A regularly-updated list of language resources to help kickstart your studies.
Best Korean textbooks for various levels
Go! Billy Korean: Korean Made Simple. Billy is a Korean learner of many years and his content is catered to self-studiers.
Beginner
Buy on Amazon
Korean Grammar for Speaking 2 is one of my favorite grammar textbooks. Simple layout with lots of vocab and activities.
Intermediate
Buy on Amazon
Korean Grammar in Use Intermediate The best Korean grammar textbook I’ve used for years! The activities are fun the pages are wonderfully designed.
Intermediate
Buy on Amazon
Yonsei Korean 1
I used this when I just started learning Korean and it was a really solid guide to get started. It’s made by a Korean university so you can be sure the content is great.
Beginner
Buy on Amazon
Online Korean lessons
KoreanClass101
Lots of podcasts and lesson transcripts for various Korean levels. Somewhat spammy marketing, but solid content which I’ve been using for years.
Free beginner lessons online from Ohio State University: Pathway to Korean
K2nlearner – a brand new, robust website to learn natural Korean in the context of phrases. The site is run by my friend Jimmy and he updates it regularly with useful phrases and even texting slang.
Talk To Me In Korean
The be all and end all of Korean resources. If you aren’t using TTMIK, what are you doing? Just kidding. They have podcasts, free lessons, textbooks, videos, you name it.
How To Study Korean
Comprehensive website with lessons from beginner to advanced. One of the most comprehensive out there, although sentences can sometimes sound a little robotic. Use it as you like but remember to use a mix of resources!
Online Intermediate College Korean – lessons with dialogs, grammar and audio. Not for beginners.
Sogang Korean Course
Are you stuck in the early 2000s? Would you like a useful resource with a really … retro design? Sogang Korean is the site for you.
Introduction to Korean on Futurelearn
First Step Korean on Coursera
Korean blog posts
The best Korean dictionary
Hands down, the best dictionary for Korean learners is Naver Dictionary. If you download the app, you’ll get awesome content like videos, dialogues, Kpop content, daily phrases and more. You can also use the mobile website if you prefer. It’s pretty robust and is clearly geared at Korean learners.
Naver also has a translator called Papago. You can use the audio feature to listen to a native pronunciation. It’s awesome!
Apps to learn Korean
Beginners
Learn Korean with Master Ling app
kGrammar
Teaches Korean grammar points.
WriteIt
Learn how to write Hangul
Intermediate +
Wodeu
App to learn Korean by reading
Audioclip app
Listen to Korean content for free
Clozemaster
Useful for learning phrases, filler words, prepositions and vocabulary in context in a gamified format.
Korean pronunciation
Korean pronunciation guide
for the IPA system
Forvo
Allows you to type a word and listen to how it’s pronounced
Learn and improve Hangul
Hangeul Master on Amazon: textbook from TTMIK
Improve your handwriting using Korean Wongoji paper:
Blue notebook on Amazon
Brown notebook on Amazon
Learn Hangul on HowtostudyKorean
Useful Korean videos
Podcasts, radio & music
KBS World Let’s Learn Korean
Stream Korean radio
KBS News app
Red Book Cafe
라디오 다이어리 그 남자 그 여자 Calm radio diary from male & female perspectives
If you’re a UI/UX designer like me, you’ll love Design Table (no English translation)
Podbang for podcasts
Miscellaneous resources
Advice and FAQ
I’m pretty active in answering questions related to language learning and Korean on my Tumblr blog. You can see all posts tagged Korean here!
Korean merch
I design Korean stickers, notebooks, shirts and more with motivational phrases. Check out my site!
My K-indie playlist
Korean praise
K-rap & hip hop playlist
Other blogs about Korean learning
YouTube channels for Korean
Natalia Garza (teaching Korean through Kpop)
Korean Unnie
TTMIK
Go! Billy Korean
Minji Teaches Korean
Conversational Korean
KoreanClass101
Language exchange
italki
Affordable language tutors that you can book according to your schedule. I use italki often for speaking practice. Get $10 credits after you sign up and book your first lesson here.
HelloTalk app to meet native speakers and practice with.
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