The Ministry of Education announced that it will open the 'Overseas Korean Language Education Support Center' within the International Korean Language Education Foundation in Jongno-gu, Seoul, on 1st and start its official operations.
The center, which opened that day, will support the adoption of Korean as part of the regular curriculum in overseas primary and secondary education. In the future, it will analyze the educational systems of various countries and the demand for Korean language education in primary and secondary stages, and based on this, it will establish tailored strategies for Korean language distribution by country and region.
Since 1999, the Ministry of Education has worked to ensure that Korean can be introduced as a regular subject in primary, secondary, and high schools around the world. Beginning with support for the establishment of Korean language classes in U.S. schools, it has provided support including operational costs for Korean language programs, dispatch of Korean language instructors, and the operation of local training programs for Korean language teachers.
As of last year, approximately 220,000 overseas students are learning Korean in 2,526 schools across 46 countries.
However, there have been criticisms that Korean language education abroad has been conducted without consideration for the specific circumstances of each country. This is because it has been operated based on the capabilities of the Korean Education Centers and overseas diplomatic missions (embassies, etc.).
In response, the Ministry of Education plans to systematically support the dissemination of Korean language abroad through the Korean language education center. The International Korean Language Education Foundation, which is in charge of operating this center, has been responsible for developing and distributing textbooks and teaching materials for overseas Koreans since its establishment in 2001.
Hyu-gyeong Ha, director of global education planning at the Ministry of Education, said, "We will actively build a sustainable Korean language education system within local education systems and institutions."