Uzbekistan outpaces Vietnam and US in Korean language school expansion

According to a report by Yonhap, over the past year, 68 new educational facilities with specialized Korean language classes were established across the country, allowing the republic to surpass nations such as Vietnam, Sri Lanka, the Philippines, Brazil, and the United States in this metric.

The surge in interest is largely attributed to the rising popularity of South Korean culture among Uzbek youth. Cultural exports such as K-pop, television dramas, and digital content have played a significant role in motivating students, alongside a growing desire to pursue higher education in South Korea.

Support from South Korean organizations has also been a crucial factor in this educational expansion. Collaborative projects have focused on equipping modern classrooms, supplying specialized textbooks, and providing professional development opportunities for local teachers.

By the end of 2025, approximately 2,700 schools worldwide offered Korean language courses, marking a 54% increase in such institutions over the last four years. Currently, the number of students studying the language outside of South Korea has reached 236,000.

South Korean universities remain a premier destination for Uzbek students, supported by the presence of several South Korean university branches and joint degree programs within the republic. Various cultural festivals, language Olympiads, and academic exchange initiatives continue to foster an environment where the number of language learners is expected to keep climbing.