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2. Present Status of Korean Studies

Korean studies overseas can be largely divided into language studies and other specialized departments, and Korean studies courses are opened independently or as a part of East Asian studies course. The Korean language lecture is sometimes combined with Korean studies and sometimes separated. The relationship between the two needs further discussion but, in short, the Korean language itself shall not be considered as a part of Korean studies. Yet, the Korean language is clearly an important basis for Korean studies, and in the event a language study course is established, it has to be defined as a part of Korean studies.
 
The user group for the Korean language can be divided into two large categories; Koreans residing overseas and foreigners residing in Korea. Officially or unofficially, overseas Koreans have acted as an important basis for the development of the Korean language education system. In addition, there are a growing number of foreigners who study Korean in Korea or overseas.
 
Also, the number of foreign students who come to Korea to study has been gradually on the rise and those from Asian countries have taken the major portion of them. With the rise of Korea`s economic status, the need for foreigners to learn the Korean language has increased, particularly among Asians.
According to a recent survey, the reasons for foreigners to learn the Korean language are as follows: <Table 1>
 
〈Table 1〉Reasons for learning Korean
Classification
Frequency
Ratio (%)
To get a better job
52
46.43
To increase income
5
4.46
Required for work or business purposes
11
9.82
To obtain newest knowledge or information
7
6.25
Because it is an international language
5
4.46
It is an important language
3
2.68
It is the language of ancestors
3
2.68
To better understand Korean culture
9
8.04
For the love of Korea
5
4.46
For more enjoyable trip to Korea
1
0.89
It seems interesting
4
3.57
For communication with friends or family members
1
0.89
Just to learn a foreign language
0
0
Already know some Korean
1
0.89
Others
3
2.68
No response
2
1.79
Total
112
100
 
Overall, the demand for the Korean language and Korean studies has been clearly increasing at home and abroad. 〈Table 2>
 
〈Table 2〉 Number of persons learning Korean (estimate)
 
Classification
Basis for estimation
Number
Major constituents
Overseas
Korean language schools
Students in 96 countries at 2,059 Korean language schools
117,988
 
Overseas Koreans
381,084 (85.1%)
Korean education centers
5 Korean education centers
6,000
Korean schools
Students in 14 countries at 24 Korean schools
7,096
Ethnic Korean schools in China
1,200 ethnic Korean schools
 in 3 northeast provinces
of China
250,000
Schools with Korean language courses
322 schools in Japan
 (2005 Report of Japan International Culture Forum)
36,000
Foreigners
66,540
(14.9%)
40 schools in China
(average 80 persons each)
3,200
228 other schools
(80 students each)
18,240
Domestic
Korean language education institutions
70 Korean language education institutions in Korea
(100 persons each)
7,000
5 Private Korean language institutions in Korea
(60 students each)
300
Weekend Korean language schools
1,300 foreign laborers
 and 500 migrated women
1,800
Total
447,624
100%
 
* If non-official Korean language education institutions are included, the total number will be over 500,000 persons.
 
Therefore, how we should act on the increase of demand overseas for the Korean language is an important question. Regarding Korean language education, it may be advisable for the Korean government to shift its major support from Western Europe to Asia, considering the different situations in the West and non-Western societies. In terms of cost-effectiveness, the regions outside Western Europe may have much better results with the same amount of support, and in terms of economic relations, the effect of promoting Korean language education would be much higher in these areas. Korean language teaching institutes in these areas commonly need such fundamental provisions as able teachers, study aid materials for easy use and teaching method guidance.
 
In whichever locations, what is certain is that the expansion of Hallyu and the propagation of the Korean language would not lead to the expansion of Korean studies right away. The Hallyu phenomenon as cultural consumption may be expanded or declined in accordance with the needs and efforts of the pertinent industry. And the spread of Hallyu will be accompanied by increased demand for the Korean language to a certain extent. However, it would be too much to expect that it would lead also to the expansion of Korean studies. As shown earlier, the motivation for learning the Korean language is overwhelmingly for realistic needs, including employment. Therefore, without direct effect on employment or other practical matters, the demand for Korean studies has to be limited.
 


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