The “Squid Game” series has sparked interest in learning Korean.

Since the release of the hit series “Squid Game” on Netflix, interest in learning Korean has increased, reflecting language-learning platforms, highlighting the growing and global obsession with South Korean culture.

application of languages Duolingo refers to Thriller The nine-episode contest, in which cashless contestants participate in potentially deadly children’s games in an attempt to win $45.7 billion (about €33 million), inspired language learners and beginners to improve their knowledge of South Korean Is.

According to Duolingo, in the two weeks following the series premiere, there was 76% increase in new users interested in learning South Korean in the United Kingdom, and 40% in the United States.

According to ReutersSouth Korea, the fourth largest economy in Asia, has established itself as a global entertainment center Thanks to its vibrant pop culture.

In this sense, boyzband bts, composed of seven members, and Oscar-winning films such as parasites (2019, Bong Joon-ho), a black comedy about deep inequality, and Minari (2020, Lee Isaac Chung), about a family of South Korean immigrants in the United States.

News agency reports that this week the Oxford English Dictionary 26 new words of Korean origin added including its latest issue, hallu, or the Korean invasion, a term used internationally to describe the success of South Korea’s music, film, TV, fashion and food.

“Language and culture are inextricably linked And what happens in popular culture and the media often influences language and language learning trends,” a Duolingo spokesperson said, Sam Dulsimer.

The Korean Foundation for International Cultural Exchange reports that there are approximately 77 million Korean speakers worldwide.

Currently, Duolingo, which is headquartered in Pittsburgh, United States, has more than 7.9 million active users learning Korean, the fastest growing language in the application after Hindi.

hey King Sejong Institute, under the responsibility of the South Korean Ministry of Culture, had approximately 76,000 students in 82 countries in 2020, representing a rapid expansion from 2007, when it counted 740 students from three countries.

Milika MartinovichQuoted by, says a student of Sejong Institute in Russia Reuters, who tried to delve deeper into the language so that he could watch Korean movies and series without subtitles and listen to K-pop without having to translate the lyrics.

“Squid Game” is currently the most-watched series on Netflix, but it’s not just fiction – it portrays the real socio-economic problems experienced in South Korea.