https://youtu.be/zM895YHr68Q?si=LfDpG30m5cWPuDpg There’s no denying that K-Pop has taken over the world and played a huge role in popularizing the Korean language. According to The Korea Herald, the King Sejong Institute is busy at work opening new Korean-language learning centers around the globe. This institute currently operates 172 branches and teaches Korean to 57,000 students in 56 different countries.  Whether you’re learning the Korean language to understand the lyrics of your favorite K-Pop songs or to follow along with the subtitles for Korean films, you’ve come to the right place!  Korean tenses are an essential part of the Korean language you should become familiar with early on. In today’s article, we’ll... Show more

Many aspiring Korean learners are plagued by a common question: How long does it take to learn Korean?  Unfortunately, there’s no definite answer. It really depends on a number of factors, such as your native language, education, experience with languages, exposure, and motivation. Your intended proficiency level also plays a role in determining how long it takes to learn the Korean language. Do you want to be able to...  ...read simple Korean words? ...hold a conversation with locals? ...work in South Korea?  Each of these goals requires a different skillset and time commitment, so keep this in mind before taking the leap and beginning your studies.  In this article, you’ll learn how to estimate how long it will take you to... Show more

Learning Korean proverbs is not only a great way to study the language, but also a window to the unique Korean culture. To help you get the most out of your language studies, we’ve put together this useful Korean proverbs list for you to study. Who knows—you may find that you can start applying these words of wisdom to your own life! Table of Contents 꿩 먹고 알 먹는다 (kkwong meokgo al meongneunda) 보기 좋은 떡이 먹기도 좋다 (bogi joeun tteogi meokgido jota) 로마는 하루아침에 이루어진 것이 아니다 (romaneun haruachime irueojin geosi anida) 낮말은 새가 듣고 밤말은 쥐가 듣는다 (nanmareun saega deutgo bammareun jwiga deunneunda) 세 살 버릇 여든까지 간다 (se sal beoleus yeodeunkkaji ganda) 말 한마디에 천냥 빚도 갚는다 (mal hanmadie cheonnyang bijdo gapneunda) 궁하면 통한다 (gunghamyeon... Show more

There are three main word classes in the Korean language: pure Korean words, Sino-Korean words, and foreign words. The foreign words can be broken down further into loanwords and Konglish.  Konglish refers to words taken directly from the English language and used in Korean. These words are often used with a different meaning than that of the original word, or have a Koreanized pronunciation. Examples include:  바나나 (banana) - "banana"뉴욕 (nyeuyok) - "New York"  In this article, you’ll learn more about Konglish along with other commonly used English words in the Korean language. Let’s get started!  Table of Contents Introduction to Konglish A Brief List of Konglish Words List of Loanwords English Words Derived from... Show more

Every country has its own unique culture and South Korea is no exception. Understanding Korean culture and traditions is important if you’re planning to travel, study, or work in South Korea. This knowledge will also help you acquire the more advanced levels of the Korean language, since many idioms and old sayings are based on Korean culture. Finally, learning about South Korean culture will help you better understand the beliefs and customs of South Koreans, broaden your worldview, and make it possible to build closer relationships during your stay.  Before we dive in, here are four interesting Korean culture facts: 1. You must take off your shoes when you enter someone’s house. 2. Korean women have little problem showing off... Show more