Expanding Korean Language Education Hubs in Western Uzbekistan… New Korean Language Department Established in Bukhara; New Korean Language Training Center Opened at the Tashkent Korean Education Center

On September 10, 2026, the Ministry of Education announced the establishment of a Department of Korean Language at Bukhara State Pedagogical University in Bukhara Province, western Uzbekistan, and a Korean Language Education Training Center at the Tashkent Korean Education Center. The announcement and accompanying materials outline a two-pronged approach: one focused on training Korean language teachers, and the other on organizing local Korean language courses, cultural events, and teacher training programs.

The Ministry of Education stated that it expects Korean language education to expand into western regions such as Bukhara, Navoi, and Urgench based on these hubs. This does not mean that expansion has already been completed, but rather outlines the direction of regional educational infrastructure being promoted through the new department and training center.

The Department of Korean Language at Bukhara State Pedagogical University is responsible for specialized teacher training

The Korean Language Department at Bukhara State Pedagogical University provides specialized training to train Korean language teachers, with an annual intake of 60 students and a total capacity of 240.

The role outlined by the Ministry of Education is not to offer general courses but to train teachers who will teach Korean locally. Among the details of the new department’s operations, the key points confirmed in this announcement are the scale and purpose of the specialized teacher training program.

The Training Center at the Tashkent Korean Education Center operates local courses and teacher training programs.

The Korean Language Education Training Center, newly established at the Tashkent Korean Education Center, operates local Korean language courses, cultural events, and teacher training programs for school teachers.

Therefore, the two locations have different roles. The Korean Language Department in Bukhara is responsible for specialized teacher training, while the Training Center in Tashkent is responsible for local courses, cultural events, and school teacher training, respectively.

Current Status of Korean Language Education in Uzbekistan as Presented in the Attached Materials

According to the attached materials in the Ministry of Education’s press release, Korean language education in Uzbekistan in 2025 was provided at 150 schools to 22,936 students. The materials projected that the number of schools offering Korean language education would expand to approximately 200 in 2026.

The same document also indicates that in 2026, there will be 5 teachers dispatched by the Korean Ministry of Education and 17 teachers invited by the local government. The phrase “approximately 200 schools” should be distinguished as a projected expansion outlined in the attached materials, rather than a confirmed operational figure.

Educational Opportunities Confirmed by the Announcement

This announcement highlighted both the specialized teacher training program in Bukhara and the regional courses and teacher training programs in Tashkent. The expansion into the western region is an expected outcome stated by the Ministry of Education; however, specific details regarding enrollment or admission for individual courses go beyond the scope of this announcement and its attachments.