The Korean language is the official spoken language of North and South Korea. This captivating language has gained people’s interest worldwide, notably the Korean alphabet and Korean words, thanks to the products of Korean culture like K-pop and K-dramas.
Whether you love anything about South Korea or are a casual learner of languages, learning a few interesting Korean language facts is fascinating. These facts help you appreciate the language even more.
1. 81 million people speak Korean.
According to Britannica, Korean is a language spoken by 48 million people in South Korea, 24 million people in North Korea, and 3.5 million people in other parts of the world. Korean diaspora communities in countries like the United States, Canada, and Japan also speak the language, making it go beyond the two Koreas.
2. It is a language isolate.
A language isolate has no connections to other languages, and Korean is considered one. It’s truly a unique language of its own that has existed for thousands of years already.
3. Chinese characters were used to write Korean.
During ancient times, Koreans write in Chinese characters or Hanja to relay messages. Koreans adapted Chinese characters in the process. Hnaja was used for nearly a thousand years before Hangul replaced it in the 20th century. Some schools in South Korea still offer classes on Hanja to boost Korean skills.
4. Some Korean words are of Chinese origin.
Modern Korean has some words that came from Chinese. For example, birth in Chinese is chusheng, while in Korean, it’s chulsaeng. Forever in Chinese is yongyuan. In Korean, it’s yeong-wonhi. These Chinese words sound almost identical to their Korean counterparts.
5. A king invented the current Korean writing system.
King Sejong the Great, the fourth monarch of the Joseon Dynasty, is a revered historical figure in Korean history for creating Hangul, Korea’s present writing system. King Sejong wanted Hangul to increase the illiteracy of the general Korean population, so everyone could read and write in the language they spoke every day.
Sejong developed Hangul in 1443 and was made into Korea’s official writing system in 1446. However, his son King Yeonsangun banned Hangul. This led to Hanja persisting as a mode of writing for almost half a millennium.
While Hangul was invented in the 15th century, Korean society began to use it in the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Its resurgence began in 1894 when the Japanese government abolished the use of Chinese in administrative documents.
Hangul currently has 14 consonants and ten vowels. Combining them according to the sound of a Korean word will get you a character. It was written from top to bottom before, but right now, it’s from left to right. It’s a simple and effective writing system for forming words and syllables. English speakers might take some time to adapt to the Korean alphabet, but they will eventually learn.
6. There’s formal and informal Korean.
Koreans are big on respect, and you should respect everyone older or in a higher position than you. Formal Korean is used in family gatherings, company meetings, and other formal occasions. You can use informal Korean when talking to your friends.
For example, the words “thank you” are “kamsahamnida” in formal Korean and “gomawo” in an informal way to someone close to you. Another example is “I’m sorry”. In formal Korean, you say “joesonghamnida” or “mianheyo” while you can say “mianhe” or “mian” informally.
7. Some words are loaned from English.
A part of learning South Korean vocabulary is some of its loanwords from English. It involves translating English words into Korean pronunciation with little to no changes in meaning.
A good example is coffee. In Korean, it’s keopi. Another would be the “handphone” or mobile phone, which is haendeupon in Korean.
8. The breathtaking Jeju Island has its own kind of Korean.
Jeju Island is separated from the rest of mainland South Korea. Its dialect is unique and can be considered a language different from standard Korean.
In an article that The Korea Times published in 2019, the Jeju dialect or Jejuan has four politeness levels, slightly shorter than the standard Korean, which has seven. Some of its vocabulary is borrowed from Manchurian and Mongolian languages.
Jejuan still has a place in homes and intimate settings even if the public sector uses modern Korean to communicate with the people.
Enroll in an Online Korean Learning Program
While learning Korean can be challenging when you do it alone, signing up for an online program will make it easier for you. They have lessons that you can learn at home. Aside from that, you can get comprehensive tutorials from competent Korean language instructors. You will learn Korean, from the most basic expressions to counting objects and verb endings. Witness yourself grow as you finish your lessons.
Parting Thoughts
The Korean language is as unique and vibrant as it can be. From its long and rich history to its writing system, loanwords, and dialects, the intricacies of the Korean language make it worth learning. Starting your journey to understanding the Korean language opens a world of adventure and possibilities.