How to Use a Korean Keyboard // A Super Simple Guide

How to Type in Korean 🇰🇷 An Easy To Follow Guide

So, let’s get this out of the way quickly. Typing using a Korean keyboard is not the easiest thing you’ll ever do. It’s not the hardest. But learning how to use a Korean keyboard takes some time.

It takes some getting used to.

And you probably won’t like it at first.

It’s certainly more complicated than using a Japanese or Chinese keyboard. 

HOWEVER… it’s not all bad.

Typing using a Korean keyboard is super simple and intuitive on a phone. 

In fact, the Korean keyboard is SO much easier to use on a phone that I will often type out full sentences or paragraphs out on my phone and then send it over to my computer.

That said, I definitely would NOT recommend cheating like this. Instead, learn how to use a Korean keyboard properly!

So, let’s not waste any time and start learning how to use a Korean keyboard (plus some bonus tricks on how to do this quickly and simply). 

There are two different types of Korean keyboards, 2-Set Korean and 3-Set Korean.

2-Set Korean is the most widely used and the easiest to navigate so be sure to download this one.

We’ll base todays article around the 2-Set Korean keyboard.

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | First Things First

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | Why Use a Korean Keyboard

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Download for Windows

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Download for Mac

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Download For Android

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Download For iPhone

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Type Korean?

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | How To Type Korean on a Phone?

BONUS | Tips for Typing Korean

How to Use a Korean Keyboard | FAQ’s

How To Use A Korean Keyboard // First Things First

Before you start, it’s important (actually imperative) that you understand Hangeul.

Without a genuine knowledge of Hangeul, the Korean alphabet and writing system, you’re going to have a tough time trying to type in Korean.

That’s like trying to write words without knowing letters – it’s just not possible!

No worries, though, because Hangeul is the easiest alphabet out there and you can learn it in a matter of hours.

So, if you haven’t mastered Hangeul yet you’ll want to check this out before going any further…

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

DID YOU KNOW | According to King Sejong The Great, who was the inventor of Hangeul…

“A wise man [could] acquaint himself with them before the morning [was] over; a stupid man [could] learn them in the space of ten days.“

There you have it – whether you are top or bottom of you language classes you can still master Hangeul in 10 days according to the King himself!!

How To Use A Korean Keyboard // Why Use a Korean Keyboard

So, why might you want to use a Korean keyboard?

Are you speaking to Korean friends online? Perhaps you are learning Korean or just casually searching things on the internet…

In fact there’s loads of reasons, and the more you use a Korean keyboard the more reasons you’ll find. 

But… how do you get Korean onto your computer, phone, or other device? 

Well, it’s pretty simple. 

Just remember that its not a physical keyboard*.

You can have one main keyboard on your device and can use this in multiple languages.

Oh, technology! 

*OK, with Korean, you actually CAN buy another “keyboard”. Or indeed a keyboard cover. You may not have seen these around but they’re super useful. See below for more… 

Let’s get ourselves set up then and discover how to download a Korean keyboard onto your device. 

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How to Use a Korean Keyboard // Download for Windows

It’s simple to download a Korean keyboard for Windows. Just follow these steps… 

Don’t worry, your computer won’t be changed to the Korean language and you’ll be able to easily flick between Korean and English. 

• Go to the Start Menu
• Find Control Panel 
• Go to “Clock, Language, Region” -> “Add a Language”
• Search for ‘K’ and look for “한국어” (Hangugeo = Korean language)
• At the bottom right of your PC you should find ‘KO’ button, and ‘ENG’ button to switch between the two

Korean Keyboard // Download For Mac

Your Korean keyboard on Mac is the same as with Windows. Things won’t all turn Korean suddenly and you can flick through different keyboards very easily! 

• System Preferences
• “Language & Region”
• Underneath your list of already installed languages, click the ‘+’. 
• Find Korean and click “add”. 
• Choose ‘2-set Korean’ (the most widely used one)

At the top right of your Mac next to time and date you should find a new button where you can select between keyboards. 

You can also create shortcuts to switch between keyboards quickly at the touch of one or two buttons. 

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Korean Keyboard // Download For iPhone

As with the previous, switching between keyboards on your iPhone is so simple so don’t go getting cold feet on us now!

Here’s what you need to do to add a Korean keyboard to your iPhone. 

• Open your iPhone and go to “Settings”
• Go to “General”
• Select “Keyboards”
• Select “add new keyboard”
• Find Korean
• Select 2-Set Korean

You’re done! 

Now simply click the globe to switch between keyboards. 

Korean Keyboard // Download For Android

Here’s how to download a Korean keyboard on your Android device.

Once your Korean keyboard is installed, you’ll be able to easily switch between English and Korean. 

So let’s get started… 

Open up your phone and… 

• Go to the Play Store
• Download the Google Korean Input (if your phone doesn’t already come with it)
• Once downloaded, your phone should open up “Language & Input” in the settings 
• Activate the Google Korean Input
• Click the globe to switch between Korean and English

There may be choices in input settings and the type of keyboard you use… 

Korean Keyboard // How To Type Korean?

Firstly, let’s make sure you know how to create a Korean syllable.

Select a consonant, and select a vowel. 

OK, so far, so good. 

The simple thing about the Korean keyboard is that all you do is select the consonant and vowel you want using simply the corresponding keys.

The difficult thing is that the corresponding keys are in entirely different positions to a normal QWERTY keyboard.

However, it does kind of make sense once you look at the positioning of the vowels and consonants, so it makes it pretty simple to get used to… 

After you’ve got used to it (tips below) you just need to memorise where the punctuation is too.

From then on, it’s pretty simple! 

Korean Keyboard // How To Type Korean on a Phone?

The easiest way to type in Korean, and most intuitive in my opinion.

You simply select the consonant and vowel combination you want and… voila! 

The keyboard should also auto-correct as it does in English and predict what you want to type.

This is also useful if you’re not sure how to spell something! 

BONUS // Tips for Typing Korean

Two pro tips you should follow…

Keyboard Covers

The Korean keyboard is a bit messy and takes some time getting used to.

Therefore, you could consider buying a cover for your laptop keyboard or buying some stickers for your keys.

The idea behind these is that you can still see your original keyboard completely. You can either buy a removable cover that you can slip on and off as and when needed, or you can buy stickers that won’t cover up everything. 

Either way, they’re great for beginners but not too great in the long run to rely on.

Ultimately, you won’t have these covers in exam situations for example. You should learn to do without eventually. 

Utilise keyboard covers, then ditch them going forward.

You can buy a Korean keyboard cover like this from Amazon.

Please note this is an affiliate link and LTL take a small cut of all sales made.

Print Out A Keyboard

This is what I did…

For the first few weeks or months of using a Korean keyboard, I would constantly refer to the Korean keyboard print-out I had next to me whilst typing.

After a few weeks I’d only resort to it when I absolutely needed it. 

And then in the end I tried to get rid of it completely.

Still now, I sometimes forget where things are but if you hit enough buttons you usually find it. In time it just becomes second nature. 

Not so difficult is it?

Learning how to type on a Korean keyboard can seem scary at first but it really doesn’t need to be.

The key? Get your Hangeul down early doors and just start playing with your Korean keyboard on your phone.

In no time, you’ll be flying. Just persist and be patient.

Want to learn how to type in more languages?

Why not check out our guide to typing in Chinese or learning how to type in Japanese whilst you’re at it!

Korean Keyboard // FAQ’s

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.

We even offer incredible homestay experiences in Seoul too.

To top it all off, it certainly doesn’t end with Korean. Check out the other languages we teach 👇🏻