Career Scope of Learning Korean in India

Are you planning to learn the Korean language in India? Are you fascinated with Korean culture, K-Pop, or maybe career prospects?

This article can help you decide if you’re not sure why to study Korean or can’t come up with any reasons to learn.

Introduction

Foreign languages have become popular these days in India.

The number of students taking their time is increasing day by day to study European languages to East Asian languages like Korean, Mandarin, and Japanese.

There are myriads of reasons to learn a language.

As the world is becoming a global village, foreign language Jobs are opening up like never before.

It is not just in numbers but also in the types of jobs.

There was a time when learning a foreign language was considered as a secondary qualification. However, today, thanks to globalization and rising demand, students are opting for full-time careers.

If you’re not sure which language to learn?

Then Korean is a great choice.

Recently, there had been a surge in the study of one of the foreign language courses in India, and that language is the “Korean Language.”

Now a lot of people are attracted to acquiring Korean, and it is one of the top 10 foreign languages.

The last few years have seen a steady increase in the number of students trying to learn the Korean language in India.

Why learn Korean of all the choices?

The importance of learning a foreign language in India is one that cannot be overemphasized nor ignore.

Many have come to realize that the ability to speak a foreign language is one of the best ways to enhance one’s career choice and the prospect of employment.

There are many vacancies in foreign departments, businesses, and offices, but due to the absence of proper foreign language qualifications, these spaces remain unoccupied.

Most people prefer studying German, French, or Spanish language when it comes to learning a foreign language.

Only a few consider languages spoken in East Asia.

Thanks to the emergence of Japan in the 1970s, South Korea in the 1980s and People’s Republic of China in the 1990s, the East Asian economic powerhouses with their giant international companies expanded their business footprints in India.

They took advantage of India’s new economic liberalization business policy of the Government of India.

It has brought these countries and the need to learn these languages in preference to the prominent European languages in India into sharp focus.

But the fact remains that there are foreign languages spoken in East Asia and taught in India that can provide your resume with more significant career opportunities.

One such foreign language is the Korean Language.

Learning Korean in India can enhance your job opportunity.

It is the sixteenth most spoken tongue and the official language of North Korea and South Korea.

It is a widely spoken language, with over 80 million speakers worldwide. It has a sizable population in places like China, Japan, Vietnam, Russia, Canada, Uzbekistan, Australia, Kazakhstan, the USA, etc.

The great Indian scholar, poet, and writer Rabindranath Tagore in the Nobel winning collection Gitanjali wrote a quatrain in which he described Korea as the “Lamp of the East.”

He said, “In the golden age of Asia, Korea was one of its lamps – bearers and that lamp are waiting to be lighted once again for the illumination in the East.”

Today, It is hard to find a South Korean who is not familiar with him.

His love and admiration for the lamp of the east, i.e., Korea, will continue to remind the world of India, and Korea’s shared ties.

For Indians, the benefits lie in the substantial economic prospects it offers. =

For instance, South Korea alone is one of the strongest growing economies in the world, and it’s also the 7th largest economy in terms of export.

The South Korean economy is widely integrated with the rest of the global economy, and India is increasingly becoming a focal point of that integration.

There is a rising and tremendous demand for Korean language experts in many international companies in India and elsewhere in the world.

The career scope of Learning Korean is phenomenal and quite lucrative.

It is because of the increasing presence of many Korean companies such as LG, Samsung, Posco, Hyundai, Lotte, Kia, and many more.

These companies would usually prefer to hire someone that knows how to speak Korean, ahead of any other candidate during recruitment.

Benefits of Learning the Korean Language in India

There are lots of reasons to learn.

I have listed quite a few below, and if any of them resonate with you, then find a Korean language institute or teacher and start your classes right away.

Here are some apparent advantages you will get to enjoy learning the Korean language in India.

1. Improved Career Opportunity

It is no longer secret that the world is becoming a global village through the rapid advancement in technology.

It has also significantly accelerated the integration of economics of various nations of the world, including South Korea and India.

Today, the trade records between India and South Korea have increased tremendously, and many Korean companies are operating in the Indian market.

Most of these companies look for people that will act as intermediaries between their business and clients. — the one who can easily translate their business intentions with the local community in India on their behalf.

Learning the Korean Language will put you in a better position to earn big in these areas. Moreover, there are many jobs involving languages where your knowledge of Korean can add great value to your curriculum vitae.

These include;

(i) Interpreter

Armed with your knowledge and certification, you can apply for a job at the foreign embassy office where you can act as an interpreter.

There is a high demand for Korean interpreters, and the competition is also relatively low due to the limited supply.

With the advent of new technology like teleconferencing and video-conferencing, it is now possible to hold conferences and meetings between personnel from India and their counterparts in South Korea without having actually to travel between the two countries.

Several private translation agencies employ personnel having good knowledge of Korean. A person can work free-lance after gaining a few years’ experiences.

Since there are very few people who are proficient in Korean, thus, professional Korean interpreters are paid handsomely.

(ii) Translator

Language translation is one of the lucrative jobs on the internet. You will come across many websites that offer similar jobs.

You can quickly bid for every Korean translation job into European or Indian Language or the other way around.

It is a well-paying career option if you are good at your work and enough experience to boost your profile.

Korean experts can earn handsome money with the ever-increasing digitalized world by working as freelancers in different domains such as translators, proofreaders, etc.

You will be surprised to know that almost 50% prefer not to join any company but prefer to work as a freelancer.

Interpreter and Translator as career choices are among the most sought-after jobs in the Korean language in India and abroad.

(iii) Teacher and Trainer

Your degree in the Korean language can make you a language instructor working in any of the numerous language institutes.

Even though you might not find the pay very attractive, it is an excellent place to start your career as an instructor.

And from there, move to higher opportunities after harnessing your language skills.

Several Indian and International companies look for trainers who can train the candidates for various courses or an on-site opportunity or for dealing with Korean customers.

As a result, skilled language teachers are finding their services in higher demand. The job opportunities in this field are plenty – across the country.

(iv) Travel and Tourism

Thousands of Korean guests visit India now and then and hire bilinguals guides who are proficient in Korean.

One can be utilized in the industry to assist the foreign traveler, communicate with them, and to work in an array of hospitality, travel, and tourism sector.

If you want to visit South Korea for traveling or living, then you should be learning it.

You’ll see huge benefits in your everyday life with the ability to speak the native language of the country almost immediately.

South Korea is coming up as a popular destination for Indian tourists.

The number of Indian travelers to South Korea has been increasing on an average of 20% every year.

Over two lakh Indians visited this exotic country in the calendar year 2017.

By speaking Korean, you will not only enjoy to the fullest and earn their appreciation but also opens the door to a genuine interaction and connection.

(v) Call Center, IT, BPO and KPO

A recent addition to the requirements in the industry.

You can utilize your Korean Language skills to act as a call center trainee, where you can handle call center business for overseas clients.

It increases your potential export & import business and job opportunities not only in Korean companies but also in companies trading with companies in South Korea.

The reason is the excellent pay package and comparatively lesser competition.

In the last decade or two, several BPOs and KPOs have come up in India. Jobs could involve speaking skills, email writing, customer support, or data processing.

2. Jobs in Korean Companies in India

What is not very well known is that more than hundreds of Korean companies and groups have their presence in India.

These companies are operating in almost every sector, i.e., Information Technology, business research, consumer electronics, R&D, life sciences, media, automobiles, tourism, construction industry, trading, finance, services, etc.

Fluent candidates are preferred in Korean companies as their head office is based in Korea, and they need to communicate with the Head Office regularly.

Besides, Korean companies have also provided scholarships for higher studies in the Republic of Korea.

3. Jobs in Indian Companies and other MNCs

Apart from Korean companies in India, many Indian companies have invested in S.Korea, like Tata Motors has bought Daewoo Commercial Vehicles, M&M has bought Ssangyong Motors.

In addition to these acquisitions, many companies like Infosys, TCS, L&T Infotech, Wipro, etc. have branch offices in S.Korea.

Thanks to Indo-Korea Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (IK-CEPA), there are significant export opportunities for several Indian products in Korean market including, mineral fuels / mineral oils, iron and steel, organic chemicals, aluminum and articles thereof, residues and waste from food industries, cotton products, and more.

Knowledge of Korean could land you a plum job in a plethora of Indian export companies.

Not only Indian and South Korean companies, but there are 100’s MNCs from India, USA, and Europe who hire Korean language professionals for their office in India.

Jobs in these MNCs are related to accounting payables, translations, sales, purchase, technical writings, proofreadings, interpretation, to name a few.

The salary depends on the language, the nature of the job, the technicality of the subject, and proficiency. And, of course, the qualifications and experience of the person being hired.

In most cases, companies who look for specific field specialists with the ability to communicate in Korean usually given a language premium on top of the basic salary to the successful candidate.

4. Improving business and personal relationship

If you are interacting with Korean-speaking people working for an S.Korea based company like Samsung, LG, Hyundai, Kia, Posco, etc., well, then, learning the language will make you a more valuable asset to the company.

If the company plans to expand, your knowledge of the Korean language will put you ahead of others in consideration of any post in the company.

Those whom you have been interacting with would be quick to recommend you.

Learning the Korean language will also help you strengthen friendships and business relationships with Korean-speaking friends or family members.

It can enable you to break the ice with professional colleagues and friends from near and far. S.Korea Government also offers an ample amount of scholarship for higher studies in the country.

5. Improve your Brain Power

One of the rewards of learning a second language is that being bilingual is a way of boosting one’s intellectual growth and enhancing mental development.

The process of acquiring the Korean language will not only stimulate your mind but also ensure that your brain is always active and healthy.

6. The Korean Culture and Practical concepts

Many of those who study Korean do so because they are by Korean movies, music, and TV shows.

A large number of people across the globe are fascinated by country’s K-pop artists such as BTS, Big Bang, EXO, TWICE, AoA, Girls Generation, Wanna One, SHINee, Blue Velvet, and more.

All of these had accelerated people’s interest in studying the Korean Language.

The language can better equip you with a deep understanding of Korean movies, shows, and songs. The people of the country are a unique set, very receptive and intelligent.

Hangul represents the Korean alphabet and studying it is very simple, and it can help you to master and adapt to the basics.

Once you start adding some efforts and practice to the overall perspective, you will start catching up within a short while, especially with your classmates and the Korean teaching assistant.

From then onwards, you will begin to understand the phrases, words, and even cultural references used in TV plots and movie background.

You will also be able to listen to interviews of your favorite Korean stars, including their songs and news, while having the opportunity to contribute to comments and constructive criticism.

The Korean language will give equip you with an outstanding knowledge of the country’s historical background, architects, foods, socio-economic, and political life.

You can have a one-of-a-kind, unique opportunity to dive into its culture and explore a new world.

How to improve and perfect your Korean?

There are some notable books you can buy to assist you if you have made up your mind to learn the Korean language in India.

You can also watch Youtube videos, read a few free lessons, and listen to lots of podcasts. These are good sources of gaining more knowledge of the language.

However, the best way to learn the language is through face-to-face interactive sessions with a private tutor or any institute for Korean classes in Delhi or any other part of the country.

Through a Korean teacher, you can easily learn grammar, pronunciations, vocabulary, Speaking, and more. You can check Korean courses in India.

Korean is not easy, but you can learn

Korean is undoubtedly a complicated language to learn.

Since it is unrelated to European languages like English, French, German, or Spanish or Indian languages, it looks difficult for Indians.

The alphabets hangeul (한글), grammar, verbs, and pronunciation is incredibly simple.

Like any other language, One needs to practice lots of listening, reading, and of course, speaking.

It is not difficult If you probably thought the difficulty level was the main reason not to learn.

How long does it take to learn Korean?

If you possess the right methods, materials, and motivation, you can pass the Korean proficiency test, i.e., TOPIK Intermediate level 4 or Advanced Level 5 in 3 years, and not several years, as you might have thought earlier.

If the 20th century belonged to Europe and America, the 21st century surely belongs to the Asians.

And the knowledge of Korean can add both feathers and wings to the résumé to the more ambitious ones in any career planning.

Now that you have understood all that it takes to start learning the Korean Language, now is the time to do it.

After all, learning Korean pays rich dividends.