Seoul: The number of schools overseas teaching the Korean language increased by 54 percent over the last four years, partly reflecting the growing popularity of Korean culture, a lawmaker said Sunday, citing education ministry data.
According to Yonhap News Agency, as of the end of last year, there were 2,777 elementary, middle, and high schools overseas offering Korean-language classes, marking a 9.9 percent increase from 2024, according to Rep. Kim Moon-soo of the ruling Democratic Party. The number of schools saw yearly growth from 1,806 in 2021 to 1,928 in 2022, 2,154 in 2023, and 2,526 in 2024. Throughout this four-year period, the number of students taking Korean classes at these schools rose by 38 percent, reaching a total of 236,089.
The education ministry attributed the increase to the influence of Korean culture, the growing demand for studying in South Korea, and the government's financial support for Korean classes, textbooks, and teaching staff. Last year, schools in 47 countries offered Korean-language classes, an increase from 42 in 2021. From 2024 to 2025, Uzbekistan alone added 68 schools, followed by 43 in Sri Lanka, 37 in Vietnam, and 26 in the Philippines.