Uzbekistan Opens 68 New Korean Language Schools
Uzbekistan has recorded the highest global growth in the number of schools offering Korean language classes. According to the Yonhap news agency, the country opened 68 new educational facilities dedicated to teaching the language over the past year.
This rapid expansion means the republic has outpaced nations such as Sri Lanka, Vietnam, the Philippines, Brazil and the United States in its rollout of new Korean language programmes.
The global landscape for Korean education has experienced a massive boom over the last four years. Yonhap reported that the total number of overseas schools teaching the language has jumped by 54%, rising from 1,800 to 2,700 institutions by the end of last year. Worldwide student enrolment in these specific classes has now reached an impressive 236,000.
This surging international interest is largely driven by the immense popularity of South Korean cultural exports like K-pop and K-dramas. Furthermore, a growing number of young people are actively seeking opportunities to pursue higher education at universities in South Korea.
The continuous educational growth is also heavily underpinned by targeted state support initiatives. These government-backed programmes provide crucial funding to establish Korean language classrooms, supply essential textbooks and facilitate comprehensive teacher training.
