Foreign students enrolled in the Korean language program at the Institute of Foreign Language Education of Dongseo University pose for a commemorative photo wearing traditional Korean clothing hanbok ahead of an etiquette education session held at the Chungnyeolsa Shrine in Busan, Dec. 15, 2025. Yonhap
The number of overseas foreign elementary, middle, and high schools offering Korean language classes, either part of the official curriculum or through after-school programs, reached 2,777 at the end of last year, which is a whopping 54 percent jump over the course of past four years.
This is according to data submitted by the Ministry of Education to Rep. Kim Moon-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea. The data is compiled annually by Korean Education Centers and overseas diplomatic missions at the end of every year. The data shows that the growth has accelerated steadily since 2021. The number of overseas schools operating Korean language programs rose from 1,806 in 2021 to 1,928 in 2022, 2,154 in 2023, and 2,526 in 2024 before reaching the latest total.
Student enrollment in Korean language classes has also continued to rise. The number of students studying Korean increased from 170,563 in 2021 to 236,089 in 2025, marking a 38 percent increase over four years. From 2024 to 2025 alone, enrollment grew by 6.1 percent.
Country-wise, the number of countries with schools offering Korean classes expanded from 42 in 2021 to 47 last year. Uzbekistan recorded the sharpest increase over the past year, adding 68 schools. Sri Lanka followed with 43 additional schools, while Vietnam added 37, the Philippines 26, Brazil 24, and the United States 21.
However, countries like the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Georgia, Ethiopia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan had only one school offering Korean classes, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Georgia, Ethiopia, Moldova, and Turkmenistan.
The Ministry of Education attributed the growth to increasing global demand for Korean language learning driven by K-culture and interest in studying in Korea. The ministry also cited government support for operating Korean classes overseas, the distribution of Korean-language textbooks, teacher training programs, and promotional efforts through Korean Education Centers.
“The number of regular elementary and secondary schools overseas that have opened Korean language classes increased by about 10 percent in the past year and by more than 50 percent over the past four years,” Rep. Kim said, adding that “the combination of the Korean Wave and government support has led to meaningful progress.”
Source: Korea Times News
