Why Study Korean?
The global explosion of the Korean culture industry, including K-pop, K-drama, variety television, films, and webtoons, makes Korean one of the most entertaining foreign languages to learn today. But 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? And that Korean is ranked as the thirteenth 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 nuclear 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.
Korean Language Courses
Korean Language Courses
ASIANLAN 135: First Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 136: First Year Korean II
ASIANLAN 235: Second Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 236: Second Year Korean II (Completion of this course with a grade of C- or better meets the LSA Language Requirement)
ASIANLAN 335: Third Year Korean I
ASIANLAN 336: Third Year Korean II
ASIANLAN 436: Advanced Spoken Korean
ASIANLAN 437: Business Korean
ASIANLAN 438: Media Korean
ASIANLAN 479: Teaching Korean in the Community
Courses for Heritage Learners
ASIANLAN 138: Reading and Writing Korean I
ASIANLAN 238: Reading and Writing Korean II (Completion of this course with a grade of C- or better meets the LSA Language Requirement)
Korean Language Funding Opportunities
Korean Language Program Activities
Language Tables
Every month, the Korean Language Program hosts an event designed to help students deepen their experience of the Korean language, culture, and society in a participatory setting. The events include a game night, a singing contest, and a cookout.
Nam Essay Contest
The contest honors the memory of Elder Sang Yong Nam, a benefactor whose generosity and personal dedication helped create momentum for the establishment of the Korean Language Program at the University of Michigan in the early 1990s. Students write an essay on a given topic and the best essays are recognized with scholarship awards of up to $200 at the annual celebration in April.
Seoul National University Exchange
U-M Korean Language Program students engage in online exchanges with students at Seoul National University throughout the year.
Korean Language Awards
The best student performances in each class are recognized at the annual celebration in April. Awardees receive a book prize.
