Have you ever asked yourself the question “Why learn Korean?” What is so special about this language? Among all the languages in the world, each of them cool and unique and quite possibly worthy of learning, why should you choose to study Korean?

In this article, we hope we can decidedly answer the question “Why learn Korean?” and hopefully give you the inspiration to continue your Korean language studies.

Let’s check out the reasons why you totally should learn Korean!

1. Korean alphabet is super simple and the writing system incredibly logical

At first glance, Korean may come across as an intimidating language due to having its own alphabet. However, the Korean alphabet is actually wonderful for how easy it is to learn and memorize. In fact, with us, you can master it in just 30 minutes!

Not only is the alphabet quick to memorize, but so is learning how to form words and sentences with them. Because the alphabet didn’t naturally evolve but was specifically created by King Sejong, it functions quite differently from many other languages. The ease and logic behind learning the basics of writing and reading certainly make Korean a language worth learning.

2. Korean grammar is straightforward

One massive advantage of Korean grammar is the lack of need to conjugate verbs, at least in the same way that you would have to with many other languages. Thanks to this fact, fewer headaches and more learning can take place! If you’re already convinced about learning Korean now, here is our beginner’s guide to Korean grammar.

For example, there’s no need to worry about noun genders. One big struggle people experience when learning languages like French, Spanish, and Italian – so, Latin languages – is having to learn how all nouns have genders – and what gender each noun has! But Korean language doesn’t have them at all, which is one more awesome way to make learning the language a little simpler.

3. It’s easy to speak

Because the Korean alphabet is built on phonetics, pronouncing Korean is also incredibly logical. The sounds may be new to you, but you’ll quickly be able to learn them as everything is pronounced the way it is written. We have a guide for Korean pronunciation as well, to get you started. With practice, you’ll be able to speak Korean words properly in no time!

In addition, you get to take advantage of “Konglish”, which stand for mixing Korean and English in speech. That means, there are a lot of loan words from English in the Korean language. In turn, it means less new vocabulary to learn, as you already know many of them through English and now only need to nail the Korean way of pronouncing them. Konglish is a great way for beginners to speak Korean without necessarily memorizing a lot of foreign words.

 

4. Korean music, dramas, and movies are incredibly popular right now

Thanks to BTS and Blackpink and many other world-famous K-pop artists, K-Pop is currently at its peak as a worldwide phenomenon. The Korean Wave is definitely here to stay! That makes Korean language a super cool one to be learning at the moment. So cool, in fact, you just might easily find friends to study together with! Better yet, maybe you could find a South Korean friend to practice your Korean with.

And not only are Korean dramas and movies great to watch for their popularity, but there are so incredibly many top-quality dramas and movies to choose from. And the best bit? They make for some of the best listening comprehension practice you could have when not in Korea. You could even learn a thing or two about their culture while watching your favorite Korean drama.

5. Korean culture is intriguing and unique

Beyond its popular culture, there’s a lot to love about the culture in Korea. It’s tremendously interesting and in many ways one of a kind. Even before the Korean wave, Korea has had a history of being a center of culture and arts. It’s possible to research and experience parts of it without knowing a lick of Korean. But the best bits you’ll likely only be able to understand once you also understand some of the Korean language. Specific terms, nuances, and so on, are much easier to get a hold of once you know some of the languages behind them.

6. It will be of so much help when you do visit South Korea

Most Koreans do speak enough English that you will survive your visit with flying colors even if you aren’t fluent in Korean. However, being able to communicate in the local language always makes things like ordering in the restaurant more convenient and comfortable for both parties. Not to mention Koreans will find you so cool and respectful for having taken the time to learn their language!

And, for example, it will give you an easier time making Korean friends once there. Koreans do spend a lot of time studying English and other languages. However, the truth is that it’s always easier to make friends with them when you approach them using Korean. But making Korean friends also means you will get to put your Korean skills into action often, making it a useful language to learn.

Korea has a very rich culture and visiting Korea to know more about their way of life is definitely worth it. However, you may want to brush up on your Korean before your trip if you really want to fully experience Korean culture. Trust us, the locals will love you for it.

7. Korean language can be useful for your career

Especially if you want to work in translation, interpretation, or other jobs that heavily involve languages, having Korean language included in your repertoire is a massive advantage.

Although there are many speakers of Korean out there, it still remains a language that few people are able to use as their talent. Therefore, it can be more advantageous to become proficient in Korean rather than Japanese or Chinese, or Russian, Spanish, French, and so on, for that matter.

Is Korean worth learning?

There are a number of factors that make learning Korean worth it. First, it’s a fantastic and fun language. If you’re a K-drama fan, then you get to understand the dialogues without having the need for subtitles. And if you love K-pop, then you’ll understand the lyrics and you get to sing along with your favorite artist.

Second, if you are going to visit or live in Korea, then it will undoubtedly be a new language that’s worth learning for you. Same if it is a language connected to your family history or your university degree. Perhaps learning Korean might even be necessary for your job! Learning Korean is worth learning because it opens you to a wider horizon. There are several reasons to learn Korean as we’ve discussed in the article above.

It could also be that the reasons above don’t apply to you. You may just want to learn a language and Korean just happens to be the one that you’ve been contemplating taking on.

Is Korean hard to Learn?

Generally, learning Korean isn’t difficult to learn. It may depend on your native language or language learning experience. But there’s nothing too difficult when you give your heart, time, and energy to learn something and that also applies to learning Korean. If you have the right materials and strategies on top of your dedication to learn Korean, it won’t be difficult to learn the language.

We hope that we’ve given you a new perspective on your Korean studies. Initially, you might feel that Korean is a new language that’s difficult to learn but eventually, with time, you’ll find that if you’re going to pick a foreign language to study, Korean might just be the one for you.

Is the language the same in North and South Korea?

The North and South use different dialects and vocabulary, but the fundamental parts of the language are the same.

Should I Learn Korean?

Although at first glance it may not seem like much more than a quirky niche language to learn for fun, learning the Korean language can actually have many advantages for you. Its relative easiness, coupled with the strong popular culture behind it, makes it a fun language.

But it’s in its usefulness both in living and traveling in South Korea as well as how you can utilize it for work, that you can truly see what a magnificent language Korean is to learn.

What questions do you have about learning Korean? Let us know in the comments below!

The post Why learn Korean? – 7 Reasons to Learn This Magical Language appeared first on 90 Day Korean®.