How to Improve Your Korean While Studying in Korea
A Korean Local’s Guide for International Students
Living in Korea is one of the fastest and most exciting ways to improve your Korean. But here’s the secret most international students learn the hard way: simply being in Korea doesn’t magically make you fluent. You can survive an entire semester using only English, convenience-store hand gestures, and the universal language of pointing at menus.
So if you truly want to level up your Korean while studying here, let me, a born-and-raised Korean local, give you practical tips that actually work. These are the strategies Koreans see international students use successfully every year.
1. Make Local Friends (Yes, Even If You’re Shy)
Korean students are usually friendly but a little hesitant to make the first move. Many are afraid their English isn’t good enough, so they’ll quietly admire you from afar like a K-drama character who never confesses.
If you say one simple line, everything changes:
“Can you help me practice Korean?”
Koreans love helping with language learning. It makes us feel proud and useful, and suddenly you’re no longer “that foreign exchange student” but “our friend who’s trying so hard.”
Try joining:
- school clubs
- group projects
- language exchange meetups
- hobby classes like dance, pottery, or K-pop cover groups
Speaking with real people beats memorizing grammar rules alone in a dorm room.
2. Set a Korean-Only Rule for Daily Situations
Pick a few daily tasks where you will only use Korean. Not perfect Korean. Not grammatically correct Korean. Just Korean.
For example:
- ordering food
- talking to cashiers
- asking for directions
- making reservations
- chatting with dorm security guards
You don’t need fancy vocabulary. Even broken sentences help you build real-life fluency. And trust me, Korean people are extremely patient when you’re trying.
3. Watch Korean Shows Without Waiting for Subtitles
If you only watch Korean shows with English subtitles, your brain will always take the easy road.
Try this instead:
- First watch with Korean subtitles
- If that’s too hard, watch once with English subtitles, then rewatch with Korean
- Repeat short funny clips to catch intonation
Korean subtitles help you connect spoken Korean with written Korean, which boosts both reading speed and listening comprehension.
Bonus tip: Korean memes, variety shows, and YouTube channels like TalkToMeInKorean are gold mines for natural expressions.
4. Get Comfortable Making Mistakes
Your Korean will not improve if you treat every conversation like an exam. Koreans actually find it cute and impressive when you try, even if you mess up.
We don’t care about perfect grammar.
We care that you’re trying to communicate.
So ask the embarrassing questions. Mispronounce the words. Accidentally call your professor “mom.” It happens. And it works.
5. Use the City as Your Classroom
Korea is one giant language-learning playground. Read signs on the subway. Listen to announcements. Try understanding convenience-store ads. Translate song lyrics you hear in cafés.
The more Korean you absorb passively, the more natural the language becomes.
Some fun real-life challenges:
- Order at a restaurant without pointing
- Ask a stranger for help in full sentences
- Try speaking formally and informally correctly
Learning comes naturally when you treat every outing like a mini-lesson.
6. Learn the Phrases Koreans Actually Use
Textbook Korean is polite and correct but not always how young people speak.
For example:
- 괜찮아요 becomes 괜찮아요? or 괜찮아? depending on the vibe
- 정말요? becomes 진짜요? or 진짜?
- 감사합니다 becomes 고마워
Pay attention to how locals talk to each other. You’ll sound more natural, less robotic, and suddenly Koreans will say, “Wow, your Korean is really good.”
7. Keep a Korean-Life Journal
At the end of each day, write a few sentences about what happened in Korean. It could be boring, funny, stressful, or absolutely nothing.
When you write daily:
- You remember vocabulary better
- You understand grammar patterns faster
- You can track how quickly your Korean improves
You don’t have to share it with anyone. Your journal is your safe practice zone.
8. Take Advantage of Free Language Resources in Korea
Most universities offer free or discounted Korean language tutoring. Local community centers and libraries often have beginner-friendly classes, too.
You can also explore:
- Sejong Hakdang programs
- University language partners
- Korean study cafés
Korea is full of opportunities if you know where to look.
9. Don’t Lock Yourself in the International Bubble
It’s easy to spend all your time with other foreigners because it feels comfortable. But the more you stay inside that bubble, the slower your Korean improves.
Just a few hours with locals each week makes a huge difference.
Your Korean grows fastest outside your comfort zone.
Final Advice From a Korean Local
Korea rewards curiosity. If you ask questions, try new things, and show genuine interest in our language, Koreans will welcome you warmly and help you every step of the way.
So don’t aim for perfect Korean. Aim for consistent Korean.
If you do that, your time in Korea will make you improve faster than you expect.