Seoul expands Korean language support for immigrant students

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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 initiatives.

Jung Keun-sik, superintendent of SMOE, expressed hope that the initiative will greatly support the Korean language development of multicultural students.

"We will continue working to ensure an inclusive educational environment where all students can learn without discrimination," he said.

The move also comes amid a steady rise in the number of children from multicultural backgrounds and students who have immigrated in the middle of their school years, many of whom require basic Korean language education.

While the total student population in Seoul declined from 844,074 in 2020 to 769,416 in 2024, the number of multicultural students continued to rise, reaching 21,282 last year — up 16.3 percent from 2020.

According to SMOE, the program aims to improve students’ Korean communication skills, support their adjustment to school life, build self-esteem and prevent academic setbacks caused by language barriers.

The support program will be rolled out through two key initiatives: Korean language classes conducted at schools and the provision of artificial intelligence (AI)-based Hangeul literacy materials, designed to help students learn the Korean alphabet.

For the outreach classes program, Korean language instructors will travel to schools to offer personalized, one-on-one lessons tailored to each student’s proficiency. These in-person sessions will take place after school, with bilingual teaching assistants available to provide extra support as needed.

The program will run from June to August, providing up to 60 sessions — 40 during the school term and 20 over the summer break — for a total of 44 elementary, middle and high school students.

The AI-based Hangeul program will provide personalized digital tools to help students build reading skills, from basic phonemic awareness to a second-grade level. Running from June through December, it will offer seven-month access licenses to 75 students.

Schools can nominate up to two students for the visiting classes and up to three for the AI-based learning program. If applications exceed available spots, priority will be given to older students with lower levels of Korean proficiency.