The 'Hangeul Wave' Sweeping Southeast Asia... Adoption of Korean Language in High Schools in Thailand and the Philippines Drives a Boom in Studying in Korean Universities

Recently, in the Southeast Asia region, particularly focusing on Thailand and the Philippines, the rapid spread of the adoption of Korean as a regular subject in local high schools has shown a significant correlation leading to admission to Korean universities beyond simple language learning. The cultural interest that began with K-pop and K-dramas has been systematized into language acquisition within the public education system, materializing into a practical career choice of studying in Korea.

Thailand is considered one of the countries with the highest number of Korean language learners in the world. The Thai Ministry of Education adopted Korean as a second foreign language early on and incorporated it into the main high school curriculum. Since the inclusion of the Korean language subject in the PAT (Professional and Academic Aptitude Test), the number of candidates has steadily increased. Korean language proficiency has become an important variable in university entrance exams, leading students to complete more systematic and professional Korean language education from the high school level.

The Philippines is also broadening its educational base by designating Korean as a second foreign language elective in public middle and high schools at the department level. With the expansion of Korean companies in the Philippines, the perception that proficiency in Korean is advantageous for employment and career development is spreading, resulting in an explosive increase in the number of students wanting to study Korean in depth from their high school years. This suggests that Korean has elevated its status from a mere hobby to an object of academic inquiry.

The spread of the adoption of Korean as a regular subject in local high schools is forming a direct causal relationship with the increase in admission rates to Korean universities. Students who have formally studied Korean in high school gain an advantageous position in obtaining the Korean Language Proficiency Test (TOPIK) scores required for admission to Korean universities compared to students from other countries. Additionally, as the language barrier decreases, fears of adapting to life in Korea diminish, naturally leading to a more positive consideration of studying in Korea.

Domestic universities are also actively working to attract talented individuals from Thailand and the Philippines in line with this trend. Major universities are implementing various policies to lower the admission threshold, such as establishing sister school relationships with local high schools or expanding the Korean language scholarship program. Education experts predict that "whereas studying in Korea used to be a choice for a minority, now a structure has formed where prepared talents are flowing into Korea through local regular education curricula," and that "this virtuous cycle will further strengthen human exchanges and academic cooperation between the two countries in the future."

Ultimately, the spread of Korean language subjects in high schools in Thailand and the Philippines signifies not a temporary trend, but a structural change in the global education market. As Korean establishes itself as a core competency for advancing to higher education institutions beyond a mere communication tool, the rush of Southeast Asian students to Korean universities is expected to continue for the foreseeable future.