The Voluntary Agency Network of Korea (VANK) is launching a global Hallyu ambassador training project targeting 7.5 million overseas Koreans worldwide. The initiative stems from VANK’s strategy to position overseas Koreans as key drivers of the new Hallyu renaissance, co-designers of Korea’s diplomacy, culture, and education policies, and core partners in realizing a global vision for the nation.
With the global Hallyu fan base now exceeding 200 million, Korean popular culture continues to spread across the world. However, as Hallyu’s influence remains largely limited to pop culture, VANK plans to expand its scope. On July 18, 2025, in the United States, the organization will sign a cooperation agreement with the National Association for Korean Schools (NAKS) to jointly promote Korea’s rich history and vibrant culture to audiences in the U.S. and beyond.
NAKS, led by President Kwon Yea-soon, is an umbrella organization of more than 1,000 weekend Korean schools across North America. It provides comprehensive education in Korean language, history, and culture to the next generation of Korean Americans, instilling a strong sense of identity and pride.
Through a variety of initiatives—including spreading accurate perceptions of Korea and proposing education policy recommendations—NAKS works to secure the future of Korean American youth.
The cooperation between VANK and NAKS was initiated when VANK was invited to the 43rd NAKS Annual Conference and General Meeting, to be held from July 17 to 19, 2025, in Dallas, Texas.
Going forward, VANK will work with NAKS to implement a Hallyu ambassador training program for NAKS-affiliated teachers and Korean American youth. The goal is to strengthen their identity and pride in Korea while enhancing the country’s image in the United States.
The main areas of cooperation include:
- Jointly implementing on- and offline projects to appoint global Hallyu ambassadors among NAKS teachers and Korean American youth.
- Collaborating to ensure accurate representation of Korea in AI-generated content, U.S. school and university textbooks, tourism publications, and museums.
- Running campaigns to boost Korean American youths’ pride in their heritage and strengthen their cultural identity.
- Using VANK’s national policy platforms Woollim and Yeollim to assess overseas Korean policies and Korean cultural and historical content, thereby establishing a global diaspora governance framework among the Korean government, NAKS, and VANK.
- Sharing the achievements and activities of Korean independence activists in the U.S. from a century ago with Korean American teachers and youth.
VANK head Park Ki-tae stated, “Starting with our partnership with NAKS, we plan to raise Korea’s national brand and image by fostering 7.5 million overseas Koreans and 200 million Hallyu fans as Hallyu ambassadors. Although overseas Koreans in over 180 countries are vital policy partners in shaping Korea’s future across politics, economy, diplomacy, and culture, there is still no sufficient system for their voices to be reflected in government policy. Their role is increasingly important in addressing major national challenges such as unification, diplomacy, and international cooperation. They are both global Hallyu ambassadors and visionary architects who can lead Korea to become the hub of Asia, the gateway to Northeast Asia, and a nation that shares dreams and friendship with the world. VANK will work with overseas Koreans as co-designers of Korea’s diplomatic, cultural, and educational policies, and as key partners in realizing the vision for a global Korea.”
NAKS President Kwon Yea-soon said at the signing ceremony, “We are pleased to walk alongside VANK on the path toward the flourishing of Hallyu culture and the renewed growth of Korean schools. The 80th anniversary of Korea’s liberation is a meaningful time, as the joy of regaining independence is at the heart of the Korean school’s mission. Inheriting the legacy of Korean independence activists in the U.S., we will work with VANK to train Hallyu ambassadors among Korean school teachers and remain steadfast in our mission of identity education for the next generation.”
Meanwhile, VANK is participating in the 43rd NAKS Annual Conference and General Meeting. At the event, VANK’s Park Ki-tae, along with researchers Kwon So-young and Koo Seung-hyun, is presenting practical ways for Korean school teachers to serve as “Korea’s Hallyu ambassadors” amid the global K-wave boom.