Education

Seoul expands Korean language support for immigrant students

The Seoul Metropolitan Office of Education (SMOE) said Tuesday that it will launch a new Korean language support program in June, targeting multicultural and recently arrived immigrant students to meet the rising demand for language instruction. This expansion marks a notable shift in Korea's education policy, acknowledging that language proficiency is essential not just for academic success, but also for broader social and economic integration. With this foundational support, more students will be better equipped overcome barriers and deepening social inequalities in an increasingly diverse society. The initiative extends eligibility to schools in areas with relatively few multicultural students, where access to Korean language resources and support has recently been limited. While districts with a high concentration of multicultural students — such as Yeongdeungpo, Geumcheon and Guro districts — have long offered a range of after-school programs, translation support services and Korean language education, students in less diverse areas have often been excluded from such initiative