Duolingo, the globe’s biggest language-learning platform, has positioned Korean as the seventh most-learned language on its app, outpacing Chinese. This service provides lessons in over 40 languages and counts among its members 500 million registered users along with 40 million who engage every day.
Luis von Ahn, who is 47 years old and serves as the CEO and co-founder of Duolingo, linked the increasing popularity of learning Korean to the global impact of Korean cultural exports. He stated, “The worldwide success of content such as
Squid Game
There has been a dramatic increase in individuals interested in learning Korean,” von Ahn stated. “Currently, approximately 5.5 million users are studying Korean via Duolingo.
Introduced with the aim of providing universal access to education, Duolingo went public on the Nasdaq in 2021, coinciding with its tenth year since launch. As of today, the firm boasts a market valuation of $14.8 billion.
Von Ahn, who grew up in Guatemala, mentioned that his formative experiences with poverty and restricted educational opportunities laid the groundwork for establishing the company. To gain admission to U.S. universities, Guatemalan students needed to pass the Test of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL). This requirement entailed journeying to nearby El Salvador and incurred expenses exceeding $1,000.
One of the most proud moments of my life occurred roughly eight years back when I learned that Syrian refugees reaching Europe were utilizing Duolingo to acquire the languages of their host nations,” he stated. “Duolingo serves as a platform where both billionaires and refugees have access to learning opportunities on an even playing field.
