The Department of Education emphasized that the offering of elective Korean language class in selected public schools is in no way and shall not replace the Filipino language in basic education curriculum posted on their Facebook page.

Secretary Leonor Briones said that this offering will start in school year 2019-2020. The SPLP will be taught 2 hours every week. She also added that the Filipino and Panitikan subjects in K-12 program are more advanced.

The Commission on Higher Education (CHED) added Korean Language in Special Program in Foreign Language to its offerings which also include Spanish, Japanese (Nihongo), French, German, and Mandarin. The SPFL was implemented in 2009 under DepEd Memorandum No. 55 series of 2009.

Filipino and Literature will not be mandatory subjects in tertiary level but the Higher Education Institutions will still decide if they’ll continue to teach the subject. CHED want to ensure to avoid subject duplications and wait for the final decision of the Supreme Court.

Way back in April 2017, Supreme Court gave a restraining order to CHED Memorandum No. 20 series of 2013 and this year, 2018 they removed it after implementing K-12.

These students are very lucky and they do not even know it. Considering the globalization of talent (and this is a trend that is not going to change anytime soon), learning foreign languages could be your main selling point.  

Korean Ambassador Kim Jae Shin said that it could give job opportunities and provide student grants in Korea for students. Plus, you can now watch your favorite Korean dramas and listen to KPop even without subtitles.

Who will teach the Special Program in Foreign language?

Answer: A qualified teacher who has completed the 6 month training and passed the language course.

All students will be taught Korean language (Hangugeo)?

Answer: No. Special Program in Foreign Language (SPFL) is for the students who are capable and interested to learn but must master the Filipino and English language.

What will happen to the estimated 10,000 licensed teachers who majored in Filipino? 

There is no contradiction. Filipino language will continue to be taught.

Source: Deped.gov.ph, pna.gov.ph