South Korea

Summary

Official Name

Republic of Korea

International Conventions

CPPDCE (2010), CSICH (2005), ICCPR (1990), UNCRPD (2008), UNDRIP (2007)

Population

51,835,000

Principal Languages

Korean

Literacy Rate

98% (2019 World Factbook)

General References

Campbell and King 2011, Comrie 1987

Language Counts

The number of established languages listed for South Korea is 4. All are living languages. Of these, 3 are indigenous and 1 is non-indigenous. Furthermore, 3 are institutional and 1 is dying. Also listed are 4 unestablished languages.

Languages

Chinese, Mandarin cmn: Users: 198,000 in South Korea (2020 census). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Sino-Tibetan, Chinese
English eng: Users: 5,141,000 in South Korea, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in South Korea (2020). L2 users: 5,000,000 (2014 The Diplomat). Status: 4 (Educational). Classification: Indo-European, Germanic, West, English
Jejueo jje: Jeju province: Jeju island. Users: 5,000 in South Korea (2014 W. O’Grady). Status: 8a (Moribund). Alternate Names: Cheju, Chejumal, Cheycwu, Cheycwumal, Jeju, Jeju bang-eon, Jeju saturi, Jejumal Classification: Koreanic
Korean kor: Widespread. Users: 50,200,000 in South Korea (2020). Total users in all countries: 81,455,340. Status: 1 (National). De facto national language. Autonym: 한국말‎ (Hanguk-mal), 한국어‎ (Hanguk-eo) Classification: Koreanic
Korean Sign Language kvk: Scattered. Users: 180,000 in South Korea (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.4% of total population. Total users in all countries: 308,000. Status: 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2016, Korean Sign Language Act), Requires a KSL Development Plan every five years, promotion of standardization, use of KSL in education, promotion in other areas of life, competency testing, and interpreters. Alternate Names: Hanguk Sueo, Hanguk Suhwa Eoneo, KSL Classification: Sign language, Deaf community sign language
Mongolian, Halh khk: Users: 32,700 in South Korea (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Mongolic, Eastern, Oirat-Khalkha, Khalkha-Buriat, Mongolian Proper
Tagalog tgl: Users: 30,000 in South Korea (2020). Status: Unestablished. Classification: Austronesian, Malayo-Polynesian, Greater Central Philippine, Central Philippine, Tagalog

Languages by Status

1 (National)

Korean

[kor] 1 (National). De facto national language. 50,200,000 in South Korea (2020). Total users in all countries: 81,455,340.

4 (Educational)

Korean Sign Language

[kvk] 4 (Educational). Recognized language (2016, Korean Sign Language Act), Requires a KSL Development Plan every five years, promotion of standardization, use of KSL in education, promotion in other areas of life, competency testing, and interpreters. 180,000 in South Korea (2008 WFD). Approximately 0.4% of total population. Total users in all countries: 308,000.

English

[eng] 4 (Educational). 5,141,000 in South Korea, all users. L1 users: 141,000 in South Korea (2020). L2 users: 5,000,000 (2014 The Diplomat).

8a (Moribund)

Jejueo

[jje] 8a (Moribund). 5,000 in South Korea (2014 W. O’Grady).