The 8 Best Online Courses to Learn Korean Quickly

Kelsey Wetherbee Published on February 24, 2023

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If you want to learn Korean, it can be overwhelming to know where to begin. If you learn well with a structured plan and like to know exactly what to study next, an online Korean course is a good option for you. This article puts together the best Korean courses available. They’re all different, so you’re sure to find one that will fit with your learning style and language goals.

Best Overall Korean Course

Korean Uncovered logo
Try Korean Uncovered

Best for Beginners

90 day korean logo
Try 90 Day Korean

Best Structured Course

Rocket Languages logo
Try Rocket Korean

Not only is Korean one of the most spoken languages in Asia, with over 80 million speakers it’s also one of the most spoken languages in the world! It’s a great language to learn if you’re interested in doing business with Korea. It’s currently ranked as the 10th largest economy in the world. Even if your company is based outside of Korea, knowing a few words and phrases in Korean can show respect for your business partners.

There are also many cultural reasons to learn Korean. Tourism to South Korea is booming. From modern cities like Seoul to ancient UNESCO world heritage sites, there’s something for everyone to enjoy. Not to mention the delicious food! And Korean culture has become popular everywhere. From K-pop to K-dramas, beauty influencers, and more, learning Korean can help you appreciate and understand these cultural exports.

What Are The Best Courses To Learn Korean?

To find the best online Korean courses, I searched the internet to find some of the most reputable and popular options available. Then, I researched each course to see what it does well and who would benefit from taking it. I also read through past student reviews to see what people liked (and didn’t like) about each one. Below is a list of the final results. They are all high-quality options that will help you learn Korean effectively

Here are the best online courses to learn Korean. Scroll down to learn more about each one.

Best Overall Korean CourseKorean Uncovered
Best for Beginners90 Day Korean
Best Structured CourseRocket Korean
Best for Reading and WritingFirst Step Korean
Best for FlexibilityUdemy
Best for Live ClassesHills Learning
Best for Self-Paced LearningTalk To Me In Korean
Best Free CourseQuick Korean

StoryLearning: Korean Uncovered

Best Overall Korean Course

Korean Uncovered is the best overall Korean course because it’s comprehensive and helps you improve all language skills. It provides an immersive experience without being overwhelming. Throughout the 20 modules of the course, you follow a story. First, you listen to part of the story. Then, the Korean teacher breaks down the grammar, vocabulary, and pronunciation from the chapter in different lessons. You’ll also learn how to read and write in Hangul, the Korean alphabet.

Korean Uncovered logo

Each unit has extensive lesson notes that make the course worth it because they have detailed explanations and practice questions with an answer key so you can check your progress. You can try Korean Uncovered for free for 7 days.

Key Features

  • Learn through stories
  • Video lessons and independent practice material
  • Extensive lesson notes

Pricing

You get lifetime access to the entire Korean Uncovered course for a one-time payment of $297. You can try it out with a 7-day free trial, and there’s a 365-day money-back guarantee if you’re not satisfied with the course.

90 Day Korean

Best for Beginners

90 Day Korean is the best for beginners because it helps you speak Korean quickly. The concept behind 90 Day Korean is that, if you follow the structured course, you will be able to have a 3-minute conversation in Korean at the end of the 90 days.

90 Day Korean homepage

Once you finish the first level, you can continue with the different levels, each broken down into 90-day periods with clear learning goals. This course is best if you already know Hangul, as it teaches with this script and is more effective overall than using the romanized version. You can try a free lesson and see if 90 Day Korean is a good choice for you.

Key Features

  • Become conversational in 90 days
  • Clear learning goals
  • Structured course layout

Pricing

90 Day Korean has 2 different levels of subscription. A Standard Membership gives you access to all the courses and costs $35.00 per month, or $250 for a yearly subscription. A VIP Membership costs $59.00 per month (or $500 per year) and gives you access to all the benefits of a Standard membership as well as access to personal coaching, homework grading, and speaking classes.

Rocket Korean

Best Structured Course

Rocket Languages Korean is the best structured course because it walks you through the basics step-by-step and it’s always clear what lesson you take next. Rocket uses a mix of audio lessons and written lessons to help you improve all language skills. The activities are interactive and focus on communication instead of memorizing words and phrases.

The course covers everything from learning the Korean alphabet to pronunciation. There’s currently only one level available, so intermediate learners won’t benefit from the course, but it’s an excellent way for beginners to start learning Korean. You can read more about it in this Rocket Korean review.

Key Features

  • Audio and written lessons cover all language skills
  • Interactive activities to practice what you learned
  • Lessons to learn Hangul

Pricing

Rocket Korean doesn’t offer a monthly subscription. You buy the entire course for $149.95 and have lifetime access. There’s also the option to pay in 6 monthly installments of $27.00, for a total price of $162.00.

First Step Korean (Coursera)

Best for Reading and Writing

First Step Korean is a popular course on the Coursera platform. It was developed by Yonsei University in Seoul. Over 1 million people have taken the course and it has a 4.9/5 star rating! It’s designed to help complete beginners learn the basics of Korean.

First Step Korean homepage

The course helps you develop all the necessary language-learning skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. By the end of the course, you’ll be able to read and write the Korean alphabet, as well as use basic expressions. Learn more about First Step Korean on the Coursera website, or read more about the overall platform in this Coursera review.

Key Features

  • Learn how to communicate in everyday situations
  • Over 1 million students completed the course
  • Option to earn a certificate of completion

Pricing

You can audit the First Step Korean course for free. This lets you read and view all the course material. You can also choose to purchase the Certificate Experience which gives you graded assignments as well as a certificate of completion at the end of the course.

Udemy

Best for Flexibility

If you are looking for a more extensive course selection to choose from, you can look at Udemy. It’s a massive online platform that has courses for every subject imaginable. Currently, there are over 150 Korean courses available. A popular option is “The Complete Korean Course for Beginners” with a rating of 4.7/5.0 stars and over 2,000 students.

udemy homepage

In addition to learning the basics of Korean grammar and vocabulary, there are many specialty topics, like learning Korean for travel, pronunciation masterclasses, and TOPIK test preparation. You can explore all of the Korean courses Udemy has to offer, or read more about the platform in this Udemy review.

Key Features

  • Choose from over 150 courses
  • Take general Korean language courses or focus on specific topics
  • Access the courses whenever you want

Pricing

Each teacher sets the price for their course so the prices vary. Most courses are under $20.00. Before buying a course, you can watch a preview video and see the course outline so you know exactly what you will learn.

Hills Learning

Best for Live Classes

Hills Learning is a language academy based in New York that also has many online options. You can choose to take individual lessons or small group classes with a maximum of 7 students. All of the classes are live so you have the benefit of interacting with your teacher and other classmates.

Hills Learning Korean homepage

Signing up is easy. You choose what level you are and what time you can take classes. There are many start dates available in the upcoming months so you can join now and start learning quickly. If you aren’t sure of your level, you can contact Hills Learning and they will help you choose the appropriate level.

Key Features

  • Live classes
  • Individual or small group classes
  • Interact with your teacher and other students.

Pricing

The price for each semester of classes costs $379, but you can get a discount if you bundle multiple levels together.

Talk to Me in Korean

Best for Self-Paced Learning

Talk to Me in Korean is the best for self-paced learning because you can take the lessons whenever you want. The platform has over 1,600 audio and video lessons that cover everything from the basics to more advanced topics, including grammar, vocabulary, and the hangul alphabet.

TTMIK Homepage

In addition to the lessons, there are other interesting features included. There are sample dialogue videos so you can hear how Korean is spoken naturally, review quizzes, and comprehension activities after each lesson. It’s a completely flexible way to learn because you choose exactly what you want to study.

Key Features

  • 1,600+ audio and video lessons
  • Sample dialogues
  • Review quizzes

Pricing

Talk to Me in Korean has two options. A monthly subscription costs $16.99 per month, or a yearly subscription costs $122.28 ($10.19 per month).

Quick Korean

Best for Learning for Free

Quick Korean is a free course offered by the Cyber University of Korea. There are four levels available that start at complete beginner and go through an upper intermediate/low advanced level. Students that complete the fourth level should reach a 3.5 on the TOPIK test. There are also a series of short, 3-minute videos that teach different Korean phrases and expressions.

Quick Korean homepage

Each unit consists of a series of lecture videos. The videos can be accessed on a variety of different platforms like YouTube, NaverTV, The Korea Times, and CUK Future Education Center website.

Key Features

  • 4 levels available
  • Video lessons
  • Completely free!

Pricing

The entire Quick Korean course is available for free on platforms like YouTube, NaverTV, The Korea Times, and CUK Future Education Center website.

Why You Should Take an Online Course To Learn Korean

Online courses are one of the best ways to learn Korean. They are comprehensive and provide everything you need to improve all language skills in one place. It takes the guesswork out of what to study next. They are also an easy way to learn Korean from the comfort of your home. You can choose if you want the flexibility of a self-paced course or if taking live classes motivates you to learn. An online course can easily fit into any schedule.

How To Use Online Courses To Learn Korean

Using an online course to learn Korean is best used as part of a dedicated learning routine. You can set aside an hour a few times a week, or even every day if you have time, to take a lesson and study. Continual practice is the key to developing skills that you’ll remember.

It’s also best to use an online course combined with other learning methods. For example, if the course is very focused on grammar, a language app might work well to teach you more extensive vocabulary. Or if the course is comprehensive, but you still have some questions, a self-study book might be a good addition to your language learning routine.

Best Online Courses To Learn Korean: Final Thoughts

Learning Korean is a challenge, but can also be incredibly rewarding. Finding the right tool for learning will make it much easier. You can use this list as a guide to finding the course that’s right for you. Whether you want to focus on a specific skill or improve your overall level, you can find something that will help you learn effectively. There are a lot of different ways to learn Korean, and the first step is finding the methods that work best for you!

Best Online CoursesTo Learn Korean: FAQ

What’s the best online Korean course?

90 Day Korean is the best overall Korean course because it helps you speak Korean quickly. The concept behind 90 Day Korean is that, if you follow the structured course, you will be able to have a 3-minute conversation in Korean at the end of the 90 days. Once you’ve reached this checkpoint, you begin the next 90 day course to reach another milestone.

What is the most effective way to learn Korean?

There are many effective ways to learn Korean, but one of the best ways is with an online course. They are a comprehensive, yet flexible, way to learn. You can choose if you want to take live classes or use a self-paced course. They are comprehensive because they help you develop every aspect of language learning, including listening, speaking, reading, and writing.

Where can I learn Korean for free online?

There are many ways to learn Korean for free online, and one of the best options is to follow an online course. Quick Korean is a complete Korean course offered by the Cyber University of Korea and is completely free. You can also audit the First Step Korean course on the Coursera platform. You won’t receive graded feedback on assignments or a certificate of completion, but you can access all of the course material for free. Many people also prefer to learn with a language app, such as Duolingo. It’s supported by ads so you’re occasionally interrupted, but you can use the app for free.

How long will it take to learn Korean fluently?

The US Department of State classifies Korean as an extremely difficult language for English speakers to learn and will require 2,200 classroom hours to reach a level of proficiency. But don’t let this number deter you! It’s only an estimate. The amount of time it will take you to learn Korean will also depend on other factors like your natural ability to learn languages and if you already know a language similar to Korean.

To see how long it will take you to learn Korean, check out this fluency calculator.

Kelsey Wetherbee

Kelsey is the Content Manager and Editor of Langoly. She is a TEFL-certified English teacher with more than eight years of classroom experience in three different countries. She’s an avid language learner with an advanced level of Spanish and is currently studying French. Whenever possible, she loves to travel and enjoys meeting people from all over the world. Connect with Kelsey on LinkedIn.

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