KUALA LUMPUR - The Department of Education of the Philippines (DepEd) has renewed its partnership with the Republic of Korea’s Ministry of Education to continue teaching the Korean language in selected public high schools nationwide.

The renewed cooperation was formalised through a memorandum of understanding signed by Education Secretary Sonny Angara and Korean Education Minister Choi Kyo-Jin, as reported by Manila Bulletin.

The agreement was presented to President Ferdinand R. Marcos Jr and South Korean President Lee Jae Myung during a ceremony at Malacañang Palace on March 3.

The renewed partnership falls under the Special Program in Foreign Languages, which aims to prepare Filipino students for international careers through language proficiency and cross-cultural competence.

“By renewing this partnership, we are not just teaching a new language; we are opening doors to global opportunities for our teachers and learners,” Angara said.

Launched in 2009, the programme offers Spanish, French, Japanese, German, Chinese and Korean in selected public secondary schools in cooperation with foreign institutions.

The Korean language component was first introduced in June 2017 through an agreement between DepEd and the Embassy of the Republic of Korea.

The Korean Cultural Center of the Philippines served as the official training provider, delivering cultural and language immersion programmes.

For the 2024-2025 school year, the programme was implemented in 69 public secondary schools across 13 regions.

DepEd said the initiative benefited 4,810 learners and supported Korean language training for 168 teachers.

The newly signed agreement ensures the sustainability of the programme following the expiration of the previous partnership.

Under the renewed cooperation, both countries will focus on curriculum development and teacher capacity building.

The agreement also covers the deployment of language specialists, updated teaching materials and the continued institutionalisation of Korean language education.

DepEd said the renewal reflects the strengthening of bilateral education ties between the Philippines and South Korea.

The department added that the enhanced programme aims to equip learners with globally recognised skills for future academic and career opportunities.