K-pop passion inspires Finnish youth to learn Korean language and culture

Olivia Karhunpesä, 11, and Hanna-Mari Ahtoniemi, 15, have developed a passion for K-pop, which led them to learn Korean. Karhunpesä began studying the language independently at the age of seven. “Korean feels like a secret language; no one else in my family speaks it. I started learning through YouTube and various apps before asking my parents if I could take a course,” she explains.

Both Karhunpesä and Ahtoniemi are currently enrolled in an advanced Korean language course at Vanajaveden Opisto in Hämeenlinna. Ahtoniemi shares their ambition: “My dream is to visit South Korea someday and be able to converse with the locals.”

The growing interest in Korean culture, especially among the youth, has sparked a boom in Korean language courses across Finland. According to the Association of Adult Education Centers, dozens of Korean courses will begin this autumn nationwide. Jaana Nuottanen, director of the association, noted the uniqueness of this phenomenon, highlighting that other languages like Chinese and Japanese have not achieved such popularity.

Korean culture is increasingly enticing young people, with unique factors drawing them to it. The surge of K-pop fandom is expanding into a broader interest in Korean culture, evident in the launching of 38 courses related to Korean cuisine this year. Culture historian Minja Mäkilä mentions that Korean pop culture is visually appealing and well-tailored for modern audiences, making it easy to engage with online via platforms like TikTok and YouTube.

As interest in the Korean language grows, it fosters a deeper connection with Korean culture. Mihwa Park-Freund, a Korean teacher at Vanajaveden Opisto, notes the enthusiasm of her students, many of whom are curious about Korean customs and cuisine, further bridging the gap between Finland and Korea.