Historical and Modern Usage of English in South Korea
In many countries around the world, English has come to be known as the language of globalization and modernity. Whether it is associated with climbing up the professional ladder or the ‘hip’ and ‘cool’ aspects of youth culture, its influence has become undeniable. In South Korea, all of these aspects can be applied to the use of English in society.
History
As with the spread of language in any culture, the historical implications must first be considered. English education was introduced to Korea in 1883 through the founding of Dongmunhak, an English school created for interpreters. This institution was mainly created to forge stronger diplomatic and trading ties between foreign countries (Park, 2007, p. 47). Afterward, many Christian missionary schools and government-supported institutions were created to enable English language learning.
During Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, the importance placed on English declined markedly. Any English education was conducted mainly by Korean teachers. From 1936 to the end of Japanese rule, emphasis was placed solely on the Japanese language which caused English education to decline further.
After the liberation of Korea by Western forces and the partitioning of the peninsula into North and South, interest in English peaked once again. The government established by the United States military put fluent English speakers in almost all areas of government. This “had the effect of making English a language of the ruling class in South Korea” (Park, 2007, p. 48).
Present
In modern day South Korea, emphasis is still placed on English language learning. For many it is viewed as the language of globalization; the main resource they have to become a major player on the global stage and become internationally competitive. Students study it for hours a day, and business professionals often work feverishly to improve their proficiency. It is also seen as the language of a ‘hip’ and ‘modern’ youth culture and is used to sell anything from cell phones to clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. There are also people in the older generations who view it in a more negative light, and see English as a language that pushes young Koreans away from traditional values and encourages them to become uncouth and rebellious.
However it is viewed, there is no doubt that English plays a major role in South Korean society. English proficiency tests are required for acceptance into a good university, most international business transactions are conducted in English, and increasing globalization means Koreans must have an acceptable knowledge of the language if they wish to advance socially and professionally. With the huge influence that English has in the international community, it’s no wonder that what many researchers have dubbed “yeongeoyeol*” has swept the nation. (Park, 2009).
*yeongeoyeol (영어열) – Korean for "English fever"
As with the spread of language in any culture, the historical implications must first be considered. English education was introduced to Korea in 1883 through the founding of Dongmunhak, an English school created for interpreters. This institution was mainly created to forge stronger diplomatic and trading ties between foreign countries (Park, 2007, p. 47). Afterward, many Christian missionary schools and government-supported institutions were created to enable English language learning.
During Japan’s colonial rule of the Korean peninsula from 1910 to 1945, the importance placed on English declined markedly. Any English education was conducted mainly by Korean teachers. From 1936 to the end of Japanese rule, emphasis was placed solely on the Japanese language which caused English education to decline further.
After the liberation of Korea by Western forces and the partitioning of the peninsula into North and South, interest in English peaked once again. The government established by the United States military put fluent English speakers in almost all areas of government. This “had the effect of making English a language of the ruling class in South Korea” (Park, 2007, p. 48).
Present
In modern day South Korea, emphasis is still placed on English language learning. For many it is viewed as the language of globalization; the main resource they have to become a major player on the global stage and become internationally competitive. Students study it for hours a day, and business professionals often work feverishly to improve their proficiency. It is also seen as the language of a ‘hip’ and ‘modern’ youth culture and is used to sell anything from cell phones to clothes, shoes, and cosmetics. There are also people in the older generations who view it in a more negative light, and see English as a language that pushes young Koreans away from traditional values and encourages them to become uncouth and rebellious.
However it is viewed, there is no doubt that English plays a major role in South Korean society. English proficiency tests are required for acceptance into a good university, most international business transactions are conducted in English, and increasing globalization means Koreans must have an acceptable knowledge of the language if they wish to advance socially and professionally. With the huge influence that English has in the international community, it’s no wonder that what many researchers have dubbed “yeongeoyeol*” has swept the nation. (Park, 2009).
*yeongeoyeol (영어열) – Korean for "English fever"