"China is a really hot topic in South Korea - from trade and investment ties to cultural exchanges. The mass media's attention is also fixated on China. It seems a Chinese heat wave is encompassing the whole of South Korea."

This is an excerpt from a People's Daily article from November 30, 2001 about the so-called "China boom" in South Korea. This boom parallels the "Korea boom" that has hit China, as Korean music, dance, fashion and movies have become increasingly popular recently. It is important to pay attention to the increase in human exchange between the two countries, as well as the number of people studying Chinese.

The rest of the world, meantime, is also paying attention to the evolving 'China boom' in Korea. In fact, in terms of human exchange and language study, Koreans, with the exception of the Taiwanese, have the closest interaction with the Chinese. Figures published by the China National Foreign Student Committee on March 4, 2003 of the number of foreigners studying in China confirm this trend.