Numerous universities all around the world will be offering Korean classes using "Learn! KOREAN with BTS"!
On August 12, Wednesday, Big Hit Entertainment's independent education company, Big Hit Edu, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, and the Korea Foundation (KF), will commence a signing ceremony to finalize their contract. The goals of "Learn! KORAN with BTS" is to promote and give importance to Korean studies and the Korean language abroad.
Universities that have confirmed to offer this Korean language course include Middlebury College in the United States, Ain Shams University in Egypt, University of Languages & International Studies, and Than Long University, both in Vietnam, and École Normale Supérieure (ENS) and EDHEC Business School in France. Big Hit Edu, the Korea Foundation, and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies plan to expand "Learn! KOREAN with BTS" in the future, meaning more universities may start offering this in their Korean language courses.
"Learn! KOREAN with BTS" uses videos from past episodes of BTS's variety show "Run BTS!", as well as from their other online content, such as their "Bangtan Bombs" and "BTS Episode" clips. These will be used to teach students about Korean culture, as well as how Korean words are used. It will also teach them Korean expressions that are often used by the BTS members themselves. The videos were selected by a team of researchers from the Korea Language Contents Institute (KOLCI) and by professors from the Hankuk Universit of Korean Studies.
Choi Young Nam, the CEO of Big Hit Edu, shared his determination to bring important to learning Korean abroad, saying, "The Korea Foundation and Hankuk University of Foreign Studies are partners with a high understanding our content, so we are highly anticipating that we will be able to create even greater unity in the future."
The Korea Foundation CEO Lee Geun has also expressed his dreams to spread the uniqueness of Korean culture and language abroad. The Korea Foundation has been working since 2011 to provide online Korean courses and lectures to foreign universities through the eSchool Business.
The chancellor for the Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Kim In Chul, also revealed that they plan to work with more universities in the future. He also revealed plans of physical classes four the course once the COVID-19 pandemic subsides. He said in a statement, "Many universities all around the globe have shown as interest in opening a Korean class with 'Learn! KOREAN with BTS'."
Big Hit Edu has been releasing short three-minute clips each week via Weverse since Mach. A book package for "Learn! KOREAN with BTS" will be available starting August 24.
BTS debuted in 2013 under Big Hit Entertainment. the group is known for being in touch with the production of their work, co-writing and producing most of their material, and have been praised for actively taking part in the creative process of their music and their lyrics, which tend to put a spotlight on personal and social commentary, mental illness, troubles of adolescence, loving, and being oneself. As of 2020, BTS is the best-selling Korean act in history.
The group has been dubbed the "Princes of Pop" by numerous media outlets and was included as one of Time's 100 most influential people in the world list in 2019. The group consists of RM, Jin, Suga, J-Hope, Jimin, V, and Jungkook.
