10.25.2025 -- Let's talk Korean learning resources! (Skip the long intro if you must, haha.)
So some of you out there in the world have sent me messages (thank you so much!) about how you're also learning Korean, and many of you seem to be self-learners and beginners. It is also often that I am asked about how I study or if I know of good study resources.
Firstly, I am so, so grateful for everyone sending me a hello or being willing to practice Korean conversation with me, and sometimes I feel bad for never really creating useful or informative posts on here, since it is mostly a place for me to hold myself accountable to studying rather than teach (you probably know this too, haha).
Be that as it may, I want to try and be a little helpful to you guys out there, so today I am compiling resources that I think are good or have enjoyed using (all are free and beginner-friendly, with a couple paid options that are not necessary).
Before the list, I want to give full transparency that I am the sort of learner who studies almost entirely via textbook and an actual class (and yes, I have seen the jokes about people only knowing textbook Korean, lol). If you keep up with my posts, you know I am currently in a zoom- and canvas-based Korean class, and it has so far been very stressful and difficult, namely because they have clearly put me in a class many levels above my level, and there is no going back, lol.
Either way, this goes to say that these resources may not be the "best" out there, nor is this a comprehensive list. These are rather resources like apps, podcasts, Instagram pages, and websites I have used, seen a couple times, or are currently trying out that I'd like to recommend. They're all a great place to start, but there are plenty of others out there. Because I have a disease called over-explaining, I'll also throw in a couple of recommendations for different stages of learning. 그럼, 가자! (Well then, let's go!)
-> TUEIDA (Ideal for beginners and life-like conversations in Korean, but easiest to use with the annual membership, which is just under $100. Because this is chronological learning in a step-by-step format where you must pass levels, I eventually stopped using this, despite paying for the premium membership, because I was learning in class faster, and the lessons no longer aligned with what I needed or wanted to review. Highly recommend if you're starting as a beginner who wants to simulate real Korean conversations; it's sort of like FaceTime!)
-> KBS World Mobile (this has Korean news to read, but what I used this for in the past was to listen to the audio recordings. They have things like opinion-based segments on there if I remember correctly, and some are "live" radio.)
Podcasts are excellent for listening practice, and there are a plethora of them on YouTube and Spotify for free. I try to listen to one before bed, when making morning coffee, or while in the shower. I figure these are most useful if you have some background in Korean, like you know some vocabulary and basic grammar, though, I am sure just hearing Korean each day can be helpful (some podcasts have English subtitles or transcripts, so go for that if you're more beginner). This sends the learning in a whole new direction! (Pls tell me someone gets this reference??)
Favorites (all beginner-friendly):
-> ChoiSusu (YouTube, various levels & she has scripts for each video)
-> Cozy Storytime in Korean (Spotify, beginners-intermediate)
-> Slow Heeya Korean (Spotify, beginners, only a few eps though)
-> Korean Chingu Chat (Spotify, not as slow or beginner as the above, more about listening to a real conversation, intermediate-advanced)
-> Jelly Korean: Learn native Korean Conversation (Spotify, haven't listened yet, but seems similar to Korean Chingu Chat)
-> Talk To Me In 100% Korean (Spotify, haven't listened yet, but has transcripts and vocab per episode)
(Would also classify the KBS app as a podcast)
*On YouTube, for more options, search things like "beginner Korean listening," "beginner Korean stories," and "Korean conversations."
IG might be my favorite non-textbook resource just because of the accessibility, variety, and creativity of the learning materials and reels I've seen. This feels like the place to learn real conversational Korean or phrases that actual Korean people use daily, and is especially good for beginners with limited time.
Not comprehensive at all, but these are my current favorites in no particular order:
-> Korean.mate (specifically for short reading practices)
-> korean_through_kdramas (love this concept in particular, and there are many other resources and some apps that use the same concept of learning Korean through K-drama lines. Because I watch K-dramas so much, partly for work (yes, I write about K-dramas!), I want to create a post sometime about my favorite Korean lines.
For more options, search things like "beginner Korean listening," "beginner Korean stories," and "Korean conversations."
-> Learn Korean with HowtoStudyKorean (My favorite fail-proof place for grammar explanations. It basically has everything you can think of. Just search the grammar you want on Google, and this page will come up.)
-> My Korean Lesson (Also good, but fewer grammar points than the above.)
-> Free Online Korean Language Course - LearnKorean24 (also very great and comprehensive, usually with videos in each lesson for visual learners.)
-> (King Sejong Institute Foundation) 누리 세종학당 (All sorts of materials in many languages. Also has free PDF and e-books of their textbooks, which I love. Also has online classes, but I find the offerings and set up confusing, lol.).
-> TOPIK GUIDE - The Complete Guide to TOPIK Test (Under "resources" you'll find grammar and, importantly, vocabulary. Not really a learning place but more of a place for review if you are taking this test. I've literally only used this place to print the pages of vocabulary so I can ctrl+f anything I need, lmao. My learning is definitely hindered by technology sometimes, haha.)
-> Korean Multiple Choice Quiz (listening practice in the form of multiple-choice, customizable with various languages and Korean levels)
-> Quizlet (For vocabulary and grammar practice, or to make your own flashcards. There's an app too)
-> GIMSSINE (김씨네) 는 미국 최저가 온라인 한국도서 서점입니다 (Not really a learning material, but a trusted place to buy Korean books, like textbooks, poetry, manhwa, novels, etc. I have ordered many times, and the books come packaged well and quite quickly. I love it!)
Also want to point out that Korean Language Program, Sejong Institute Los Angeles - KCCLA has several free online and in-person classes (LA) throughout the year. Classes are limited and sign-up is strict. Classes "unlock" for registration some designated time before each class and fill up very quickly. I've tried registering once before but was put on the waitlist and ended up taking the class I am in now, which was unfortunately not free, lol. It is worth a shot if you're looking for a free class. If you are very serious, set a reminder for the unlock date and be ready to register the day it unlocks.
Ok I am posting this through a literal rain/wind storm and the lights are blinking, so I will end this here. Let me know if you have any questions! My ask & messages are open, but give me some time to reply!
