Korean Cultural Centre India (KCCI), in association with the Government of the Republic of Korea, is poised to introduce India's first-ever standalone Korean Education Department. The department is projected to open somewhere between April and May 2025 and is expected to organize and consolidate the burgeoning ecosystem of Korean language education in India.
The department will begin its activity by jointly conducting the 101st TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) Exam on July 13, 2025. From October 19, 2025, when the 102nd TOPIK Exam is going to be held, it will be solely responsible for all Korean language study-related activities in India.
The move comes in the backdrop of a sudden interest in Korean culture, such as K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean food, which has generated an increasing demand for Korean language studies in India. Seeing the requirement for better organization and infrastructure, KCCI, supported by the Korean government, is making official attempts to establish a solid base for Korean language studies across the country.
Seat capacity for TOPIK exams has already witnessed a strong increase. Delhi has observed a nearly 90% hike in seats as against the 96th TOPIK exam that took place in 2024, and Bengaluru has logged a 50% increase. This increase bears testimony to the authorities' initiative to address the increasing passion of Indian learners.
So far, Korean language studies in India have been handled on a decentralized basis with a lot of cooperation needed among different institutions without adequate coordination. The setting up of the Korean Education Department seeks to solve this inefficiency by bringing under one roof curriculum planning, teacher training, examination management, and outreach programs.
The new department not only will see that Korean language is taught on standardized lines nationwide but also provide institutional assistance to institutions of higher education and schools willing to make Korean a part of their study program. The new department also will create instructional materials, hold workshops for trainers, and facilitate formalization of Korean studies as a legitimate discipline in Indian academe.
This progress represents a major milestone at a moment when Korean studies are shifting from niche fascination to mainstream scholarly ambition. Prestigious institutions like Jawaharlal Nehru University and the University of Delhi already have Korean courses, and enrollment figures keep growing.
“The passion of Indian people for Korean culture and language has made this possible”, said a KCCI official. “With the new department, we’re not just improving exam logistics we’re investing in the future of cultural diplomacy and education”.
