Why learn Korean? I’ve been interested in Korean culture for over a decade now and it seemed only natural to want to learn Korean at some point. I didn’t have to think long and hard about how it would benefit me. I just knew it would be good for me. I didn’t think it would be this good for me.
To say that Korea has had a huge impact on my life would be an understatement. But I don’t think I would have enjoyed the journey as much as I did if I didn’t come to appreciate the Korean language, too.
If you’re wondering what the benefits of learning Korean are, well, wonder no more because I have a whole list for you. Let’s dive in, 친구!
The benefits of learning Korean
1. You will enjoy learning a logical writing system.
Korean is often mentioned as one of the hardest languages to learn for English speakers. I don’t think it’s as hard as some make it out to be. But, of course, I have my biases so don’t take my word for it.
I will say this though: the Korean writing system is so much easier to learn compared to the writing systems of Japanese and Chinese.
You can learn the Korean alphabet, or Hangeul, in as short as one day. I learned it from Memrise, one of the best apps to learn Korean, but there are many other ways you can memorize it.
Hangeul is one of the most systematic and brilliantly-designed writing systems in the world — a perfect phonetic system, as many linguists would say. The shapes and strokes of the characters mimic the articulations the tongue, palate, teeth, and throat make when making the sounds of the letters.
Even better, Hangeul has only 10 vowels and 14 consonants, or a total of 24 basic characters. There are 11 complex vowels and 5 double consonants. All in all, still manageable. You will probably have difficulties with other aspects of the Korean language such as word order, honorifics, and particles. But you will find Hangeul easy to tackle.
2. Learning Korean can help you get excellent job opportunities…
Once upon a time, South Korea was one of the poorest countries in the world. Thanks to the Miracle on the Han River, it rose to be one most prosperous countries in the world. And despite the pandemic, its economy continues to grow steadily.
For those who harbor dreams of working in Korea, this is good news. A strong economy means excellent employment possibilities. And if you can write and speak Korean, you’ve got a strong competitive edge.
But the benefits of learning the Korean language are not solely for those who want to work in Korea. Global corporations like Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and Kia have regional offices and subsidiaries. If you’re thinking of joining any of these companies, having Korean language skills on your resume will give you a leg up.
Even if you don’t end up working for Korean corporations, you can dabble in Korean language-related jobs such as a translator or online tutor.
3. … And build good business relationships…
Say you’re a part of a company that has plans of expanding in South Korea or dealing with Korean suppliers. Knowing the language will make your business transactions a lot easier. While you can communicate in English, speaking Korean will lessen the chances of misunderstandings and may even get you a good deal.
Learning Korean will come in handy even if you don’t have any Korean connections in Korea. There are Korean communities and families everywhere around the world. You will likely come across Koreans if you own a business. Being able to speak to them in their native language will help you build a deeper connection with them.
4. … And maybe even romantic relationships!
Speaking of relationships, one of the advantages of learning the Korean language is that it can connect you to a lot of people. There are 82 million Korean speakers around the world, and who knows? One of them might be The One.
Okay, I’m not saying you’d have to scour through 82 million people to find romantic prospects. But with so many Korean speakers (and the numbers are growing), the possibilities are endless. You can meet them while traveling or they can meet you while they’re traveling — either way, your Korean language skills take care of the language barrier.
You don’t even have to leave your house. While I don’t advertise using language exchange apps to find love, some people have done it.
5. You can gain Korean friends.
Cast romance aside for a moment and think of how many Koreans you can make if you know how to speak the language.
Many young Koreans can speak English but tend to be shy among foreigners. One of the benefits of learning Korean is that you can make the first move. Since you can convey your message in a way that locals understand, you have better chances of developing a deeper bond with them since they, too, will open up to you.
Just imagine having a Korean friend who can introduce you to more authentic Korean dishes or take you to hidden gems that tourists don’t get to visit. I don’t know about you but that sounds like a win.
6. Learning Korean helps you understand Korean pop culture…
This is one of the most common reasons to learn Korean. For many of us, K-pop and K-dramas are our entry points to Korean culture. With the Korean wave sweeping audiences worldwide, you’d be hard-pressed to find someone who hasn’t encountered Korean entertainment at any point in their lives.
While getting exposed to Korean media is a good way to immerse yourself in Korean culture, any Korean language learner will agree that learning the language enhances the experience. It’s a no-brainer; the Korean wave is here to stay and understanding the language means you don’t have to rely on subtitles, which can sometimes be inaccurate or unsynchronized.
And get this: when you can understand the lyrics in a K-pop or the lines in a K-drama, Korean movie, or a Korean variety show, you’re not just getting the message quicker. You’re also able to get the nuance, the words that cannot be translated, the hidden meanings.
If you can connect to a song or show through subtitles, how much deeper will that connection be if you can understand Korean?
7. … And enjoy Korean literature.
The power of K-pop extends to K-lit, with many Korean artists driving book sales of their recommended titles. Notwithstanding K-pop’s influence, however, Korean literature is getting more popular and it’s something worth getting into.
I have read several books by Korean authors but all of them were translated works. And while translators do an awesome job of making more foreign books accessible to more readers, there is no perfect literary translation.
One of the benefits of learning Korean is that you can understand the author’s original tone, culturally-specific expressions, slang, and more. What’s more, you get access to books that are not translated into English or other languages!
8. It opens up a whole new world of Korean cuisine.
You may know of kimchi, bulgogi, bibimbap, chimaek, samgyeopsal, ramyeon, and tteokbokki. What about seolleongtang, dotori-muk, bindaetteok, and chuotang?
The increasing interest in Korean culture led to more people trying and loving Korean foods. Considering how delicious Korean dishes are, we should expect more and more places to start offering Korean dishes.
And while you can enjoy Korean food whatever language you speak, knowing the language means you can savor the experience fully.
If you’re traveling to Korea, being able to read Korean menus will prove useful. And if you’re eating at a Korean-owned restaurant in your country and get a chance to speak to the owner, you can ask about the menu, get recommendations, and even ask how to best enjoy the dish.
9. You’ll have better skin!
A bold claim, but hear me out. South Korea is a big name in skin care, spawning numerous brands of skincare and beauty products and popularizing the multi-step skincare routine. Those flawless Korean celebrities you see onscreen have become one of the global standards of beauty.
True story: I visited an Etude House branch in Seoul years ago. The sales staff mistakenly thought I was fluent in Korean and proceeded to upsell products to me. I can still remember my embarrassment when she realized none of what she said got through to me.
While your language skills will not guarantee perfect skin, knowing your K-beauty vocabulary can go a long way in purchasing the right products. I dare say it’s one of the practical benefits of learning Korean.
10. Your Korean holiday will be much more enjoyable.
Fluency in Korean will not only help you enjoy food and shopping for skincare products while in Korea. It will help you make the most out of your travel experience.
South Korea is welcoming to tourists. Its transportation system is convenient and there’s so much to explore, from historic sites to picturesque K-drama filming locations and hip neighborhoods. But learning Korean can make your travels throughout Korea easier.
For one, you can navigate through different modes of transportation easily. You can understand confusing subway signs and talk to a cab driver. You can ask someone for accurate directions. For another, you can get a deeper understanding and appreciation of the history and culture behind the sites that you visit.
Speaking Korean will also help you appeal to and haggle with the locals when shopping. At the very least, they’ll be impressed and you’ll earn smiles from them.
11. Learning Korean can help you learn Japanese and Chinese.
Korean, Japanese, and Chinese belong to distinct language families. Korean is a language isolate, showing no significant link to any other existing language.
However, Korean shares many similarities with other languages, especially Chinese and Japanese. This shouldn’t come as a surprise, given the great influence China has over Korea and Japan’s occupation of Korea.
About 50-60% of Korean words are said to be Sino-Korean or Korean words with Chinese origins. If you go beyond Hangeul and begin to learn hanja (the Korean traditional writing system that uses Chinese characters), you will have an edge once you study Chinese.
There are also similarities in vocabulary, sentence order, honorifics, and use of markers between Korean and Japanese. These may not be much but knowing Korean can help you grasp Japanese grammar principles faster than if you didn’t know Korean.
Also read: Should You Learn Korean or Japanese? A Decision Guide
12. You’ll become a more confident person.
Knowing how to speak a second language comes with so many benefits, including improved social skills and self-esteem.
The process of learning, with all the memory stretching and tongue-twisting that you’d have to endure, can take you out of your comfort zone. But as you build proficiency in Korean, you get used to being stretched.
You begin to do things that you couldn’t do before and that becomes a massive confidence boost. Code-switching takes a lot of skill and if you can do that, you’re cool in my book.
13. Learning Korean will make studying in Korea easier.
Every year, Korea’s National Institute for International Education accepts thousands of students from around the world through its Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) Program and International Education Exchange.
Korea is known for its excellent education system and high-quality educational institutions, which makes the country very attractive as a study-abroad destination. Plus, who wouldn’t want a chance to experience living in Korea?
Language training is provided in the scholarship program. But let’s be real, even if Korean proficiency is not required in applying, it will definitely make your life easier once you’re accepted and already living in Korea. Adjusting to a new culture is hard but knowing how to speak the language eases it a bit.
14. You can promote Korea better.
Do you live and breathe all things Korean? Why not become an honorary reporter or K-influencer for Korea?
Every year, the Korean Culture and Information Service (KOCIS) and Korea.net seek non-Koreans who can produce Korea-related content to further promote Korea to the world. In return, chosen applicants can receive small tokens and participate in programs related to Korean culture.
Knowing Korean isn’t explicitly stated as a qualification but they do need people who are passionate about Korean culture. Language and culture are interlinked though, and knowing Korean will help you generate more authentic promotional content.
You will also get to learn more about the culture that you’re trying to promote if you know how to read Hangeul and speak Korean. Plus, if the program gives you the chance to travel and participate in activities in Korea, your communication skills will come in handy!
15. Your brain will love you for it.
All that time you poured into reading books to learn Korean and listening to Korean podcasts isn’t for nothing. You’re reaping one of the best benefits of learning Korean: a smarter and healthier brain.
Learning languages has many cognitive benefits. It helps improve memory and develops problem-solving, decision-making, and critical-thinking skills. It also enhances a person’s ability to focus and even boosts empathy.
What’s more, thanks to the mental workout of a bilingual or multilingual brain, you can delay the onset of degenerative neurological diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease and dementia by as much as five years!
Conclusion
Learning Korean is not an easy feat. Then again, learning any language has its challenges. But if you can take away anything from this list of benefits of learning Korean, I hope it would be this: the struggle is worth it.
With all the Korean learning resources available to you — from apps to online courses to Korean tutors — you can be sure you’ve got all the help you need regardless of your skill level. Keep moving forward and enjoy the journey!