Overseas South Korean schools will soon be permitted to teach core subjects in English.

The Ministry of Education, Science and Technology said Thursday that the move is part of its plan to enhance the quality of education at overseas Korean schools.

The ministry also plans to dramatically increase the autonomy of overseas Korean schools in regards to their operations and in devising curriculum. Accordingly, the schools will be allowed to teach core subjects in either English or the local language.

In addition, older school facilities will be renovated or enlarged.

A budget of 52-billion won has been allocated for the overseas schools in 2010, which is almost double that of 2009.

Currently, there are a total of 30 Korean schools in 15 nations, ten of which are in China. They have more than 19-thousand students.