Research Trends in Korean Language Education for English-Speaking Korean Learners

Objectives The purpose of this study is to analyze the research trends in Korean language education for English-speaking Korean learners and propose future research directions. Methods To achieve this, 100 academic journal articles and 103 theses published from 2000 to 2023 were selected as the subjects of analysis. They were categorized by year, type, proficiency level, and topic for thorough examination. A qualitative method was used in which the researcher sets analysis criteria and classifies the study accordingly. Results Research on Korean language education for English-speaking learners began in 2000 and peaked in 2015, with the highest number of studies published. Since then, it has been maintained at a steady level. In terms of publication types, there were 100 academic journal articles and 103 theses, with the majority focusing on beginner-level learners, while research on intermediate-level learners was the least prevalent. Looking at the topics, studies on educational content and learner performance patterns accounted for the largest proportion, whereas research on general education, learner factors, and educational materials appeared relatively scarce. Conclusions Research on cultural education content for English-speaking learners needs to be conducted more actively, and studies on educational materials available to English-speaking learners should be diversified according to specific topics and proficiency levels. Additionally, research on teacher education and studies on self-directed learners are also necessary.