"Korean, the language of love"

http://www.globalpost.com/dispatch/south-korea/100506/learn-korean-language-dating-expat-life

This fun, but fascinating article discusses one possible motivation for learning the Korean language. According to the article, many foreigners, particularly men, learn Korean so they can better communicate with native Koreans and increase their chances of a romantic relationship. The influx in English-language academies "or hagwons" has guaranteed a steady supply of foreign men looking for love in Korea.

While this phenomena may seem quite random to someone not familiar with the subject, my experiences in a Stanford Korean class supports this hypothesis. Out of the 12 people in my class, 4 are non-native speakers, 2 of which are men. Both of these men are learning Korean to better communicate with their Korean girlfriends.

But this situation brings up many interesting issues regarding bilingual romantic relationships. How many of these individuals apply their language skills for a long-term relationship rather than a one-night stand? Is a meaningful relationship with a significant language barrier even possible? This article suggests that most men looking for a relationship are only interested in "hooking up" rather than settling down with their Korean counterparts. If this is true across the spectrum, this is certainly an interesting use of one's language skills.

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