Ministry of Education Develops 'Korean Language Curriculum' for Overseas Schools... Supplementary Teaching Materials Using BTS Included

Status of Korean Language Classes (Source: Ministry of Education)

[Asia Economy Reporter Han Jinju] The Ministry of Education is creating and distributing a Korean language curriculum to establish Korean as an official foreign language subject in overseas elementary, middle, and high schools. Supplementary teaching materials utilizing BTS's music and videos will also be developed.

On the 10th, the Ministry of Education announced that over 60 experts, centered around the Korea Institute for Curriculum and Evaluation, have participated in developing the Korean language curriculum for overseas elementary and secondary schools and have begun developing various teaching materials.

The number of students studying Korean reaches approximately 160,000. The number of countries adopting Korean language subjects increased from 28 countries with 1,495 schools in 2018 to 39 countries with 1,669 schools in 2020.

Interest in Korean language education has grown due to the Korean Wave, but until now, there was no curriculum suitable for elementary and secondary learners, limiting the establishment of a foundation. To meet the demand for Korean language education, a Korean language curriculum for elementary and secondary schools was developed locally.

The Korean language curriculum developed by the Ministry of Education will be posted on the Ministry’s website and distributed to overseas local educational institutions through local diplomatic missions and Korean Education Centers. The curriculum follows the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR). The six-level CEFR system was expanded by adding detailed levels, subdividing the beginner and intermediate stages into a total of 10 levels.

Alongside this, since April, the Ministry of Education has been developing Korean language textbooks in collaboration with the International Korean Language Education Foundation. Over 140 experts are participating as developers and reviewers. In addition to Korean language experts and teachers, a textbook development advisory committee composed of experts from various fields will ensure the production of high-quality textbooks.

The Ministry of Education is also developing supplementary materials such as 'cultural textbooks' that deepen and supplement Korean culture and history elements, and 'textbooks utilizing Korean Wave content.' The Korean Wave content textbooks will be developed by incorporating BTS content.

In countries like Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, and the Philippines, which have their own Korean language curricula, customized textbooks and teaching materials reflecting local languages, cultures, and curricula will be developed in consultation with local education authorities.

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Education Yoo Eun-hye stated, "A Korean language curriculum with international compatibility and learner-centered textbooks will greatly contribute to the adoption of Korean as a regular subject locally. We will promote the growth of Korean language education and establish a self-sustaining Korean language education system so that the increasing demand for Korean language education can be firmly established within local education systems."