Bahraini student wins worldwide Korean-language speech contest

Seoul, Oct. 8 (BNA): A 19-year-old Bahraini student has won a Korean-language speech contest after beating 1,918 competitors from 76 countries worldwide. Zahra Jaffar Ali Mohammed Hussain Al Safi, a student of British University of Bahrain, reached the finals alongside nine other contestants and on Thursday was declared the overall winner of the competition for the students of the King Sejong Institutes worldwide. A Turkish student, 25, came second, according to the Korean news agency Yonhap. The topic of the event hosted by the Minister of Culture and Sports included "The Koreans I have met and the Koreans I have yet to meet." Zahra described three characteristics of Korean people and culture that have had an influence on her learning of the Korean language. She described how quick Koreans are in giving praise and how their sincerity really increased her confidence. Zahra added that the special ability of Korean people reading other’s mental and physical condition without any verbal conversation and taking care of others was what she wanted to have. She mentioned how impressed she was by the diligence of her teachers in always being available to assist her in the learning process. With her speech, the audience was amazed by her “fluent and charming Korean.” "I have developed in a positive way after I learned the Korean language and communicated with Koreans in a manner similar to the Bahraini adage ‘a person is a mirror of whoever he or she meets’,” Zahra said. The finalists in the competition are granted the opportunity to study in one of eight universities across the country, starting next year. She has studied Korean at Manama King Sejong Institute operated by the embassy of the Republic of Korea. First Lady Kim Jeong- suk attended the speaking contest and encouraged the contestants to be a bridge between Korea, their countries and the world. The Manama King Sejong Institute will receive 200 Korean books and 20 K-pop albums as an award from the First Lady in recognition of its merit for winning the top place through Zahra. The competition was open to foreign students at the King Sejong Institutes worldwide and the final was held online in Seoul under the auspices of the Korean ministry of culture, sports and tourism and the King Sejong Institute. Named after the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) king who invented the Korean alphabet "hangeul," the institute offers foreigners Korean language courses and Korean culture activities abroad.