A study on the current status of Korean language education in Southeast Asia through in-depth interviews : Focusing on Vietnam, Thailand and Indonesia

This study explores the current status of Korean language education in Vietnam, Thailand, and Indonesia through in-depth interviews with local university professors specializing in Korean language. The aim was to gain a deeper understanding of regional characteristics in Korean language education. Findings indicate that while all three countries have rapidly expanded their Korean language programs since the 1990s with a shared emphasis on practical, career-oriented instruction, each exhibits distinct curricular features. Vietnam focuses on interpretation and translation for employment, Thailand emphasizes the development of real-life communicative competence, and Indonesia offers a more academic curriculum centered on Korean studies. In all three regions, students' motivations have diversified due to the rise of Korean popular culture, and many students enter university already familiar with the language. However, learners face challenges stemming from typological differences between Korean and their native languages: pronunciation in Vietnam, vocabulary in Thailand, and grammar in Indonesia. A common concern across all regions is the lack of locally adapted teaching materials. Expectations for native Korean instructors were also similar—cultural understanding, a positive attitude, and active engagement—though each region highlighted different priorities: attitude in Thailand, interaction in Vietnam, and awareness of local cultural differences in Indonesia. Despite limitations in sample size and scope, this study provides meaningful insights into both the shared features and regional diversities of Korean language education in Southeast Asia.