Concordia's Korean Language Village breaks ground on plaza dedicated to education and the Minnesota–Korea partnership
Concordia Language Villages celebrated the next chapter in the growth of the Korean Language Village, Sup sogŭi Hosu, on July 7, breaking ground on the Han-Mi Grove. The plaza will be a new outdoor learning space that also honors the historic partnership between Minnesota and the Republic of Korea.
The ceremony welcomed distinguished guests from the United States and South Korea, including philanthropist D.K. Kim, founder of the D.K. Kim Foundation; representatives of the National Hangeul Museum in South Korea; Concordia College and Concordia Language Villages leaders; supporters and donors; and Korean Language Village participants and staff.
The Han-Mi Grove will become the central outdoor gathering space for Sup sogŭi Hosu, serving as a place for language learning, performances, cultural celebrations, and community life. Inspired by the Korean taegeuk symbol, the space reflects harmony, balance and the coming together of different cultures in pursuit of greater understanding.
"Today, we are not simply beginning the construction of the Han-Mi Grove," Kim said. "We are helping to build the future."
Kim shared his own story of growing up amid war, hardship, and poverty in Korea, explaining that education transformed the course of his life.
"Education has the power to change a life, transform a generation, and ultimately improve a society," he said. "Learning a language is not simply about learning words. It is about learning to understand another human being.
For Dafna Zur, dean of the Korean Village, that cultural understanding is essential to a better future.
"The only way really to continue to thrive and maintain peace and prosperity for everyone is to bridge cultures and build understanding," she said. "That's what the Korean Village and Concordia Language Villages is all about."
Honoring Military Service
The grove commemorates the enduring partnership between the Republic of Korea and the United States, including the significant role Minnesotans played during the Korean War. As the two nations marked the 70th anniversary of their alliance in 2023, the project was envisioned as a way to honor the service of those who helped protect and rebuild South Korea.
Kristin Christenson, representing U.S. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, read a letter from the senator recognizing the enduring ties between Minnesota and Korea and applauding the mission of Concordia Language Villages.
Concordia Language Villages Executive Director Susan Larson said the vision for the Han-Mi Grove is to celebrate this special relationship while expanding opportunities for culturally authentic outdoor learning.
"The Han-Mi Grove is designed to immerse participants in their natural surroundings and will offer many opportunities for fun-filled learning, exploration, and contemplation," Larson said.
Experiential Learning
Concordia College President Colin Irvine reflected on the unique educational experience found at the Language Villages, where students grow through curiosity, humility, and the willingness to step outside their comfort zones.
"The genius of Concordia Language Villages is that learning here isn't primarily about information," Irvine said. "It's immersive, experiential, and truly participatory."
He said the village experience prepares young people for much more than language proficiency.
"It is helping them develop habits of mind that lead to success in life — curiosity, adaptability, resilience, empathy, and comfort with uncertainty," Irvine said. "Those are the qualities that build communities. Those are the qualities that build friendships across cultures. And those are the qualities that build a better world."
The groundbreaking marks the next phase in the continued development of Sup sogŭi Hosu, which opened its permanent home in 2024 on Turtle River Lake. The village was made possible through the generosity of donors who envisioned a culturally authentic home for Korean language immersion in the North Woods of Minnesota.
Founded in 1999, Sup sogŭi Hosu welcomes youth from across the United States each summer for immersive Korean language and cultural education. The village is one of Concordia Language Villages' internationally recognized language immersion programs, which have inspired courageous global citizens through language and cultural learning since 1961.