Korean-language classes popular at US colleges: report

Korean-language classes offered at colleges in the United States have grown in popularity over the past few years.

The Modern Language Association of the U.S. reported that enrollment in Korean classes rose 45 percent from 2009 to 2013 at a time when enrollment in second foreign language courses overall declined by 6.7 percent.

The heightened interest in the Korean language by the students is attributed to the growing fascination with Hallyu, or the Korean Wave, including K-pop.

In addition, the number of colleges offering Korean has jumped by 70 percent over the last decade to 154 colleges.