[The Public=Choi Mi-Sung] Squid game has been the biggest hit in the Netflix history and it still is popular. Thanks to that, people all over the world started to learn the Korean language and the foreigners call this Korean language learning boom. The objective figures proved the Korean learning boom through the data from “Duolingo”, the language learning application.
According to the application, the Korean learning attendee has increased 76% and 40% respectively in England and the United States. Even the Reuters said that Korean language learners are increasing fast, ranked 2nd place following Hindu language. According to the Reuters, this “Korean learning phenomenon” reflects a growing global obsession of Korean culture, from entertainment to beauty products.
People living in North America especially feels attractive in learning Korean. Catarina Costa (24), a Portuguese who lives in Canada, reported the situation in which Korean pop culture has arrived safely in the Western world. Moreover, the interest in learning Korean language is increasing as well. Costa said that she felt much higher interest in Korean language around her than two ye that of two years ago when she just started to learn Korean.
BTS' agency, Hive, is trying to pull the strings in raising global interest in learning Korean language by producing a video introducing the Korean language to the world. Reuters analyzed that the position of Korea as a global ‘entertainment hub’ based on vibrant pop culture is raising interest in the Korean language.
Recently, 26 words related to Korean culture that the Western world paid attention to were newly added to the Oxford English Dictionary, which is the 'standard' of modern English.
This year, words such as- △K-drama, △Korean wave, △muk-bang, △jackpot, and
△fighting were included recently in the dictionary. In this regard, the BBC said, "Whether you watch Netflix's squid game or listen to BTS' new songs, there is a very high probability that you have encountered Korean culture in your life." "We are all experiencing the peak of the Korean Wave."
Interest in the Korean language (called Hangeul) is also prominent in European soccer leagues, where Korean players are active. France's Girondaeng Bordeaux team, where Hwang Ui-jo, the main striker of the Korean national soccer team plays, has recently been holding a Korean uniform event one after another. Turkey's Fenerbahce SK, where Kim Min-jae, the national team's main defender, is active, is also gaining popularity by releasing a uniform with Kim's name in Korean.
The Public / Journalist Choi Mi-Sung cms90719@naver.com
더퍼블릭 / 최미성 cms90719@naver.com