Abstract

ABSTRACT Online informal language learning has surged due to the growing interaction on social networking sites, such as TikTok and YouTube. One vital interaction method is through comments, revealing insights into learner behaviors and thoughts. Concurrently, the Korean Wave has made Korean a sought-after language. This study examined comments under Korean language learning hashtags on TikTok and YouTube in English and Spanish. From 570 comments, three themes were discerned: (1) those oriented towards the video creator, (2) those focused on the community, and (3) those highlighting Korean language understanding. Findings indicate that these comments foster a supportive environment for sharing experiences and resources while addressing content inaccuracies or linguistic uncertainties. However, there was no interaction in Korean within these comments. Hence, while videos provide linguistic input, comments mainly facilitate metalinguistic reflection, but not a space for interactive Korean language use.

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