Korean Program

Why Study Korean?

The global explosion of the Korean culture industry, including K-pop, K-drama, variety shows, films, and webtoons, makes Korean one of the most interesting languages to learn today. Did you know that there are more than 78 million speakers of Korean in the world, including large groups in China, Japan, Russia, the United States, and Canada? This places Korean as the fourteenth most widely used language in the world, and second among Asian languages in the entire U.S. In addition, South Korea is an important economic partner to the U.S., home to a fast-paced youth culture that is driving the country's digital industrial revolution. At the same time, Korea remains a region of vital American geo-political interest, with the continuing threat posed by North Korea. All of these contemporary reasons, combined with Korea's long and distinguished tradition of prizing life of letters, makes Korean an exciting and versatile language, and your next foreign tongue. In the U-M Korean Language Program, you will have the chance to not only learn the language, but to learn about South Korea’s culture and life.