Accra:Tran Thi Huong Ly, the winner of a Korean speech contest for foreigners in South Korea, has expressed her intent to continue learning Korean, describing it as a gentle language.

According to Yonhap News Agency, Tran made these comments after securing the top prize at the 28th World Korean Language Speech Contest for Foreigners. The event was co-hosted by the Institute of International Education at Kyunghee University and Yonhap News Agency. This year, the contest saw participation from 1,046 individuals across 35 countries, with 16 finalists from 14 countries competing for the top honor.

Tran was awarded the grand prize for her speech, which highlighted her perception of Korean as a language where speakers strive to communicate carefully to avoid offending others. She entered the contest as a learning experience, not anticipating her victory. Her interest in Korean culture began with K-pop and K-drama during her youth.

Having first arrived in South Korea to study the language in 2019, Tran pursued a major in Korean language education and is currently working towards a master's degree in the same field. As both a teacher and learner of Korean, she often reflects on ways to improve her students' learning experiences.

Tran also shared her future academic plans, expressing hopes to begin a doctoral degree next year. The World Korean Language Speech Contest for Foreigners was initiated in 1997 to promote the Korean language and commemorate the 600th birth anniversary of King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty, the inventor of the Korean writing system, Hangeul.