The Bangjeonghwan Education Support Center runs a hanja- and vocabulary-based literacy program for elementary students, using play-centered activities to strengthen reading comprehension and expression.
The Bangjeonghwan Education Support Center in Jungnang-gu, Seoul, has launched a literacy program for elementary school students called "Bangjeonghwan Seodang," following an earlier lecture series for parents, as the center steps up efforts to improve children's vocabulary and reading comprehension.
In March, the center held a special lecture for parents of elementary students on improving literacy through hanja-based vocabulary. The session covered the causes of declining literacy, the importance of understanding hanja-derived words in school subjects, and practical vocabulary-building methods families can use at home — drawing strong interest and positive feedback from attendees.
Declining reading comprehension and vocabulary skills among students have emerged as a growing concern in education. Analysts note that a significant share of the core conceptual terms used across school curricula are rooted in hanja, meaning vocabulary comprehension affects learning broadly.
In response to a wave of inquiries from parents seeking a student-facing program after the lecture, the center launched Bangjeonghwan Seodang in April. The program is grounded in the child-centered educational philosophy of Bang Jeong-hwan, a pioneering figure in children's education in Korea, and is designed to make hanja and vocabulary — subjects students often find daunting — accessible and engaging through play and hands-on activities.
The curriculum centers on essential hanja characters and vocabulary organized by theme, along with vocabulary-expansion exercises. Rather than rote memorization, the program is structured to help students naturally develop reading comprehension and expressive ability.
The center plans to link the parent lecture series with the student program to build a comprehensive literacy education framework spanning both home and school.
"Literacy is a foundational skill that underpins all learning," a district official said. "We plan to continue running play- and activity-based education programs so children can pick up vocabulary and sentence structures in a fun and accessible way."
Bangjeonghwan Seodang recruits participants on a monthly basis. Enrollment schedules and details are available on the Bangjeonghwan Education Support Center's website.
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