If you haven’t been living under a rock for the past few years, you would know that India has been struck by the Hallyu wave aka the Korean wave. The immense popularity of Korean dramas and K-pop groups are examples of that. Groups like BTS, TXT, EXO, Blackpink, and others have found a huge fanbase in India. Similarly, Crash Landing on You actors Son Ye Jin and Hyun Bin, stars like Lee Min Ho, and more have also become fan favourites. Korean beauty has also made a mark in India thanks to its amazing effects on the skin. Due to the rising popularity of K-content across the country, Korean has become one of the most sought-after languages for people to learn. So, if you are wondering whether you should start studying Korean, here are a few reasons why it’s a great idea.
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1. An easy language to learn
Korean was purposely made an easy language. The language only has 24 alphabets and it is primarily a phonetic language which means the words are pronounced the way they are spelt. The Korean alphabet, known as Hangul, was introduced by King Sejong of the Joseon dynasty to make the language easier for the common man in Korea. If you know Hindi, learning Korean becomes easier. This is because Korean follows the same sentence structure as Hindi.
To make it easier for you, Korean doesn’t abide by masculine, feminine, or conjugated verbs. So, you don’t have to worry about which word is masculine, which is feminine and how to conjugate verbs based on it being singular or plural.
2. The language of the future
With the global popularity of Korean culture and arts, is it any surprise that Korean is the language of the future? Companies like Samsung are going head-to-head with the likes of Apple. Hyundai and LG are some of the other leading Korean companies. It just goes to show that Korea is an innovative tech giant. And as you already know, technology is where the future lies. Not to mention, Korea ranks 10th in the world’s largest economy list and is the 4th largest Asian economy. The popularity of the culture has ensured that learning Korean will soon be as beneficial as learning Mandarin in the business space.
3. India-South Korea relations are great right now
The bilateral relations between India and South Korea are one of the best in recent times. In fact, 2023 marked 50 years of India-South Korea diplomatic relations. With a growing number of Korean companies coming to India, learning Korean is a secure way to land a good job.
4. So many career opportunities
Your career can really skyrocket if you study the Korean language. Translation, interpreting, working in the travel and tourism sector, becoming a Korean teacher or even landing a job in a Korean company – it is all possible. The sky is the limit when it comes to your career after learning the Korean language. Whether you want to work in an Indian company in South Korea or a Korean company in India, learning Korean will be highly beneficial. The rising access to digital media has also led to many Korean language learners starting classes online like Era Kaundal, Learn Korean in India and institutes like Korean Cultural Centre and Arirang Institute.
5. Study in South Korea
A lot of South Korean universities offer special scholarships to Indian students. The South Korean government also provides special scholarships to Indian students who want to pursue Korean Language and Literature at the Master’s and Doctorate levels. While universities in Korea provide language classes to international students, having knowledge of Korean will give you an upper hand.
6. Good exercise for the brain
Learning a second language is good for the brain. Being bilingual has many benefits, the biggest being intellectual growth. Studies have proven that learning a second language can reduce the risk of memory ailments like Alzheimer’s and slows down the ageing of the brain. It also stimulates your mind, improves multitasking skills, and enhances your memory. So, keep your brain younger for a long time by learning Korean.
7. Travel with ease
While a lot of Koreans do speak English, a vast majority of them don’t. So, if travelling to Korea is a part of your bucket list, it is advisable to pick up the language before you book your tickets. South Korea is rapidly becoming a hotspot for Indian tourists, so having some knowledge of the language will help you tremendously.
8. Better insight into the culture
Now that you are already exposed to K-pop and K-dramas, you have a minuscule idea of what the culture is like. Learning a language will further expose you to the local culture of the natives. There are some similarities between the Indian and Korean cultures which will further aid you in studying the language. Learning Korean will also allow you to grasp the intricate details you may have missed in your favourite movie or drama because you didn’t know the culture. Also, you get to sing along with your favourite K-pop group.
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