How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean? // The Honest Answer

By LTL Team HQ
Learn Korean
September 13, 2024

Curious About Your Language Journey? Find Out How Long It Really Takes to Learn Korean!

Learning a language is not easy, especially when trying to learn a language from scratch. Imagine the time you must commit to become fluent in a language you are new to.

An important aspect of learning a language is to get involved in daily conversations to put the theory into practice.

This is why often you see people living in other countries pick up languages relatively quickly.

But it’s not impossible to pick up a language and speak it fluently without living in that country!

The amount of time and commitment you make
can really make a difference.

Korean is not an exception and if you come from a Western country, it might be more difficult for you to familiarize yourself with the language due to the extra cultural challenges added into the mix.

🧐 Research suggests that committing 7-9 hours of study for 3 months will get you to speak around 2-3 minute conversation with a Native. This is a lot of hours to commit. So if you were to commit half the time, it will take you around half a year to get into a 2-3 minute conversation.

With the Korean Wave hitting the global scene, K-pop and K-dramas have been dominating the entertainment industry. More and more people are interested in learning the language and history. Due to the high demand, there are so many resources out there for you to take advantage of.

In this blog, we’ll outline the key steps in your Korean language journey and give you an idea of how long each step might take.

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⬇️ Interested in one of the contents below? Clicking on the link will bring you to your preferred section!

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Master the Korean Alphabet
How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Know the Korean Honorific System
How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Build Your Vocabulary
How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Join the Community
How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | FAQ

So how long does it really take to learn Korean? Let’s find out!

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Master the Korean Alphabet

👉 First, master the Korean alphabet.

Get yourself familiar with pronouncing words and writing them. 한글 (hangul) means the Korean alphabet.

If you’ve ever seen the 1,000 Korean Won bill, you’ll see the King who made 한글 (hangul). His name is 세종대왕 (se-jong de-wang) and he is considered one of the most respected Kings in history. You can ask any Koreans, and they will know who he is! Koreans also celebrate Hangul Day, commemorating the creation of 한글 (hangul).

The Korean alphabet consists of 14 consonants and 10 vowels totalling to 24 basic letters.
It also has double consonants and combined vowels making the total 40 letters of the alphabet.

Picking up the Korean alphabet isn’t very difficult as it’s very similar to the English alphabet. If you memorize all the vowels and consonants you can read most of the characters. Although you might not know what it means, you can surely read it correctly.

Some people say that you are able to master the Korean alphabet in a day, but in reality, you might longer than that to really feel confident with it.

The reason is that you might be able to memorize it in a day, but you will soon forget it if you don’t put it to practice.

The Korean Alphabet | A Complete and Definitive Guide to Hangul 한글

Learning Korean? Need to understand the Korean Alphabet? This complete guide will tell you everything about the 14 consonant letters and 10 vowels of Hangul

But if you commit about 7 days to memorizing and practicing writing, you’ll surely be confident enough to say you mastered it.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Know the Korean Honorific System

👉 The next step is to learn the basic grammar structures.

Honorific system also known as 존댓말 (jon-det-mal) is an important aspect of the language and culture. This is such an important part of the language that parents will teach young children from the beginning even before it is taught at school.

If you want to understand the honorific system, you will need to understand the hierarchy system first. Age, corporate status, and professions are important elements in the Korean hierarchy system.

Natives use titles, verbs, or pronouns to refer to people in these groups to show respect.

Don’t be surprised if a Korean asks you for your age when meeting for the first time. This is to see if they need to be cautious and use certain titles, verbs, or pronouns to respect your seniority.

If you are able to understand the general pattern, learning and using the Honorific system isn’t very difficult.

The golden rule is always use the formal way to speak before you get to know someone. This keeps you on the safe side and avoids any awkward situation.

You can always change the way you speak after you get to know that person better.

So, how long does it take to learn?

It’s complicated. The answer to this question depends on your idea of having ‘learned’ something.

For most learners, gaining a basic understanding of Korean honorifics can take around 2–3 months of consistent study. This includes knowing how to address elders, superiors, and peers, as well as learning polite speech endings (e.g., -요) and formal speech endings (e.g., -습니다).

To hit intermediate proficiency, including when and how to switch between different speech levels depending on formality, can take 6 months to a year. This requires regular practice.

Achieving fluency, where you can use honorifics naturally in various contexts, usually takes 1–2 years of consistent practice and exposure, especially through interaction with native speakers or immersion in Korean culture.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Build Your Vocabulary

🗯 If you are familiar with the alphabet and basic grammar structure, now it’s time to build your vocabulary. Korean is such an expressive language. Involve yourself in conversations or watch and learn from K-dramas to pick up words and expressions that are used daily.

Set yourself an approachable goal to learn a certain amount of words in a week. Try to use the words so you won’t forget them!

Cramming is not always the best idea when learning a language.

If you can’t commit long hours a day, it’s still ok.

Remember consistency is key.

How many words you can learn in a week, month or year can depend on many factors, such as your study style, your study hours, your chances to practice using the vocabulary and ultimately, your own memorization ability!

If you keep consistent with your learning plan, you’ll be surprised how far you’ve gone with your learning.

Our top tips for staying motivated when learning vocabulary:

💪 Set Small, Achievable Goals: Break your vocabulary learning into manageable chunks, such as learning 5–10 words per day. Celebrate small victories to maintain motivation.

💪 Use Flashcards and Spaced Repetition: Tools like Anki or Memrise use spaced repetition to help you remember words over time. Seeing your progress can be rewarding.

💪 Incorporate Words into Daily Life: Try using new words in sentences, conversations, or writing, especially on language forums like the ones you participate in. This makes the words feel more practical and engaging.

💪 Mix Learning Methods: Combine different approaches like listening to podcasts, watching videos, and reading, so vocabulary learning doesn’t feel monotonous.

💪 Reward Yourself: Set milestones (e.g., every 100 words learned) and treat yourself to something fun, like a favorite show or snack.

💪 Track Your Progress: Keep a journal or use an app to track how many words you’ve learned. Watching your growth can be motivating.

Korean Podcasts on Spotify 🎧 12 Podcasts to Learn the Easy Way (+ BONUS Entries)

If you are looking to review or learn more about the language and culture, there are lots of Korean Podcasts on Spotify! We selected the very best for you.

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | Join the Community

🌐 It’s always a great idea to join people who are also learning Korean. This gives motivation and also a chance to hear advice and tips from others.

Share with the community how you got interested in learning the language. It’s always fun to be around people who share the same interests.

Two communities you can join right now include:

👉 This Korean Language Reddit Community

👉 The LTL Language School Forum

If possible, make friends with Korean native speakers too! Koreans are very welcoming people and will be more than happy to teach you about the culture and language.

To learn more about Korean, check out these other blogs:

IS KOREAN HARDER THAN MANDARIN? || Find out How Long it Takes to Learn Chinese

How Long Does It Take to Learn Korean | FAQ

How long does it take to learn Korean?

Learning Korean to a conversational level typically takes 1–2 years with consistent study, focusing on grammar, vocabulary, and speaking practice. Achieving full fluency, including mastery of honorifics and complex language use, can take 3–5 years, especially with immersive experience.

What’s the best way to speed up the process of learning Korean?

Immersion, immersion, immersion! Choosing to Study Korean in Seoul or living with a Korean family can both plunge you into a Korean language environment where you can practice everything you learned in class.

Can I study Korean without going to Korea?

Absolutely! To learn Korean from the comfort of your own home, check out our Flexi Classes platform, where you can start taking classes around your schedule and practice speaking with our certified, native-speaker teachers!

What are the first four letters of the Korean alphabet?

ㄱ(ga) ㄴ(na) ㄷ (da) are the first three basic letters you will learn.

What is one word Koreans use often?

안녕하세요 (ahn-nyeong-ha-sae-yo) – Hello

This is a more formal way to say Hello in Korean. This is also one of the most frequently used expressions. Learn this word and greet a Korean with 안녕하세요 (ahn-nyeong-ha-sae-yo).

Want More From LTL?

FANCY LEARNING KOREAN? Check out our online Korean courses here.

We offer a 7-day free trial to all online students where you can study Korean 24/7.

Want to study Korean in Korea instead? Our Korean courses in Seoul can either be taken in small groups of no more than 5 students or individually for a more tailored experience.