Korean Language Soars in Popularity in Asia, but Educational Facilities Fall Short... 8,800 on Waiting List

Overseas TOPIK Applicants Surge from 64,000 in 2020 to 280,000 in 2024
Korean Language Schools and King Sejong Institutes Struggle to Meet Growing Demand
Kim Seungsoo: "Expansion of Educational Facilities and Staff Needed"

Although 96% (270,783) of foreign applicants for the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK) are located in Asia, there is a severe shortage of educational facilities and teaching staff for learning Korean in the region.

According to the office of Assemblyman Kim Seungsoo on October 9, the number of overseas applicants for TOPIK increased approximately 4.4 times, from 64,057 in 2020 to 282,273 this year.

Looking at last year's TOPIK applicants by continent, excluding domestic applicants, out of 279,448 overseas examinees, 269,638 (96.5%) were from Asia, making it the largest group. This was followed by Europe with 1.7% (4,816), the Americas with 1.3% (3,625), Africa with 0.2% (830), and Oceania with 0.1% (539).

In particular, as Korean content such as "Squid Game" and "K-Pop Demon Hunters" has gained global popularity, the number of applicants from Asian countries has surged. In Vietnam, the number of TOPIK applicants increased nearly threefold from 16,000 in 2021 to 42,000 in 2024. In China, the figure rose 3.3 times from 23,000 to 75,000.

However, infrastructure remains extremely insufficient compared to the demand for Korean language education. According to the 2024 Education Statistics Yearbook, only 20.6% (209) of the 1,405 Korean language schools worldwide are located in Asia, which is less than half the number in North America (692). Of the total 14,058 overseas Korean language teaching staff, only 16.5% (2,318) are assigned to Asia.

As for King Sejong Institutes, 141 out of 252 locations (56%) are operated in Asian regions, but the rapidly growing demand has led to a surge in waiting lists. According to the King Sejong Institute, there are currently 8,800 people on the waiting list in Asia alone.

Assemblyman Kim Seungsoo stated, "As global interest in Korean culture increases, educational institutions are failing to meet the natural demand from people around the world who wish to learn Korean," adding, "In particular, Asia faces a severe shortage of educational facilities and staff relative to demand, so prioritized and focused support is urgently needed."