KUALA LUMPUR - The number of overseas elementary, middle and high schools offering Korean language classes rose sharply over the past four years amid growing global interest in Korean culture and education.
Data from South Korea’s Ministry of Education showed that 2,777 overseas schools were operating Korean language programmes at the end of 2025, as reported by The Korea Times.
The figure represented a 54 per cent increase compared with four years earlier.
The data was compiled annually by Korean Education Centres and South Korean diplomatic missions overseas before being submitted to lawmaker Kim Moon-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea.
The number of overseas schools offering Korean classes has increased steadily since 2021.
A total of 1,806 schools operated Korean language programmes in 2021.
The figure rose to 1,928 in 2022 before climbing further to 2,154 in 2023 and 2,526 in 2024.
Student enrolment in Korean language classes also recorded continuous growth over the same period.
The number of students studying Korean increased from 170,563 in 2021 to 236,089 in 2025.
This marked an overall increase of 38 per cent over four years.
From 2024 to 2025 alone, enrolment grew by 6.1 per cent.
The geographical reach of Korean language education also expanded during the period.
The number of countries offering Korean language programmes rose from 42 in 2021 to 47 last year.
Uzbekistan recorded the largest increase in the number of schools offering Korean classes over the past year.
The country added 68 schools to its Korean language education network.
Sri Lanka followed with 43 additional schools.
Vietnam added 37 schools, while the Philippines recorded an increase of 26 schools.
Brazil added 24 schools and the United States expanded by 21 schools.
Several countries, including the Czech Republic, Italy, Norway, Georgia, Ethiopia, Moldova and Turkmenistan, had only one school offering Korean language classes.
South Korea’s Ministry of Education attributed the growth to rising global demand for Korean language studies and increasing international interest in Korean culture.
The ministry also highlighted government support measures aimed at expanding overseas Korean language education.
These include assistance for operating Korean classes abroad, the distribution of Korean language textbooks, teacher training programmes and promotional activities through Korean Education Centres.
“The number of regular elementary and secondary schools overseas that have opened Korean language classes increased by about 10 percent in the past year and by more than 50 percent over the past four years.
“The combination of the Korean Wave and government support has led to meaningful progress,” Rep. Kim said.