The Irvine-based nonprofit Korean American Center, which specializes in teaching Korean language and culture, has become the only center of its type in the nation to be fully accredited by the Western Association of Schools and Colleges, it was announced Wednesday.
“For far too long, Korean language education lacked the recognition it deserves. This accreditation finally changes that,” Tammy Kim, KAC’s executive director and former vice mayor of Irvine, said in a statement. “It affirms that Korean belongs alongside the world’s most respected languages — and that our students, many of whom are discovering their identity and reclaiming their heritage, deserve access to instruction that is both academically excellent and culturally rooted. It’s about more than language — it’s about Korean pride, visibility, and validation.”
School officials said the accreditation means the center’s education programs are “backed by a formal system of quality assurance and continuous improvement,” validating the strength of its programs…