HOW TO: Learning Korean

Here are a compliation of different (mostly free) resources for learning Korean. None of these are affiliate links; they are just resources that have been tried and tested by our recruitment team. They are suited to all levels from absolute beginner to more advanced learners. 

 

 

Learning Resources for Korean

Hangeul
TTMIK- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hdoKOOlaRWA&ab_channel=TalkToMeInKorean

 

Go Billy Korean- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s5aobqyEaMQ&ab_channel=LearnKoreanwithGO%21BillyKorean

 

Miss Vicky- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=85qJXvyFrIc&ab_channel=KoreanwithMissVicky%EB%B9%85%ED%82%A4%EC%83%98%ED%95%9C%EA%B5%AD%EC%96%B4

 

(For a bit of fun but does really help)- https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F9_IDg7PMnk&ab_channel=JOLLY
    ⁃    Sam is one of my favourite Aussie comedians  in Korea

 

Learn to Read in 15 minutes- https://www.ryanestrada.com/learntoreadkoreanin15minutes/

Level Tests

 

TTMIK- https://talktomeinkorean.com/level-test/

 

Sejong- https://nuri.iksi.or.kr/front/page/participation/onlineLevelTest/main.do

 
Translation apps
Papago- https://papago.naver.com/
    ⁃    This is the only one to use, google translate is inaccurate
    ⁃    Be aware that when translating, do it for single words, not sentences

 

Naver Dictionary- https://en.dict.naver.com/#/main

Youtube
Asian Boss- interviews in Korean, Japanese and Chinese about topics specific to these countries (is also good for culture)
https://www.youtube.com/@AsianBoss
 
Go Billy Korean- I mainly use this for grammar and 한자
https://www.youtube.com/@GoBillyKorean
 
Prof Yoon’s Language Class- he follows the integrated Korean textbooks so I use this channel when I study grammar from the integrated books
https://www.youtube.com/@ProfYoonsKoreanLanguageClass
 
Dan and Joel- they used to be part of Korean Englishman’s channel but branched out to their own channel. They talk in a mix of English and Korean but its quite motivational because they focus on being a foreigner in Korea and are two British guys who are fluent
https://www.youtube.com/@DanandJoel
 
Studio V- interviews with people from different careers about what they do at night and has English subs and Korean subs
https://www.youtube.com/@studiov_vv

 

Listening Practice- beginner to high beginner 
https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLJ8SeVAoE0L4cGkmhuRHIpWGOgY3SCwYL&si=FPa-Ym1ldXF-sKSU

 

Media that include Korean/English subtitles

 

Viki- https://www.viki.com/
    ⁃    Some of the tv shows are free 

 

Kiss Asian- https://kissasian.fm/
    ⁃    Most of the time only English subs
    ⁃    You can’t filter by language or country

 

KBS World- https://www.youtube.com/@kbsworldtv
    ⁃    They have different channels in so many languages (including Spanish, Hindi etc)
    ⁃    Short clips of tv shows

 

K-Doc- https://www.youtube.com/@k-doc467
    ⁃    mainly old documentaries and films about foreigners in Korea

 

 MBC World- https://www.youtube.com/@MBC-WORLD
    ⁃    More Kpop idol focused 

Kocowa TV- https://www.youtube.com/@KOCOWA

 

Webtoons- https://comic.naver.com/webtoon
    ⁃    You need to pay for some

 

Cosy Storytime- https://www.youtube.com/@storytimeinkorean
    ⁃    Also has a podcast

Pixid- https://www.youtube.com/@Pixid

Podcasts

Korean 101- https://open.spotify.com/show/454UzIM32JwxRLSB8ObFWo?si=9ad8b959d60a461d

 

Grammar- https://open.spotify.com/show/72o7yWXWuGR3A1bsTjUXYd?si=190e169db2fb4c4c

 

Conversations- https://open.spotify.com/show/3aP5rlYKQSJs1qEMfPhh8b?si=ddc5f896080e4910

 

Storytime- https://open.spotify.com/show/7dsOnfz6rDrR4WyTDEklWR?si=7bd860ac89af48c0
https://open.spotify.com/show/51hUNghzlqHV1t6bjqJYKE?si=9bba671f1b3345b0

 

Learn Korean with David- https://open.spotify.com/show/5PrXI00Z7y7V755LL2Eah8?si=a3534b2ccb404b25

Textbook websites

 

Ridi- https://ridibooks.com/webtoon/recommendation
    •    Textbooks and webtoons
    •    But to buy, must have a Korean bank account
 
Kyobo- https://www.kyobobook.co.kr/
    •    Has an e-book function
    •    Must have a Korean bank account

Z Library- https://z-lib.is/
    ⁃    It is good for single textbooks
    ⁃    Cons: doesn’t have the full series of textbooks

Specific Textbooks
Ewha- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Ewha-Korean-1-1-English-Korean/dp/8973008765
    •    Amazing for self-studying because of the study guide that goes with the textbook
 
Integrated Korean- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Integrated-Korean-Beginning-Textbooks-Language/dp/0824834402/ref=sr_1_1?crid=1J3KNZKDJUB0E&keywords=integrated+korean&qid=1673342665&s=books&sprefix=integrated+korean%2Cstripbooks%2C209&sr=1-1
    •    Good for grammar and learning vocab slowly(?)
 
Hanyang- https://www.amazon.com/Hanyang-Korean-University-International-Education/dp/B07RNGS3Z5
    ⁃    Not available in the UK
    ⁃    Mainly good for listening exercises and readings
    ⁃    Not good for grammar (doesn’t explain it properly and from level 3- all in Korean)

 

Sejong- https://www.amazon.co.uk/Sejong-Korean-vol-1-Revised-2019/dp/B07YZLHGDH/ref=sr_1_2?crid=1JMEPFBKJH4IL&keywords=sejong&qid=1696411197&sprefix=sejong%2Caps%2C120&sr=8-2
    ⁃    The most common Korean textbook outside of Korea

 

Grammar in Use- https://www.amazon.co.uk/KOREAN-GRAMMAR-USE-BEGINNING-Download/dp/8959951986/ref=asc_df_8959951986/?tag=googshopuk-21&linkCode=df0&hvadid=417890496958&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1455002170180093800&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045538&hvtargid=pla-526714263242&psc=1&tag=&ref=&adgrpid=93121571174&hvpone=&hvptwo=&hvadid=417890496958&hvpos=&hvnetw=g&hvrand=1455002170180093800&hvqmt=&hvdev=c&hvdvcmdl=&hvlocint=&hvlocphy=9045538&hvtargid=pla-526714263242
    ⁃    Only for Grammar
    ⁃    Comes in a series
 
 

Learning websites and lectures from beginner to intermediate
How to study Korean- https://www.howtostudykorean.com/
 
90 Day Korean- https://www.90daykorean.com/learn-korean/

 Sejong- https://www.iksi.or.kr/lms/main/main.do
    ⁃    The online, free classes are offered in a lot of different languages but the teachers speak only Korean to you 

Go Billy Korean’s full classes- https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLbFrQnW0BNMXhenB_PVZ4FmIJcLnoGODx&si=GkgM2b5F-KQLQ5X4

Cousera- https://www.coursera.org/learn/learn-korean (just as an example)
    ⁃    has a lot of free classes
    ⁃    But most are accessible if your uni, college or school has a login

Seemile- https://www.youtube.com/seemile

Good websites for reference
https://talktomeinkorean.com/
    ⁃    Good for single grammar points
    ⁃    I find that when I do the courses it progresses too slowly
    ⁃    Also the grammar is explained sometimes in a weird way

ChatGPT- is good for checking your work and letting you know what is wrong and why (but it does make mistakes)
https://chat.openai.com/auth/login

The Bard- https://bard.google.com/
(Does the same as above)

TOPIK-focused
TOPIK OK (textbook)- https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/394524954896?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=394524954896&targetid=1279596078686&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9045538&poi=&campaignid=9437781824&mkgroupid=122823022996&rlsatarget=pla-1279596078686&abcId=578896&merchantid=675118048&gclid=Cj0KCQjwmvSoBhDOARIsAK6aV7j5ntfmuSwomg8MY33pPfcPZHYDApMA-epb9h4O1oeeqMcDBDQlYa0aAnBaEALw_wcB

 

TOPIK Guide- https://www.topikguide.com/topik-overview/

Complete Guide to TOPIK (textbook)- https://www.amazon.co.uk/COMPLETE-GUIDE-TOPIK-II-INTERMEDIATE-ADVANCED/dp/8927732197

 

Proficiency Test for TOPIK (textbook)- https://www.aprendecoreanohoy.com/en/topik-test/1722-korean-proficiency-test-topik-ii-passing-recipe-includes-audio-download-9788955186260.html

 

Revised TOPIK Textbook- https://www.amazon.com/TOPIK-Revised-2016-Proficiency-Korean/dp/B019S7OJXY