The ASEAN-Korea Center began on Monday a seven-week Korean language training session in Bangkok for officials from the Thai tourism, lodging and food and beverage industries to help them better accommodate increasing Korean travelers.

The event is part of the institute’s Korean language education program launched early this year to improve communication skills of tourism workers in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations.

The participants will take basic courses involving reading, listening and speaking.

Thailand is the fifth country to host the event, following Cambodia, Vietnam, Laos and Myanmar. The other five ASEAN members will hold it next year.

The center was established in 2009 as an international organization to promote economic and socio-cultural cooperation between ASEAN and Korea.

Southeast Asia is among the favorite destinations for Korean tourists. More than 1 million Koreans visited Thailand alone last year, government data shows.

By Shin Hyon-hee (heeshin@heraldcorp.com)