South Korea has been gaining popularity in India due to its multifaceted appeal, which includes various aspects of Korean culture such as food, fashion and language, beyond the K-pop craze.
The Oxford English Dictionary's recognition of 26 Korean words, including 'K-drama' and 'Hallyu,' is a testament to Korea's global impact.
In 2020, the Indian government included Korean as one of the eight foreign languages in schools, acknowledging its importance.
Cultural exchanges, like music festivals during the Hornbill Festival in Nagaland, contribute to a deeper understanding and appreciation of Korean traditions.
Korean celebrities, such as BTS, Song Joong-ki and IU, have gained significant popularity in India, adding to the growing admiration for Korean entertainment
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Indian platforms like Zee5 and MX Player actively dub Korean shows into local languages, broadening their accessibility and appeal.
The surge in popularity has led to a growing interest in learning the Korean language, with people incorporating Korean words into their conversations.
This reflects a broader fan culture beyond K-pop, encompassing K-movies and K-dramas, particularly among India's youth.
Along the same grain of multicultural exchange, Korea has been gaining popularity among Indian students as a study-abroad destination.
However, the number of Indian students enrolled in Korean universities is currently low due to language barriers and limited awareness about the available opportunities.
To address this, Korean universities are collaborating with Indian universities to offer scholarships and attractive opportunities to Indian students.
Some Indian schools and colleges have also introduced Korean language classes.
Korean language programs and courses are available at universities such as DU, Jamia Milia, Christ University, Manipur University, and Nalanda University. Recently, JNU started a Korean training program to train local students as language teachers.
King Sejong Institute has been conducting online classes across India, which has seen increased registrations in the past 5 years and trained around 2400 students.
Tuition fees in South Korea are relatively affordable when compared to the US and UK. International students are required to pay the same fees as domestic students.
Financial assistance is available through a range of scholarships.
The cost of attending a public university is on average INR 2,48,000, while a private university costs INR 4,03,380 per semester.
Scholarships available
The South Korean government offers several scholarships to support international students studying in the country.
The Global Korea Scholarship is one such scholarship, which provides financial support to hundreds of undergraduate and graduate students every year.
The scholarship covers travel costs, full tuition fees up to a maximum of ₩5,000,000 per semester, and up to ₩900,000 per quarter towards Korean language lessons.
Other smaller grants are available to cover things like medical insurance and printing costs.
The government also provides financial support to exchange students who wish to study in South Korea for one or more semesters.
Apart from government scholarships, some universities in South Korea also offer financial support to international students.
For example, Yonsei University Underwood International College Admissions Scholarship provides financial support to all undergraduate international applicants.
The Seoul National University President Fellowship covers full tuition plus living costs for PhD candidates from developing countries.
There are two types of scholarships available to students depending on the university location.
Scholarship Type A covers 30% of the minimum tuition fee for undergraduate students who have outstanding GPA records. For graduate students, there is a full tuition fee exemption for students who have outstanding GPA records and are recommended by faculty. Students who are just recommended by faculty and do not have exceptional grades will be given only 80% of tuition fees. Graduate students who are enrolled in the field of international relations will get a full tuition fee exemption if they have outstanding GPA records.
Scholarship Type B covers 50% of tuition fees for undergraduate students who have outstanding GPA records. For graduate students, a full tuition fee exemption is available for students who are recommended by professors, researchers, and research institutes. Graduate students with outstanding GPA records will get 50% of the tuition fee.
According to data from South Korea's Ministry of Education, 1,328 Indian students were studying in the country in 2022, which is 0.8% of the country's total international student population.
However, some experts believe that the low number of Indian students enrolled in South Korean universities is due to a language barrier and the country's limited popularity as a study destination.
Experts have forecasted that due to the strict regulations set by Canada and the UK, there may be a shift in the market towards other countries such as Germany, Singapore, Ireland, the Netherlands, and South Korea in 2024.
These countries may become more attractive to businesses looking to operate in a more favourable regulatory environment.
Source: https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/nri/study/south-korea-could-be-the-next-big-study-abroad-destination/articleshow/110275085.cms?utm_source=contentofinterest&utm_medium=text&utm_campaign=cppst
