Learning Korean typically requires a significant time investment, especially for native English speakers, as Korean is classified as a "super-hard" language by the U.S. Foreign Service Institute (FSI).
Estimated Time to Learn Korean
- Professional Fluency: Around 2,200 hours of intensive study or about 88 weeks (roughly 1.5 to 2 years full-time) are needed to reach professional working fluency
- Basic Conversational Skills: You can learn enough Korean for simple 3-minute conversations in about 3 months if you study 7-10 hours per week
- Conversational Fluency: With consistent study (around 23 hours per week), you can reach conversational fluency in about 1 year to 2 years
- High Intermediate to Fluent: Achieving a high intermediate level may take around 1,200 hours, and fluency may require up to 2,400 hours, which translates to about 2 years of steady study
Learning Stages
- Learning Hangul (Korean Alphabet): This is relatively quick and can be learned in about 1 week, with basics achievable in 60-90 minutes
- 3-6 Months: Focus on basic greetings, simple sentences, and essential vocabulary.
- 6-12 Months: Ability to handle simple conversations and understand basic grammar.
- 1-2 Years: Comfortable with daily life conversations and simpler Korean media without subtitles.
- 2+ Years: Deeper fluency including reading articles, watching movies, and engaging in nuanced conversations
Factors Affecting Learning Time
- Amount of daily/weekly study time
- Quality of study and immersion
- Prior language learning experience
- Individual aptitude and motivation
Summary
Level of Proficiency| Approximate Time Commitment| Study Intensity
---|---|---
Hangul Alphabet Basics| 1 week (60-90 minutes for basics)| Short daily
sessions
Basic Conversations| 3 months (7-10 hours/week)| Moderate, consistent study
Conversational Fluency| 1-2 years (23 hours/week)| Regular, focused study
Professional Fluency| 2,200 hours (~1.5-2 years full-time)| Intensive,
immersive study
In conclusion, learning Korean is a multi-year commitment for English speakers aiming for fluency, but basic conversational skills can be acquired within a few months with consistent effort
