Mataram, University of Mataram — Learning a foreign language does not always have to begin in the classroom. Films can offer an accessible way to hear a language in context, follow conversations, and spark an interest in learning more. This approach was brought to the community by the King Sejong Institute (KSI) Mataram at the University of Mataram (Unram) through Korean Movie Day 2026.

Held on Saturday, 26 September 2026, at CGV Transmart Mataram, the event featured HOPE, a South Korean science-fiction monster film co-written, directed, and co-produced by Na Hong-jin. The film takes audiences into a mysterious story set in a remote port town, where residents face an unprecedented threat.

For KSI Mataram, film screenings provide an accessible space for bringing the Korean language closer to the community. Through dialogue and storytelling, audiences can hear Korean as it is used in context while experiencing the language in a more natural setting beyond formal language learning.

Getting to Know KSI, from Korea to Mataram

The King Sejong Institute (KSI) is an official Korean institution established in various countries to promote the Korean language and culture. Its programmes go beyond language skills, offering learners opportunities to explore different aspects of Korea through educational and cultural activities.

The KSI network has now grown to 273 institutes in 89 countries, including 11 institutes in Indonesia. One of them is KSI Mataram, officially launched at Unram on 24 August 2026 through a partnership between Unram and Seoul National University (SNU).

As one of the newest KSI institutes in Indonesia, KSI Mataram provides an opportunity to expand access to Korean language learning for communities across Lombok while building stronger academic and cultural connections with Korea.

From the Screen, Bringing Korean Closer

Korean Movie Day is one of the ways KSI Mataram introduces the Korean language through an experience that feels familiar and accessible. Films present language within a complete context through dialogue, characters, and situations allowing audiences to hear Korean directly without having to begin with formal language instruction.

The approach also creates an entry point for people who are beginning to take an interest in learning Korean. An interest sparked by film can become a first step towards discovering vocabulary, everyday conversations, and more structured language learning at KSI Mataram.

Director of KSI Mataram, Dr. Drs. Baharuddin, M.Hum., said that the institute’s future development is geared towards expanding access to Korean language learning and strengthening public engagement with the language across Lombok.

He said that the presence of KSI Mataram is part of a broader effort to build stronger connections between Unram, the people of Lombok, and Korea. The partnership with SNU also provides a foundation for the institute’s future development, including opportunities to strengthen Korean language studies at Unram.

“One way for us in Lombok to connect with the world is by learning Korean,” said Baharuddin.

Opening a Path from Lombok to the World

For Unram, foreign-language proficiency can open wider access to education, knowledge, culture, and international networks. The development of KSI Mataram therefore extends beyond classroom-based learning to include spaces that can spark people’s curiosity and interest.

Korean Movie Day 2026 is one such starting point. Through film, audiences can begin hearing and experiencing Korean in a more relaxed setting before taking the next step towards learning the language more deeply.

The presence of KSI Mataram at Unram also opens a new avenue for communities across Lombok to connect with Korea. From Mataram, language learning can become a pathway to broaden perspectives, build networks, and open opportunities to a wider world.