Hangul is the script created during the Joseon Dynasty under the leadership of King Sejong(세종대왕), and it is deeply related to the changes in Korean culture and society. Korea had long relied heavily on Chinese characters. In the mid-15th century, King Sejong of the Joseon Dynasty sought to create a script that the common people could easily read and write. The creation of Hangul began in 1443 and was promulgated in 1446 under the name ‘Hunminjeongeum’(훈민정음). It means ‘the correct sounds for instructing the people’ and encapsulates the intent and purpose behind the creation of Hangul.
Today, Hangul plays an important role in Korea’s culture, education, and society, and it is widely used in the digital environment, adapting to the information and communication era. Due to its uniqueness and scientific nature, Hangul is utilized in various fields and continues to evolve alongside the development of the Korean language. In 2010, Hangul was registered as a UNESCO Memory of the World, marking a significant milestone as its historical and cultural value was recognized internationally. The history of Hangul goes beyond the development of a writing system; it has become a crucial element in shaping the identity and culture of the Korean people, serving as a source of pride for many Koreans even today.
The Structure of Hangul
Hangul is composed of a combination of consonants and vowels. Its structure is unique and effective in visually representing the sounds of the language. There are a total of 19 consonants in Hangul, which can be categorized based on the location and method of pronunciation. There are also double consonants, which are formed by combining basic consonants, and each sound can be pronounced independently.
Vowels consist of 10 basic sounds and play an important role in expressing the pitch and length of sounds in Hangul. There are also diphthongs, which are formed by the combination of two vowels and typically contain a blend of two sounds.
In this way, Hangul combines consonants and vowels to form syllables. With fewer than 30 symbols, it is a systematic writing system capable of producing a wide variety of syllables in the Korean language. Thanks to this structure, learners of Korean can easily and accurately master pronunciation, making it particularly efficient for reading and writing. As a result, South Korea has a historically low literacy rate of less than 0.1%, and virtually all citizens have reached a level where they can read and write.
Korean Language Exam, TOPIK
TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) is a Korean language proficiency test for non-native speakers. It systematically measures the level of Korean language ability and provides various information necessary for Korean learners. The exam is divided into two levels: TOPIK 1 for beginners and TOPIK 2 for intermediate and advanced learners.
TOPIK 1 is designed for learners in the early stages of learning Korean, who can read and write Hangul. It consists of listening and reading sections that assess basic grammar, vocabulary, and expressions needed for daily life. The test is administered four times a year at test centres located in various countries around the world.
Quick Korean Test
Take a 5 mins quick test to find out where you Korean level is!
Topik 1 vocabulary and grammar guide
1. Vocabulary
The vocabulary tested in TOPIK 1 mainly consists of basic words that are commonly used in everyday life. Typically, it includes essential greetings such as ‘hello’ (안녕하세요), ‘Thank you’ (감사합니다) and ‘Nice to meet you’ (만나서 반갑습니다) as well as words referring to family, animals, and places.
2. Grammar
The grammar section evaluates whether candidates can understand and use basic grammatical structures. It checks if they can properly order the subject, verb, and object, and whether they can match particles such as 은, 는, 이, and 가 correctly. It also assesses their understanding of present, past, and future tenses, as well as their ability to distinguish between formal and informal speech, which is unique to the Korean language.
TOPIK 1 includes basic vocabulary and grammar, primarily related to daily life. Therefore, it is important to practice essential vocabulary and grammar and frequently used expressions in preparation for the exam.
How to Study Korean
1. Vocabulary
When studying a language, it is natural to become more familiar with listening and speaking as you learn more words. To study vocabulary effectively, it’s helpful to create a list of basic words that you frequently use in daily life and learn them repeatedly. Instead of just memorizing words, you can better understand their meanings and usage by creating sentences or finding example sentences that use those words in context. Using language learning applications like Duolingo is also a good approach. These apps make memorizing words fun and game-like.
2. Grammar
Korean grammar is often opposite to that of most Western countries, which can make studying it challenging. Therefore, it’s important to understand the basic structure of subject, object, and predicate. Reviewing and practising grammar problems provided in various online courses or books is also a good way to reinforce your learning.
3. Speaking
The final stage of language learning is speaking. It is important to use the words, sentences, and grammar you have studied to communicate. Speaking practice requires a conversation partner, so taking conversation classes or participating in language exchange programs where you can engage in actual conversations with a partner is beneficial. If it’s difficult to join such programs, listening to native pronunciation through Korean podcasts or YouTube channels and trying to mimic it is also a great idea. In particular, using subtitles to understand and practice what is being said is important.
Book a Korean trial lesson
Want to join a group class to learn with us, you can start with a trial lesson first.
Challenges in Learning Korean
1. Grammar Structure
As mentioned above, Korean has a different structure compared to languages in most Western countries, making it difficult for foreigners to learn. Additionally, Korean includes both formal and informal speech, which changes depending on the relationship with the other person, and foreigners may find it challenging to understand and use appropriately.
2. Vocabulary and Expressions
Korean has multiple words with the same meaning, which can make choosing the right word difficult. Furthermore, many words do not have direct translations in English, which complicates understanding. Idiomatic expressions and phrases commonly used in everyday conversation can also be interpreted differently from their literal meanings, requiring considerable study.
3. Cultural Context
Korean is deeply connected to Korean culture, so without understanding the cultural context, it can be hard to grasp the nuances of the language. Additionally, many figurative expressions and proverbs exist, and understanding them requires knowledge of Korea’s history and culture.
Take a Korean Course to Help
In this way, Hangul is an easy script to learn, but Korean is considered a challenging language. To master and fully understand Korean, consistent study is necessary. Since it can be difficult to study alone, taking classes with native instructors and fellow students is often an effective method. At Dear Asia London, professional native Korean teachers can teach you in-depth vocabulary and grammar learning while also sharing Korean culture and traditions. If you are interested in learning Korean, it would be worthwhile to take Korean classes at Dear Asia London.
Quick Korean Test
Take a 5 mins quick test to find out where you Korean level is!
Book a trial lesson
Book a trial lesson to explore learning in our group class!
