The educational environment of Korean language is rapidly changing as the interest in Korean language, and Korean culture grows with the worldwide spread of the Korean wave. For this reason, this study aims to examine the potential of changing Korean wave based foreigners to the actual language learners. To do so, this study conducted a survey and interviews about ‘what motivated the Korean wave based foreigners get interested in Korean language (Korean culture) and changed them to become actual language learners’ Surveys were distributed to 152 participants from 30 different countries, of ‘Quiz on Korea’ TV program that is co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, and KBS. The study results indicate that Korean wave based foreigners are the potential learners of the Korean language and has a high possibility of becoming actual learners of Korean language, although the reasons the Korean wave based foreigners feel the necessity to learn Korean language are different by their preference for Korean wave contents, situations, ages, job occupations, surrounding environment, and others. (SangMyung University)