US Schools Teaching Korean Grow to 267

Students weighing a second language can now see how fast Korean classes have spread across American high schools.

Updated on Nov. 11, 2026 in Language Learning

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Twenty-four artworks by high school students learning Korean are on display at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art in the exhibition "Hangeul Beyond Borders," which runs through April 20, 2027. The show was organized by the Korean Education Center in San Francisco in collaboration with the museum.

Why it matters

The exhibition highlights a growing pipeline of American students studying Korean, a language that can connect learners to culture, creative work, and future academic or career paths. It also reflects a decade-long expansion of Korean classes in US schools, which affects how families and students in San Francisco can think about language study alongside other subjects.

US schools offering Korean classes rose from 155 schools with about 14,000 students in 2016 to 267 schools with about 26,000 students in 2026. The exhibition is on view through April 20, 2027, at the San Francisco Museum of Modern Art.

The players

San Francisco Museum of Modern Art

A museum founded in 1935 and the first on the US West Coast devoted to modern and contemporary art, hosting the exhibition.

Korean Education Center in San Francisco

The organization that organized the exhibition in collaboration with the museum, supporting Korean-language learning in the region.

South Korea's Education Ministry

The South Korean government ministry that has supported Korean-language programs in US public schools since 1999.

The details

Students depicted elements of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet, as puzzle pieces in their artwork, using the writing system as a visual starting point. The works are displayed in the museum's public spaces alongside videos of students discussing their pieces, so visitors can hear the students explain their own learning. South Korea's Education Ministry has supported Korean-language programs in US public schools since 1999, which is part of the backdrop for the recent growth in classes.

1935: San Francisco Museum of Modern Art founded.
1999: South Korea's Education Ministry began supporting Korean-language programs in US public schools.
2016: 155 US schools offered Korean classes.
2026: 267 US schools offered Korean classes, and the exhibition opened.
April 20, 2027: Hangeul Beyond Borders closes.

Education Landscape

South Korea's Education Ministry has backed Korean-language programs in US public schools since 1999, and the number of schools offering Korean classes has grown steadily since 2016. This exhibition shows that growth reaching the arts and public view in San Francisco.

If you are a student or parent considering a language course, the growth in Korean classes means more high schools may offer the subject, so it is worth checking what your school provides. Ask your school's counselor or language department which world languages are available and how they are scheduled.

The takeaway

Korean language study is spreading across American high schools, and student art is one way that growth becomes visible to the public. Families who want to add a language should check what their own school offers and speak with a counselor about course options.