PHNOM PENH: Cambodia is moving closer to formally integrating the Korean language into its public education system, as the first cohort of locally trained language teachers prepares to enter classrooms nationwide.
The shift was underscored on March 19 at the Royal University of Phnom Penh, when 11 graduates completed the country’s inaugural Korean Language Teacher Training Programme.
“The newly certified teachers are expected to be deployed to public schools beginning in the 2026–2027 academic year in September, marking a transition from informal instruction to a more structured, state-supported model,” according to the South Korean embassy to Cambodia.
The programme reflects deepening educational cooperation between the two nations, via their respective education ministries, alongside academic partners.
“For several years, Korean language instruction in Cambodia has been largely limited to after-school programmes and staffed by graduates or returnees from South Korea,” it said.
The embassy says the introduction of a formal training pipeline for teachers marks a critical step toward standardising quality and expanding access.
“This programme will contribute to human resource development and the capacity-building of future generations,” said South Korean ambassador Kim Chang-yong, adding that efforts would continue to ensure Korean is “firmly established as a second foreign language in Cambodia”.
Since its pilot launch in 2021 at three high schools, Korean language education has expanded steadily.
The embassy stated this year, approximately 2,000 students are studying Korean across 17 high schools, reflecting growing interest driven by cultural exchange, education opportunities and economic ties with South Korea.
It said the six-month teacher training programme, conducted from September 2025 to March 2026, provided 105 hours of instruction across 11 courses, covering Korean linguistics, teaching methodology and classroom practicum.
Participants were required to have majored in Korean or achieved at least Level 4 in the Test of Proficiency in Korean (TOPIK), ensuring a baseline of language competency.
The embassy said the initiative is part of a broader push to professionalise foreign language education in Cambodia, while aligning it with labour market demand and international partnerships.
“Cambodia is a key partner country for educational cooperation, with strong potential demand for Korean language education,” said Seol Sae-hun, deputy minister for Planning and Coordination.
“We will continue to make multifaceted efforts to support high-quality Korean language education in Cambodia,” he added.
Beyond teacher training, South Korea has also been supporting the development of Cambodia-specific Korean language textbooks with Khmer translations since 2024, tailored to local learning contexts.
Looking ahead, both governments have signalled ambitions that go beyond expansion alone.
Over the longer term, the Korean Ministry of Education aims to support the elevation of Korean to the status of an officially recognised foreign language within Cambodia’s national curriculum — a move that would place it alongside other major international languages taught in public schools.
For Cambodia, the arrival of its first formally trained Korean language teachers may mark not just the end of a pilot phase, but the beginning of a more institutionalised and strategic approach to language education. - The Phnom Penh Post/ANN
