How to Learn Korean Fast Before Coming to Korea
A Korean Local’s Guide to Leveling Up Your Korean Quickly
So you’re planning to move to Korea soon, but your Korean level is still at the stage where you can only say annyeong and maybe order ramyeon if the cashier is patient. Good news: you can learn Korean much faster than you think, even before you get on the plane.
As a Korean who sees international students struggle (and succeed) every day, here’s the most realistic and efficient guide to learning Korean fast.
Step 1. Master Hangul in One Day
Hangul looks intimidating, but it’s actually one of the easiest writing systems in the world. No characters, no weird exceptions, just pure logic.
You only need:
- 2 hours of focus
- a simple Hangul chart
- basic reading practice
Once you know Hangul, you can read signs, menus, and subway stations. Even if you don’t understand the meaning yet, reading alone boosts your confidence.
Pro tip: Do not rely on romanization. It will destroy your pronunciation.
Step 2. Build a Survival Vocabulary List
You don’t need 2,000 words to survive in Korea. You need the right 200.
Focus on:
- Food words
- Transportation words
- Shopping phrases
- Daily life basics
- Classroom vocabulary
If you memorize these before you arrive, your first month in Korea will be ten times easier.
Also, Koreans love when foreigners try. Even basic phrases make a big difference in everyday life.
Step 3. Learn the Most Useful Korean Sentence Patterns
Korean grammar looks scary until you realize most sentences follow predictable patterns.
Start with these:
- I want to __ (고 싶어요)
- Please give me __ (주세요)
- Where is ? ( 어디예요?)
- I am going to __ (__ 가요)
- Can I do this? (해도 돼요?)
Once you learn these core patterns, you can communicate way more than you expect. Korean is a pattern-based language, so learning structure is a shortcut to speaking faster.
Step 4. Practice Listening Every Day
K-dramas absolutely count as studying, but only if you do it correctly.
Do:
- Watch with Korean subtitles
- Listen to simple content like web dramas
- Repeat lines out loud
- Focus on everyday conversation, not historical dramas
Don’t:
- Watch with English subtitles only
- Expect to understand everything immediately
Listening daily helps you adjust to Korean rhythm, intonation, and speed. It’s the real reason some students learn fast.
Step 5. Use Language Apps Strategically
Apps are helpful but only if you use the right ones for the right purpose.
Use apps for:
- Vocabulary (Memrise, Anki)
- Basic grammar lessons
- Listening practice
- Flashcards
Don’t rely on apps for:
- Real conversation skills
- Natural speaking practice
Think of apps as warm-up tools, not your main teacher.
Step 6. Start Speaking Early, Even If You Sound Terrible
The biggest mistake learners make is waiting until their Korean is “good enough” to speak. That day never comes unless you start speaking now.
Talk to:
- Korean friends online
- Language exchange partners
- Classmates
- Korean-speaking YouTubers who make practice videos
If you start speaking before coming to Korea, your adjustment period becomes so much easier.
Step 7. Take an Online Korean Class Before You Move
Even a one-month online program can speed up your learning dramatically. Many Korean language schools now offer:
- Online beginner classes
- TOPIK prep
- Live conversation sessions
Arriving in Korea with a basic foundation lets you start at a higher level, which saves you both time and money.
Step 8. Create a Mini Korean Environment at Home
Before you fly to Korea, turn your home into a small Korean universe.
Try:
- Changing your phone to Korean
- Listening to Korean podcasts while cooking
- Following Korean social media accounts
- Reading simple Korean posts or product labels
This builds immersion without stepping outside your house.
Final Advice from a Korean
Learning Korean fast is absolutely possible. The secret is consistency, not perfection. If you study for 30 minutes a day for one month, you will arrive in Korea with a solid base. And once you’re surrounded by the language every day, you’ll improve naturally.
If you want, I can also create a one-month pre-Korea study plan, a weekly learning schedule, or a starter vocabulary list.