South Korea has become an important destination for business education, supported by a strong economy and global corporations such as Samsung, Hyundai, and LG. Its universities promote MBA programs as internationally oriented, often highlighting English-taught courses and global partnerships. However, a major limitation remains: the language barrier, which significantly reduces the mobility and global value of an MBA earned in South Korea.
While many programs are marketed as English-medium, Korean dominates classroom interaction, group work, and academic administration. International students often find that lectures or discussions may break partly or fully into Korean, excluding them from full participation. This erodes the very foundation of the MBA learning model, which relies so much on case discussions, teamwork, and learning from peers.
The effect of language also spreads to job prospects, and this, by default, became a major reason for undertaking an MBA program. In South Korea, almost all corporate hiring, communication in general, and professional networking are done in Korean. Even in MNCs in Korea, only a high level of proficiency in Korean can fetch a job. Hence, international MBA graduates may face challenges in securing jobs, whether it is in internships, consulting projects, or full-time placements, despite their academic and business qualifications. This constrains the “mobility” an MBA promises.
The student experience, both within and outside the classroom, also illustrates this disconnect. Similarly, within group projects and ‘networking sessions,’ Korean is commonly used when local students significantly outnumber international students, leaving internationals feeling isolated within their own groups. The alumni network and mentorship schemes also exclusively offer services in Korean, limiting international students’ potential to form strong working relationships within local business circles.
It is interesting, though, that a similar language barrier, albeit from a different context, can be said to apply to Korean students, whose immersion within their own language is so seamless that limited exposure to advanced international levels of English language usage in business could potentially hamper their preparedness at a global level. Indeed, this leads us into a paradox, whereby while international students are unable to localise, local students are seemingly unable to globalise, irrespective of whether or not it is an ‘international’ program.
However, the reality is that the business schools may never have embedded the bilingual or English-dominant strategy throughout the entire system. The English element may be seen as an add-on rather than an integral part of the overall provision without full commitment to the idea of a global MBA. In conclusion, although there is much to be learned from a dynamic and growing economy like that of South Korea, the language gap creates a hindrance that affects the mobility and effectiveness of its MBA programs. In order for business schools to be effective and global, language access must be a prime consideration and not ancillary.
Written by – Pallabi Dey
About the author –
As a part of this dynamic world, I am a tech explorer who is fueled not just by curiosity for code but also by diversified culture, cuisines, and flavors that paint our world. I also love writing content, painting and learning different languages that let me delve deep into the captivating aspects of cross-culturalism.