The University of Oxford has recently adopted Korean as the 12th foreign language offered by its Language Centre. The Centre, dedicated to improving the academic and business language skills of Oxford students, staff, and the general public, educates thousands of learners each year.
The Centre currently offers eight European languages, including French, German, and Spanish, along with Japanese, Chinese, and Arabic. Korean language courses are expected to begin as early as October.
Professor Cho Ji-eun, also known as Jieun Kiaer, from Oxford’s Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies, is developing the Korean language textbooks for the Centre. In an interview with the Chosun Ilbo on Aug. 20, Kiaer noted, “Until now, Oxford primarily offered languages from European countries or those essential for academic and business purposes. The inclusion of Korean is unprecedented, driven solely by the strong demand from the British Generation MZ [Millennials + Gen Z].”
Earlier this year, Oxford launched the Hallyu Academy, a cultural course covering Korean culture and history. In June, actor Cha In-pyo’s novel “Once We Look at the Same Star,” which addresses the issue of comfort women during the Japanese occupation, was selected as required reading for Korean studies and placed in all campus libraries. Last month, composer Kim Hyung-suk gave a special lecture at the Sheldonian Theatre, marking the first time an Asian pop musician has performed on its stage since it was built in the 17th century. Professor Kiaer led all these recent Korean-related events.
Why has Oxford University recently shown a growing interest in Korean education? Kiaer explained, “It’s no longer just about the Korean Wave (Hallyu), like K-pop or K-dramas.”
What do you mean by saying it’s not just about the Korean Wave?
“For the British MZ generation, Korean is becoming a so-called ‘fantasy language.’ Just as Korean students choose unfamiliar languages like French or Spanish as their second foreign language in middle and high school, British students now see Korean as a sophisticated and ‘cool’ language. It has created a ‘Korean language fantasy.’”
Is Korean language truly gaining popularity in the British education scene?
“Just a few years ago, it was unimaginable for Korean to be taught in British primary, middle, and high schools. However, schools have started offering Korean after school, not because of a mandate from the educational authorities, but because students requested it. The number of schools teaching Korean increased from 45 in 2022 to 68 last year, showing a rapid upward trend.”
The U.K. Department for Education has reportedly shown significant interest in the Korean language.
“One of the biggest challenges in British education is that students are increasingly reluctant to learn foreign languages. With English as their primary language and the widespread availability of AI translation tools, they often don’t see the need to study other languages. However, it’s surprising to see students voluntarily choosing to learn Korean. This year, a related study has been commissioned by the U.K. Department for Education.”
Traditionally, the U.K. has included languages from major European countries, such as French and German, as standard subjects in public schools. In 2000, over 300,000 students chose French for their General Certificate of Secondary Education (GCSE), but by 2021, that number had dropped to around 130,000. German experienced an even steeper decline, falling from roughly 140,000 to just 40,000. Overall, the number of students studying foreign languages has significantly decreased.
What research is being carried out at the request of the U.K. Department for Education?
“We are investigating what drives people to learn Korean by interviewing 130 British individuals currently studying the language. One first-grade student from Edinburgh mentioned that they are neither K-pop fans nor have they ever watched K-dramas, yet they still feel a vague admiration for Korea and want to learn the language. We believe this reflects a ‘Korean language fantasy’ shaped by the influence of Generation MZ in the U.K., who are drawn to Korean culture.”
Are there additional reasons why British students are learning Korean?
“A parent in their 40s from Manchester shared that they began learning Korean to connect with their middle school daughter, who is passionate about Korean culture. Another student, who came to the U.K. as a refugee due to the war in Ukraine, said they started learning Korean to find a sense of belonging, which they discovered by engaging as a K-pop fan on social media.”
How are you creating the Korean language textbook for the Oxford University Language Centre?
“It’s a series called ‘Annyeong Korean,’ consisting of seven volumes organized by difficulty level. The premise is that ‘Korean is no longer just for Koreans.’ In 2021, there were 7.8 billion posts on Twitter (now X) worldwide about ‘K-pop.’ Fans enjoy mixing words like ‘daebak’ and ‘mukbang,’ which have spread through Korean pop culture, into their own languages. These fans have created a virtual ‘K-universe,’ using the Korean language as a playful tool. The aim is to tailor the education to their level.”
What do you mean by Korean language education customized to their level?
“It means that Korean shouldn’t be taught solely as a language ‘for use in Korea.’ For example, if you ask Korean students today what ‘sobok sobok’ means, many wouldn’t know. Yet, almost all foreigners learning Korean are familiar with this word, even though it doesn’t appear in any Korean-English dictionary. This illustrates our approach of focusing on teaching words that are part of the ‘K-universe.’”
‘Sobok sobok,’ a Korean adverb describing the shape of multiple items piled up or accumulated with a convex appearance, appears in the lyrics of ‘Christmas Love,’ a song released by BTS member Jimin just before Christmas in 2020. It was loosely translated into English as ‘falling falling,’ but at the time, fans turned guessing its exact meaning into a kind of game.
Some believe that the Korean Wave is starting to lose its momentum.
“I believe that even if the Korean Wave diminishes, the Korean language will endure. In the 1970s and 1980s, there was a global surge in the popularity of Japanese manga, prompting many foreigners to learn Japanese. Although the manga craze has since waned, the legacy of those who translated Japanese culture into their own languages still persists and continues to be passed on. Similarly, even if the Korean Wave loses momentum, the foundation laid by today’s Generation MZ learning Korean will remain. As they become the mainstream in society, a second Korean Wave could potentially emerge.”
☞ Who is Professor Jieun Kiaer (Cho Ji-eun)?
She graduated from Seoul National University with a degree in Child Development and Family Studies, and later earned a master’s degree in linguistics from the same institution. She completed her Ph.D. in linguistics at King’s College London (KCL) and has been a professor at the Faculty of Asian and Middle Eastern Studies at the University of Oxford since 2007. A leading expert in second language acquisition, she also serves as a consultant for the Oxford English Dictionary.
