In 2021, KBS aired the documentary *"#I Learned кσяєαn because of BTS"* to commemorate the 575th anniversary of Hangul, the кσяєαn alphabet. The documentary highlighted the growing popularity of learning кσяєαn and Hangul driven by BTS's influence. KBS documented ARMYs in the United States, the United Kingdom, fяαи¢є, Kenya, Myanmar, Indonesia, and many other countries studying кσяєαn in order to directly understand BTS's lyrics, live broadcasts, and messages.
In 2022, a study published in the *Journal of кσяєαn Language Education* titled *"A Study on the Influence of BTS on the Spread of кσяєαn Language"* identified a similar motivation, showing that BTS had inspired many people to learn кσяєαn. A survey conducted among BTS fans in 69 countries in February 2026 found that 93.4% of respondents had stu∂ιєd кσяєαn, with their love for BTS cited as the primary reason.
Or, more simply, look at how fans in the United States, мєχι¢σ, נαραи, and many other countries enthusiastically perform кσяєαn fanchants and even sing the traditional кσяєαn folk song *Arirang* fluently during BTS's ongoing ARIRANG tour...
There is no denying that BTS has played a significant role in expanding the global reach of the кσяєαn language. And the South кσяєαn government is actively leveraging this advantage, particularly in the field of education!
On the 4th, South кσяєα's Ministry of Education announced its *"2026 Plan for the Development and Distribution of кσяєαn Language Textbooks for Overseas Elementary and Middle Schools."* The most notable aspect of the plan is the introduction of кσяєαn-language supplementary materials utilizing BTS-related content, alongside AI-powered smart digital textbooks.
On the same day, the Ministry revealed that it would develop a total of nine new types of educational materials this year, including one integrated edition of the BTS кσяєαn-language supplementary materials, one Level 1 smart digital textbook, and seven country-specific textbooks tailored for nations such as ιи∂ια, the Philippines, and Vietnam. Approximately 260,000 кσяєαn-language textbooks are expected to be distributed to overseas schools and educational institutions this year.
In fact, this is not the first time BTS has appeared in official educational materials. Reflecting the growing interest of young people worldwide in Hallyu culture, South кσяєα's Ministry of Education has been developing and distributing кσяєαn-language supplementary materials utilizing BTS content since 2021 as part of the "кσяєαn Language Curriculum for Overseas Elementary and Middle Schools." To date, more than 1.04 million textbooks based on the Common European Framework of Reference for Languages (CEFR) have been distributed.
Meanwhile, a total of eight types of supplementary materials have been produced for Vietnam, Thailand, Malaysia, the Philippines, Mongolia, Laos, Cambodia, яυѕѕιαn-speaking regions, вяαzιℓ, and Uzbekistan. This year, a new integrated edition will be developed by selecting the most effective core content from previous materials. Notably, the textbook will incorporate AI-linked learning support features and collect learning data to support future кσяєαn-language education research and policy development overseas.
The Ministry of Education explained, "To vitalize кσяєαn language education through regular schools overseas, it is crucial to support high-quality curricula and textbooks. Moving forward, we will continue to strengthen overseas кσяєαn language education by developing textbooks that tailor to the demands of each country and the levels of the students."
BTS is hardly an unfamiliar subject in the world of education. The group has frequently been featured in academic journals, university courses on popular culture, and even lectures related to business, media, and national soft power both in South кσяєα and around the world. A 2025 study titled *"BTScience and Beyond"* analyzed approximately 100 academic works on BTS and concluded that researchers have shown interest in the group across a wide range of disciplines. The University of California, Berkeley once offered a course dedicated to BTS, while their song *DNA* was incorporated into a lecture at Harvard University.
BTS has transcended the boundaries of a conventional idol group, creating a remarkable impact and leaving a lasting legacy across countless aspects of global society!
