Enrollment at King Sejong Institutes Tops 230,000 as Global Interest in Korean Surges

The annual number of students enrolled at King Sejong Institutes, which teach Korean language and culture overseas, surpassed 230,000 for the first time last year, the King Sejong Institute Foundation said Wednesday.

A total of 239,020 students attended Sejong Institutes worldwide in 2025, up from 210,374 in 2024. Enrollment has more than doubled since 2020, when 101,675 students took part, reflecting rising global interest in learning Korean.

The South Korean government has funded the language institute, named after the Joseon Dynasty (1392-1910) king who invented the Korean alphabet Hangeul, since 2007 to increase the world’s awareness of the Korean language and culture.

A separate survey released by the foundation the same day showed overall satisfaction with Sejong Institute programs reached 93.1 points out of 100. About 46.3 percent of respondents said Sejong Institute courses helped with their local academic majors, with 22.4 percent and 16.2 percent saying the programs helped them secure jobs at Korean companies abroad and in South Korea, respectively.

“The King Sejong Institute is expanding its student base in response to growing demand for Korean language and culture abroad while continuously improving learner satisfaction,” said the foundation’s acting President Choi Hyun-seong.

Edited using generative AI tools.
Source: http://koreabizwire.com/enrollment-at-king-sejong-institutes-tops-230000-as-global-interest-in-korean-surges/344873

Comprehension

How many students were enrolled at King Sejong Institutes in 2025?
How has enrollment changed since 2020?
Who funds the King Sejong Institutes?
What is the purpose of the institutes?
How did students rate their satisfaction with the programs?

Discussion

Why do you think global interest in learning Korean is increasing?
How can learning another language help in education and career opportunities?
What is the importance of teaching culture along with language?
Should governments fund language programs abroad? Why or why not?
How can cultural exchange improve international relationships?
What challenges might students face when learning a foreign language?
How does spreading a language influence a country’s global image?
Should more languages and cultures be taught worldwide

Vocabulary

Enrollment – the number of people registered for a program or course
Abroad – in or to a foreign country
Satisfaction – the feeling of being pleased with something
Tradition – customs or beliefs passed down through generations
Foundation – an organization that provides support or funding