A Study on Instructors' Perceptions of Regionally Connected Korean Language Education

The purpose of this study is to investigate the perceptions of Korean language instructors regarding regionally connected Korean language education and to suggest future directions for its development. To this end, the study employed a mixed-methods approach combining surveys and Focus Group Interviews (FGI) with Korean language instructors to examine their perceptions, educational needs, and related experiences concerning regionally connected Korean language education. The results indicate that while Korean language instructors perceive a high necessity for regionally connected Korean language education, the actual implementation in practice is insufficient. Specifically, in the realm of regional dialect education, listening skills were prioritized, whereas in regional culture education, the categories of historical figures, scientific technology, and values were deemed of high importance. Additionally, there was a consensus on the need for experiential regional culture education. This study is significant as it empirically confirms the necessity of incorporating regional characteristics into Korean language education and provides foundational data for developing educational strategies that reflect various regional traits.