A comparative study of Korean language learning motivation and perceptions of Korean culture among international graduate students and foreign workers

This study explores the role of cultural awareness in sustaining the motivation of KFL (Korean as a Foreign Language) learners who come to Korea for academic purposes. Drawing on Dörnyei (2005), the study suggests that positive perceptions of Korean culture may enhance language-learning motivation. The study analyzes a cultural awareness survey and the correlation between cultural awareness and language-learning motivation among 25 graduate students at a regional university in Korea, and compares the findings with those of 24 foreign workers in the same region. Both groups showed the greatest interest in modern Korean lifestyles, films, and dramas, but relatively low interest in traditional culture. Additionally, both groups recognized that cultural activities positively influence Korean language learning, but workers perceived this impact slightly more strongly.