Korean
한국어
The Korean alphabet Hangul was scientifically designed by King Sejong in 1443 — its letters are shaped to show where in the mouth the sounds are made!
Amy says:
Annyeonghaseyo! I'm Amy! Korean is having its biggest moment ever — K-pop, K-dramas, BTS, Squid Game, Parasite... Korean culture is taking over the world! The Korean alphabet Hangul was designed scientifically in 1443 by a king, and you can learn to read it in just a few hours. 대박! (Daebak — That's awesome!)
Quick Facts
Speakers
~80 million
Language Family
Koreanic (language isolate)
Writing
Hangul alphabet (1443 AD)
Cultural Power
K-pop, K-drama, Korean cinema
Discover Korean
The Korean alphabet Hangul was scientifically designed by King Sejong in 1443 — its letters are shaped to show where in the mouth the sounds are made!
Writing System
Hangul alphabet
Native Speakers
~80 million
Key Countries
For Educators
Language learning builds empathy and global understanding. Use this page to spark classroom discussions about cultural diversity and communication across borders.
Did You Know?
The film Parasite (2019) became the first non-English film to win the Academy Award for Best Picture — breaking new ground for Korean storytelling globally.
Korean BBQ, kimchi, bibimbap, and tteokbokki have become internationally popular foods — showing how language and food culture spread together.
South Korea has the fastest average internet speed in the world, and tech giants Samsung and LG are Korean — the country is a leader in technology innovation.
What Makes Korean Special?
Scientifically Designed Alphabet
King Sejong designed Hangul in 1443 to make literacy accessible — the letters are shaped to show where in the mouth the sounds are made.
K-pop Phenomenon
BTS, BLACKPINK, and the K-pop industry have turned Korean language learning into one of the world's fastest growing hobbies for teenagers.
Korean Wave (Hallyu)
"Hallyu" ("Korean Wave") describes the global spread of Korean culture through dramas, food, beauty (K-beauty), and technology brands like Samsung and LG.
Keep Exploring the World!
Languages are windows into the world's cultures. Discover more languages and the countries where they are spoken.