earticle

영어

This study analyzes the structure and content of current affairs-based Korean language textbooks for academic learners and proposes practical strategies for improving their pedagogical impact. With the number of international students in Korean higher education surpassing 260,000 in 2024, many entering undergraduate or graduate programs do so with Korean proficiency levels below what is typically required for academic success. In response, universities have developed general education and major courses specifically for international students, often using textbooks that integrate current affairs topics to promote both language development and academic engagement. These textbooks commonly draw on news articles and other media texts to strengthen learners’ communicative and analytical skills. In this context, this study examined five types of current affairs-based Korean language textbooks that were commercially available in bookstores as of February 2025 and were likely to be adopted as university course materials. The analysis focused on textbook structure, text selection, and instructional activities. The findings suggest that while the textbooks are well-structured and emphasize logical comprehension, they often lack components that encourage sociocultural interpretation or critical literacy. This study recommends supplementing existing materials with texts and activities that help learners recognize the social dimensions of public discourse and foster critical literacy.