Table of Contents
Introduction
If you are planning a trip to South Korea, you may have already done a lot of research on the best places to visit, places to eat and what cultural experiences to try. Although it’s recommended to learn a bit of the local language and culture before visiting anywhere, an underrated but important factor is learning Hangul before your trip.
In this guide, you'll learn what Hangul is, why it's useful for travelers, how long it takes to learn, and the resources that helped me before studying abroad in South Korea.
What Is Hangul?
Source: Medium
Hangul (Hanguel) is the official Korean alphabet. It contains 24 basic letters and within this are 14 consonants and 10 vowels. It’s actually quite unique! Hangul uses syllable blocks, where individual letters are combined into one block to form each syllable. For example, the letters for the word Hangul are ㅎ , ㅏ, ㄴ, ㄱ, ㅡ, and ᄅ, which combine to form 한글.
Hangul's design was inspired by traditional East Asian philosophy. The consonants were created to match the shape of your mouth and tongue when making each sound. The vowels represent heaven, earth, and humanity, showing the balance and harmony found in Korean culture.
The Consonants
ㄱ (g/k)
ㄴ (n)
ㄷ (d/t)
ㄹ (r/l)
ㅁ (m)
ㅂ (b/p)
ㅅ (s)
ㅇ (ng)
ㅈ (j)
ㅊ (ch)
ㅋ (k)
ㅌ (t)
ㅍ (p)
ㅎ (h)
The Vowels
ㅏ (a)
ㅑ (ya)
ㅓ (eo/uh)
ㅕ (yeo)
ㅗ (o)
ㅛ (yo)
ㅜ (u)
ㅠ (yu)
ㅡ (eu)
ㅣ (i)
The History Behind Hangul
Source: Republic of Korea
Hangul was created in 1443 by King Sejong the Great and officially published in 1446. At the time, only educated elites could read and write Chinese characters. King Sejong wanted ordinary people to have an easier writing system so everyone could become literate.
Is Hangul Similar to English?
When learning how to read the language, I was quite surprised by some of the similarities with the English language. There are some similar sounding letters, and both are phonetic alphabets.
How Long Does It Take to Learn?
While everyone is different, it depends on your own timing and pace. It may take as little as 10 minutes to recognize a few letters, while most people can learn the basics in a few hours to a few days. Once you have a good grasp on the letters and how they connect, you can begin to sound them out and get to reading!
Of course, if you are looking to speak and learn proper grammar this will take much more time and practice. But learning Hangul is more than enough to get you through your trip! Knowing more of the language will also give you an advantage but this alphabet already is a great first step.
How to Learn Hangul
Source: Duolingo Blog
I’m not entirely sure where I learned it through, but I know it was through a mix of resources. One of them being Duolingo, a language learning source. This is definitely better for learning the alphabet rather than moving forward with the language. There are other language apps like LingoDeer, Write it! Korean, etc.
For a more hands on approach, once you have the basics down, you can try practicing words. You may see signs, menus, names, or song lyrics written, this is your chance to read and reflect on it.
Maybe you need a more practical way to learn. In this case, Youtube tutorials will also go through the basics as well as in person and virtual tutoring platforms.
Want to wait until you land in Korea? There are many language learning schools, and resources if you are really trying to dive in deep and immerse yourself fully into the language.
Why Learning Hangul Is Useful
Source: Seoul Metropolitan Government If you’re anything like me, there will be times that you will be traveling solo, even if you go with a group you may have times where you are split up. You are in charge of learning how to navigate this different country. From apps, signs, interacting with locals, it is all a part of it.For me, it had a huge impact on how I was able to connect and communicate with the culture and the people. Not only verbally, but from navigating transportation, ordering food, or shopping it helped me understand what things were.
At times when I was lost or trying to navigate my way through the city, I was able to read the language telling me which train stop to get off at, or if I was looking for a building it was written in Korean.
Can You Visit Korea Without Knowing It?
Source: Reddit
Of course, if you know English, there is a common feature to quickly translate everything on the page into English for accessibility. Same goes for restaurants. There may be kiosks that have the option to switch the menu to different languages.
So yes, Korea especially Seoul is very english friendly in my opinion. If you are looking to spend a lot of time outside of the city, be prepared to know the alphabet, some basic phrases, and common cultural factors to take into consideration as well.
Final Thoughts
If you have the time, I would highly recommend learning Hangul before your trip. Even a quick video and practice will benefit you in many ways. Whether before your trip, or on the plane, or once you land in Korea, having some Hangul knowledge will surely make a positive difference on your experience.
At Daebak
Did you know? The Daebak Company operates a cultural meetup and Korean language exchange program in Seoul! Nurida is designed to connect both locals and international to practice Korean and share cultures and languages.
If you are already a Daebak member, it is free to attend! This is a great opportunity to really immerse yourself with the locals as well as practice your Hangul and Korean language skills.
