By Kim Rahn
Staff Reporter


In the past, children pointed at foreigners and said, ``Look, mom, there’s a foreigner!’’ These days, it is not remarkable to encounter foreigners on the street.

A growing number of foreigners are coming to Korea, and the percentage of those who come to study the Korean language is increasing as well.

The number of foreign students studying in Korea was 6,160 in 2000, including college and graduate school students and those taking language courses at Korean language institutes affiliated with universities.

The figure surged to 11,646 in 2001, 12,314 in 2003, and 16,832 last year. About a quarter of them were language students.

``In the past, most of the students were those working at embassies or multinationals. These days, many foreigners in their 20s come to learn Korean to prepare for graduate studies here or just because they are interested,’’ Jeon Na-young, head of academic affairs at Yonsei University’s Korean Language Institute (KLI), told The Korea Times.

Yonsei’s KLI is one of the most famous language institutes affiliated with universities. Since opening in 1959, 58,632 people from 124 countries have attended the institute. Currently, 1,365 students from 54 nations are studying there.

Jeon cited several factors as reasons for the growing popularity of Korean: ``hallyu,’’ the Korean pop culture boom in Asia; Korea as the stronghold of information technology (IT) as students come to study IT at Korean colleges; and the growing number of employees from Southeast Asia working or hoping to work at Korean companies.

``Spouses of Koreans also visit the institute. Young overseas Koreans, who do not speak their mother tongue, also come to learn about their origin,’’ she said.

Language is not just a method of communication but also a bridge connecting people with people and country with country.

``Although one starts to learn a language for practical purposes such as getting a job or studying, it grows to a positive interest and affection for the country’s culture. That’s why `Foreans’ think of Korea as their second home and willingly help the country,’’ Jeon said.

Hannam University’s Center for Korean Language and Korean Studies has around 30 students. About 70 percent of the students as well as a part-time worker at the center are Chinese.

``Many Koreans have businesses in China, and Chinese people are interested in working at Korean companies and in Korean culture itself,’’ said Yan Yan, a 26-year-old Chinese student working as a part-timer at the center.

The girl was admitted to the university’s Korean language and literature department after attending the center for language study for one year.

She now studies at the graduate school, following a professor’s recommendation, and plans to pursue a doctorate or return to China to teach Korean to Chinese students.

rahnita@koreatimes.co.kr