Learn Korean with Langma’s Korean Language Program

Langma International’s Korean Language Course helps learners master the Korean language and gain a comprehensive understanding of Korea and its culture. Our well-structured program caters to all six Korean proficiency levels from Beginner (Levels 1-2), Intermediate (Levels 3-4), and Advanced (Levels 5-6) as defined by the Test of Proficiency in Korean/ TOPIK Test. We connect students to a variety of opportunities in South Korea, including scholarships, internships, and job placements. We also offer specialised courses to enhance students’ conversational fluency and prepare them for proficiency exams, such as the TOPIK, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and practical communication skills. Along with studying the Korean Language, our courses cover Korean history, culture, literature, and the arts. We offer both in-person and online training, with individual or group sessions available to suit your needs. Langma International has been accredited as an official KLAT centre of India by the Korea Educational Testing Service.

Begin your Korean journey today with Langma to unlock the world of opportunities offered by Korea and Korean-speaking nations. 

The Korean Language (한국어)

There are more than 75 million Korean speakers in Korea, with 48 million in South Korea and 24 million in North Korea. Additionally, there are more than 2 million speakers in China, approximately 1 million in the United States, and around 500,000 in Japan. Korean is the official language of both South Korea (the Republic of Korea) and North Korea (the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea). The language in both nations differs in minor matters of spelling, alphabetisation, and vocabulary choice (including the names of the letters).

Korean is a member of the Ural-Altaic family of languages (which includes Turkish, Mongolian and Manchu). There are strong similarities between Korean and Japanese grammar, and over time, the Korean vocabulary has also been influenced considerably by Chinese and English.

Written Korean (한국어로 작성됨)

Initially, Korean was written using Chinese characters composed of complex pictographs, written from top to bottom in columns that ran from right to left. This meant that only the educated elite were literate. King Sejong the Great led the creation of a simple script called Hangul (한글) in 1443, which the masses could easily learn and use. Both North and South Koreans take enormous pride in their unique alphabet.

Hangul has since been simplified to include 24 letters- 10 vowels and 14 consonants. Due to Western influence, Korean is now generally written left-to-right, with rows from top to bottom. 

Spoken Korean (구어체 한국어)

Korean speech ranges from a formal/polite form, used primarily with older people or those of higher rank than oneself, to a casual/polite form, mainly used with people of the same age or of similar status, down to a form of speech used only for children. The degree of formal or casual speech is indicated mainly by verb endings. For Korean language beginners, the casual/polite form of speech strikes a balance between being overly formal and showing disrespect. 

Korean Letters (한글 문자)

Each of the 24 letters of the Korean alphabet, Hangul, represents a distinct sound. Ten of the letters are vowels, and 14 are consonants. There are 11 combination vowels formed from the original ten vowels, and there are five double consonants formed from five of the basic consonants. The result is an alphabet of 40 characters, designed to be easy to learn. There are a further 11 consonant combinations, but they follow the simple rules of the basic 14 consonants.

Vowels (모음)

There are 21 vowels in the Korean language; 10 are basic and 11 are double vowels. Below are the 10 basic vowels.

Combined Vowels (결합 모음)

There are 11 combined or double vowels in Korean, formed by combining the basic vowels, as listed below.

Consonants (자음)

The Korean language has 14 basic consonants and 5 double (tense) consonants, making a total of 19 consonant letters. They are generally pronounced as they are in English. However, the pronunciation of most Korean consonants varies depending on their position within a word or the letters surrounding them. In Korean, these sound shifts are an essential part of the language.

Double Consonants (이중 자음)

In addition to the 14 basic consonants, Korean has 5 double or tense consonants as listed below.

TOPIK Levels and Language Skills (TOPIK 레벨 및 언어 능력)

Below is a summary of the language skills required for each level of the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean).

Beginner Levels

Level 1: Basic understanding of Korean for survival communication, such as greeting, purchasing, and ordering, using about 800 basic words. Able to express and understand oneself in simple everyday conversations with simple sentences.

Level 2: Can discuss familiar topics using 1,500 to 2,000 words and distinguish between formal and informal situations.

Intermediate Levels

Level 3: Able to conduct transactions in public settings, maintain social relationships, and use Korean words and expressions appropriately.

Level 4: Can understand news articles, social issues, and abstract topics, including cultural nuances and idioms.

Advanced Levels

Level 5: Highly fluent for professional research or work, able to understand complex expressions in social, political, economic, and cultural contexts. Can appropriately use formal and informal language in both written and spoken forms.

Level 6: Fully fluent for professional research or work, able to understand and express ideas clearly.

Korean Numbers (한국 숫자)

The table below lists Korean numbers in both native Korean and Sino-Korean.

Korean Survival Phrases (한국어 생존 문구)

If you’re new to the Korean language, start your learning journey with these essential phrases- an excellent way to navigate through everyday interactions, which will not only boost your confidence but will also serve as a crucial resource in your Korean language learning journey.

Structure of the TOPIK Exam (TOPIK 시험의 구조)

The beginner-level test (TOPIK-I) is typically held in the morning, while the Intermediate-Advanced test (TOPIK-II) takes place in the afternoon. TOPIK-I lasts 100 minutes, with 40 minutes for Listening and 60 minutes for Reading, completed in one session. TOPIK-II is a three-hour exam divided into two sessions: the first session (110 minutes) covers Listening and Writing, and the second session (70 minutes) focuses on Reading.