SEOUL, February 24 (AJP) - In a bid to support students struggling with the Korean language due to their parents' immigrant background, Seoul will offer Korean language programs at universities starting in March.
The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education announced Sunday that the language courses will serve as alternative education programs, offering accredited academic credits, with attendance and curriculum reflected in the students’ home schools. Certified teachers with Korean language teaching qualifications will instruct middle and high school students across Seoul.
Classes will be small, with no more than 15 students per group, allowing for personalized learning. The programs will also leverage various resources available within two universities—Sookmyung Women's University and Dongyang Mirae University.
Over the past decade, the number of students with at least one immigrant parent has increased by nearly 2.7 times, with the number of foreign students rising by 8.6 times, according to the municipal education office. While the total student population in Seoul decreased by 11.52 percent from 2019 to 2024, the number of students from immigrant families grew by 18.7 percent.
The growth rate of students with at least one immigrant parent in middle and high schools, at 173.7 percent, was significantly higher than that of elementary students, at 85.74 percent.
"We will continually monitor and strive to provide strong support to both students with at least one immigrant parent and school communities in areas with high concentrations of these students," said Seoul's education superintendent Jeong Geun-sik.
reporter
Kim Joo-heon
jhkim123@ajunews.com
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