Protest the removal of Korean as a Tier 1 priority language
The issue
Background
In June 2026, the Australian Federal Parliament’s House Standing Committee on Education published its report, Security and Prosperity in Asia: Building Australia’s Asia Capability, outlining a ten-year national investment strategy and strategic framework to overhaul Asian language and cultural education.
This report proposes classifying Korean as a secondary “Supported language” rather than a Tier 1 “Priority Language” alongside Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian and Hindi (Korean was hitherto classified as a “priority language”).
What this reclassification of Korean means for Australian students and Korean communities in Australia:
It threatens the future of established and successful Korean language programs at major universities in Australia (Australian National University, Curtin University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Adelaide, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia)
It jeopardises support from the Korean government for Korean Studies at schools and universities in Australia. Over the past ten years, the Korea Foundation and Academy of Korean Studies have supported Australian universities well in excess of $15million - a crucial lifeline for most of the existing programs.
Relegating Korean to a lower tier of languages risks sending an unintended diplomatic message to one of Australia's key regional partners, at a time when South Korea continues to invest heavily in Korean language education and interest in Korean language and culture is growing across Australian schools and universities.
This outcome would be contrary to Australia's long-term national interest, as it risks reducing the linguistic and cultural capabilities required to sustain strong economic, diplomatic and defence relations with the Republic of Korea.
The decision risks undermining confidence in Australia’s long-term commitment to engagement with Korea, sending an unhelpful message to Korean companies seeking to expand trade and investment with a country that regards South Korea as one of its most significant economic partners.
In addition to the above, classifying Korean as a secondary “Supported language” will result in the following:
- No Korean language leader schools (i.e., no school functioning as a Korean language hub linked to universities).
- No strategic language protection in commonwealth grant scheme agreements.
- No ATAR bonus.
- No targeted teacher supply measures.
- No ministerial coordination for the creation of a pathway from primary to university.
- No monitoring and reporting on the National Data Framework and Dashboard.
- No Commonwealth investment in Korean language teaching/curriculum resources.
- No language assistant models to support Korean language teacher supply.
- No support for bilingual Korean primary schools.
- No Commonwealth scholarships for prospective teachers.
- No funding for higher education to support Korean language and culture.
- ATEC will not be able to stop Korean courses from closing unless it is listed as a priority language.
Our Recommendation
We urge The Hon. Jason Clare MP (Education Minister) to reconsider the Committee’s proposed reclassification of the Korean language. We request that Korean continues to be recognised as a Tier 1 “Priority Language” alongside Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian and Hindi, to protect Korean national capability and international funding. This would also demonstrate respect for Australia and Korea’s strong bilateral relationship and for their status as strategic and reliable trading partners.
What you can do to help
By signing our petition below, you show that you support our request to Jason Clare MP to maintain the current classification of Korean as a Tier 1 “Priority Language.”
You don't need to DONATE! Thanks.
Please distribute this petition to anyone you know who is concerned about the future of Korean language education in Australia
Join our campaign to send a message to the Australian Government that the Korea-Australia relationship is a top priority and to urge them to change this proposal while there is time.
Signed
Members of the Korean Studies Association of Australasia
—----.
Please sign our petition and join our fight to save Korean! NO NEED FOR A DONATION! Thanks!
2,572
The issue
Background
In June 2026, the Australian Federal Parliament’s House Standing Committee on Education published its report, Security and Prosperity in Asia: Building Australia’s Asia Capability, outlining a ten-year national investment strategy and strategic framework to overhaul Asian language and cultural education.
This report proposes classifying Korean as a secondary “Supported language” rather than a Tier 1 “Priority Language” alongside Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian and Hindi (Korean was hitherto classified as a “priority language”).
What this reclassification of Korean means for Australian students and Korean communities in Australia:
It threatens the future of established and successful Korean language programs at major universities in Australia (Australian National University, Curtin University, University of Melbourne, Monash University, University of Adelaide, University of New South Wales, University of Queensland, University of Sydney, University of Western Australia)
It jeopardises support from the Korean government for Korean Studies at schools and universities in Australia. Over the past ten years, the Korea Foundation and Academy of Korean Studies have supported Australian universities well in excess of $15million - a crucial lifeline for most of the existing programs.
Relegating Korean to a lower tier of languages risks sending an unintended diplomatic message to one of Australia's key regional partners, at a time when South Korea continues to invest heavily in Korean language education and interest in Korean language and culture is growing across Australian schools and universities.
This outcome would be contrary to Australia's long-term national interest, as it risks reducing the linguistic and cultural capabilities required to sustain strong economic, diplomatic and defence relations with the Republic of Korea.
The decision risks undermining confidence in Australia’s long-term commitment to engagement with Korea, sending an unhelpful message to Korean companies seeking to expand trade and investment with a country that regards South Korea as one of its most significant economic partners.
In addition to the above, classifying Korean as a secondary “Supported language” will result in the following:
- No Korean language leader schools (i.e., no school functioning as a Korean language hub linked to universities).
- No strategic language protection in commonwealth grant scheme agreements.
- No ATAR bonus.
- No targeted teacher supply measures.
- No ministerial coordination for the creation of a pathway from primary to university.
- No monitoring and reporting on the National Data Framework and Dashboard.
- No Commonwealth investment in Korean language teaching/curriculum resources.
- No language assistant models to support Korean language teacher supply.
- No support for bilingual Korean primary schools.
- No Commonwealth scholarships for prospective teachers.
- No funding for higher education to support Korean language and culture.
- ATEC will not be able to stop Korean courses from closing unless it is listed as a priority language.
Our Recommendation
We urge The Hon. Jason Clare MP (Education Minister) to reconsider the Committee’s proposed reclassification of the Korean language. We request that Korean continues to be recognised as a Tier 1 “Priority Language” alongside Mandarin, Japanese, Indonesian and Hindi, to protect Korean national capability and international funding. This would also demonstrate respect for Australia and Korea’s strong bilateral relationship and for their status as strategic and reliable trading partners.
What you can do to help
By signing our petition below, you show that you support our request to Jason Clare MP to maintain the current classification of Korean as a Tier 1 “Priority Language.”
You don't need to DONATE! Thanks.
Please distribute this petition to anyone you know who is concerned about the future of Korean language education in Australia
Join our campaign to send a message to the Australian Government that the Korea-Australia relationship is a top priority and to urge them to change this proposal while there is time.
Signed
Members of the Korean Studies Association of Australasia
—----.
Please sign our petition and join our fight to save Korean! NO NEED FOR A DONATION! Thanks!
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Petition created on 10 September 2026