K-pop idols turn Korean teachers in new YouTube series featuring language challenges, cultural lessons and global fans

Several South Korean K-pop idols are joining a new YouTube series that pairs them with international students learning Korean. Produced by the King Sejong Institute Foundation and South Korean broadcaster SBS, the three-part series capitalizes on the global popularity of K-pop to promote Korean language learning. The second episode, airing on 31 October at 2pm, features Ricky from AND2BLE and Mǎ Jingxiang from CLOSE YOUR EYES.

They will face off against eight Korean language learners who were selected from the winners of the 2026 King Sejong Institute Korean Speaking and Writing Contest. The episode also brings Ricky and Mǎ back together after they teamed up in an audition program in 2023. The series began on 17 October with RESCENE's Minami and May, who participated in the Sejong Korean Language Assessment.

This episode garnered over one million views within a week of its release, setting the stage for the broader project. The second episode adds a competitive twist by featuring learners who excelled in an international Korean language competition, alongside the idols. Episode three will see K-pop artists teaching at the King Sejong Institute in Jakarta, Indonesia, where they'll guide students through their own song lyrics and teach useful Korean expressions.

South Korean cultural content, particularly K-pop, continues to gain international traction, and this initiative aims to harness that appeal to encourage more people to learn Korean and understand Korean culture. The King Sejong Institute Foundation supports 273 institutes across 89 countries, promoting Korean language education and cultural exchange.