafeteria, and offers both online and offline language courses taught by native Korean instructors.
