South Korea Language: What Do They Speak in South Korea?
The official language of South Korea is Korean. In Korean, the country is called ๋ํ๋ฏผ๊ตญ. Korean is used in government, education, media and everyday life across the country.
๐ฃ๏ธ Language at a Glance
About the Korean Language
Korean is official in both South and North Korea, and the two standards have drifted slightly apart: the North purged foreign loanwords while the South absorbed English freely. Chinese characters (hanja) were once essential to literacy but are now rarely used in the South and abolished in the North. Since the 2000s the global wave of Korean pop culture has made Korean one of the fastest growing foreign languages to learn. Korean belongs to the tiny Koreanic family; its only close relative is the endangered Jeju Island variety. Long-proposed links to Japanese or the so-called Altaic languages remain unproven, effectively making Korean an isolate. It has, however, borrowed a large layer of Sino-Korean vocabulary from Chinese.
The Hangul alphabet: How Korean is Written
Korean is written in Hangul, an alphabet invented from scratch in the 1440s under King Sejong the Great so that ordinary people could learn to read. Its 24 basic letters are featural: their shapes mimic the position of the tongue and lips when making each sound, and letters are stacked into square syllable blocks (han is written as one block combining h, a and n). It is frequently praised as one of the most logical scripts ever devised, and South Korea honours it with a public holiday, Hangul Day.
Is Korean a Tonal Language?
No, modern standard Korean is not a tonal language. Meaning is carried by vowels, consonants and context, though the language does have a set of tense and aspirated consonants that take practice to hear.
๐จ๏ธ Useful Korean Phrases
A few everyday phrases in Korean, written in a simple romanized pronunciation so you can read them aloud. Tones and exact sounds vary by region, so treat these as a starting point.
How Hard is Korean to Learn?
Hangul itself can be learned in a day or two, which makes starting Korean deceptively easy. The full language sits in the US Foreign Service Institute's hardest category, around 2,200 class hours: verb-final word order, a dense system of honorifics and speech levels, and sound changes between written and spoken forms all take sustained effort.
Language Tips for Visitors to South Korea
The official language of South Korea is Korean, which may be unfamiliar to many international travellers. While English speakers can often be found in larger cities and tourist-heavy areas, it is advisable to learn a few basic phrases before your trip. Locals greatly appreciate any effort to use the local language, even if imperfect. Simple greetings, thank-yous and asking for directions in Korean will go a long way. The country is officially known as ๋ํ๋ฏผ๊ตญ in Korean, and the international dialling code is +82.
๐ Other Countries Where Korean is Spoken
Korean is not exclusive to South Korea; it is also spoken in these countries:
Frequently Asked Questions about Language in South Korea
What language do they speak in South Korea?
The official language of South Korea is Korean.
Is English spoken in South Korea?
English is not an official language in South Korea. The main language is Korean. English may be spoken in tourist areas.
What is South Korea called in its own language?
South Korea is called "๋ํ๋ฏผ๊ตญ" in Korean.
What writing system does Korean use?
Korean is written in the Hangul alphabet. Korean is written in Hangul, an alphabet invented from scratch in the 1440s under King Sejong the Great so that ordinary people could learn to read. Its 24 basic letters are featural: their shapes mimic the position of the tongue and lips when making each sound, and letters are stacked into square syllable blocks (han is written as one block combining h, a and n). It is frequently praised as one of the most logical scripts ever devised, and South Korea honours it with a public holiday, Hangul Day.
Is Korean a tonal language?
No, modern standard Korean is not a tonal language. Meaning is carried by vowels, consonants and context, though the language does have a set of tense and aspirated consonants that take practice to hear.
How do you say hello in Korean?
"Hello" in Korean is "annyeonghaseyo".
Is Korean hard to learn?
Hangul itself can be learned in a day or two, which makes starting Korean deceptively easy. The full language sits in the US Foreign Service Institute's hardest category, around 2,200 class hours: verb-final word order, a dense system of honorifics and speech levels, and sound changes between written and spoken forms all take sustained effort.
How many official languages does South Korea have?
South Korea has one official language: Korean.
Do I need to speak Korean to visit South Korea?
It is not required but learning basic phrases in Korean is strongly recommended and appreciated.
What is the calling code for South Korea?
The international dialling code for South Korea is +82.
What is the population of South Korea?
South Korea has a population of approximately 51.7M, all of whom use Korean as the official language.