Korean wave and BTS: How BTS influenced Korean language learning?
The BTS Korean culture influence is radically changing American academia as well. Fueled by a broader interest in K-dramas, food, and K-beauty, people are becoming more and more interested in learning the Korean language, despite lacking any native heritage. Professor Zur, who also teaches at a Korean Village immersive language summer camp in Bemidji, Minnesota, reports to KTVU Fox 2 that a significant enrollment spike has been seen in K-12 learners. And amongst them, most are BTS fans learning Korean.
This K-pop global influence is fully evident on the campus of Stanford University as well. According to KTVU Fox 2, student Emily Schwab, who attended two concerts of the group, said that she began studying Korean to understand their lyrics. On the other hand, another student from the same university, named Taylor Hamilton-Hankins, noted that K-pop inspired her to learn about a country she previously knew literally nothing about.