14 Best Free Online Korean Classes | Beginners and Advanced

Annyeong!!! Do you want to delve into the world of learning the Korean language? If Yes, then this article on free online Korean classes is just the right one for you.

The Korean language is the language of the  Korean people. The language uses Hangul as its main writing system. Korea which is made up of two parts, namely North Korea and South Korea both use this Hangul system of writing, but with different dialects. Korean is one of the easiest Asian languages to learn.

Just like any other Foreign language, the Korean alphabet comprises 14 consonants and is known as Hangul. Likewise, Korean has ten vowels with symbols that you will combine into syllable blocks for usage.

The internet has made it very easy for one to learn any language of choice. Learning the Korean language is now made very easy and accessible on the internet through free online Korean classes as well as any other language course such as German language or French language courses

Whether you are a beginner, who is just starting to learn the basics or you are an expert who is fluent in the Korean language and wants to learn the more advanced aspects of the language, you can get all you need to learn the Korean language through this free online Korean language class

There are so many reasons why one should have the Korean language as one of the languages to learn.

The Korean language is ranked 18th as the most useful and spoken language in the world. There are more than 75 million people who speak Korean in the world.

The Korean alphabet is simple and easy to learn. it is known as the most logical system of writing in the world. King Sejong is the mastermind behind the current system of writing.

Korean grammar isn’t complicated. For instance, you don’t have to worry about conjugating verb forms in Korean. No matter if the verb is plural or singular, it uses the same form

There are no nouns or genders in it. One difficult hurdle many people struggle with when learning a second language like French or Spanish is the gender of nouns. It can be very difficult to determine what nouns are masculine and which are feminine. This isn’t an issue with Korean since there are no noun genders in the language

Benefits of learning the Korean language

Just as every language has the benefits that come with learning it, learning the Korean language also has numerous benefits for the individual learning it.

One of the benefits of learning the Korean language is that it gives a better understanding of Korean culture and concepts

Learning the Korean language like other languages boosts brainpower makes the individual grow intellectually and enhances mental development. Learning a new language helps to stimulate the mind, which keeps the brain active and healthy

Learning the Korean language improves personal and business relationships. If you interact with any Korean-speaking people at work, then learning Korean will make you a more valuable asset to your company. With companies like Samsung, LG, and Hyundai, Korea has the 13th largest economy in the world.

If you are planning to travel to Korea, then learning the Korean language will give you a better travel experience.

Requirements to take Free Korean Classes Online

Students interested in taking free Korean classes online should have basic English skills. Anyone at any level can start taking Korean courses online right away without age, geographical or academic requirements.

 Free Online Korean Classes

 Free Online Korean Classes

The free online Korean classes available will be listed and discussed here. They are as follows;

  • Learn Korean Pronunciation in 30 Minutes (Udemy)
  • First Step Korean (Coursera)
  • Introduction to Korean Learn to Speak Korean 1 (Coursera)
  • KoreanClass101
  • Let’s Speak Korean
  • Korean From Zero
  • How to Study Korean
  • Loecsen
  • Learn to Speak Korean 1
  • A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Beginners Ⅰ
  • A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Intermediate1
  • The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul
  • A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Advanced Ⅰ
  • Basic Korean

1.     Learn Korean Pronunciation in 30 Minutes (Udemy)

Udemy has thousands of online courses available for interested learners. Among these courses are some excellent Korean learning courses. Learning the Korean alphabet is about learning how to pronounce written Korean. Learning Korean pronunciation in 30 minutes is a free and quick learning option you can sign up for on Udemy. There are many available materials that you can use to go through the alphabet yourself. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online. The Instructor Miss Li Carman uses mnemonics and captivating visuals to teach the vowels, consonants, and pronunciation basics that follow them.

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2.       First Step Korean (Coursera)

This is an elementary-level Korean language course, consisting of 5 lessons with 4 units, and covers 4 skills: reading, writing, listening, and speaking. The main topics include basic expressions used in everyday life, such as greetings, introducing yourself, talking about your family and daily life, and so on. Each lesson covers dialogues, pronunciation, vocabulary, grammar, quizzes, and role-plays. After completing this course, you will be able to read and write the Korean alphabet, communicate in Korean with basic expressions, and learn basic knowledge of Korean culture. It’s fun and easy to follow! Enjoy it! This course takes approximately 17  hours to complete with 6 modules.

Offered by – Yonsei  University

Language Taught – English

Instructor (s) – Seung Hae Kang

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3.     Learn to Speak Korean 1 (Coursera)

This is currently the highest-rated Korean course on Coursera, Taught by Professor Sang Mee Han, Learn to Speak Korean 1 covers six weeks of conversational material, including introductions, food, and shopping. Each week of the course includes about an hour’s worth of videos, along with readings and quizzes. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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4.     KoreanClass101

This online Korean language class allows participants to learn Korean through videos and audio lessons through the innovative language App and website. The lessons are in podcast form, and their live streams can be looked at through YouTube. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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5.     Let’s Speak Korean

This Korean language class was created by the Arirang network. The class provides a 10-minute learning section for Korean language viewers. The class is conversational as it involves more than one person. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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6.     Korean From Zero

This course provides a comprehensive guide to learning of Korean language. What you get in this class is text lessons with audio clips, you can move at your own pace, playing the clips whenever you want to. You don’t need to wait for the lecturer to finish, or for an explanation to be over. The material is straightforward, skimmable, and includes a lot of example sentences. Because Korean From Zero is text- and audio-based, it combines well with more entertainment-based courses like FluentU or Let’s Speak Korean. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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7.     How to Study Korean

On this site, you can access a collection of extremely thorough  Korean lessons. Vocabulary, grammar, audio clips, diagrams, and charts are all displayed on the site. There is also a YouTube channel with corresponding materials. If you want to understand everything about how the Korean language works while you’re learning it and to be guided every step of the way, this is the program for you. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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8.     Loecsen

Loecsen provides many conversational courses for many languages including the Korean language. It utilizes speaking drills with voice recognition technology. The phrase-based lessons allow you to test your pronunciation and get talking with simple content immediately. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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9.    Learn to Speak Korean 1 (Coursera)

This course is for beginner students who are familiar with the Korean alphabet, Hangeul. Through this course, students will learn the skills essential for daily interactions with Koreans while living in Korea.  This course consists of six modules, and each module is composed of five units. Each unit has vocabulary, grammar and expressions, conversation practice, video clips, quizzes, a workbook, and vocabulary lists. To assist students with their independent studies, Korean learning materials such as lecture notes, workbooks, and vocabulary lists detailing each day’s lecture are also provided. The vocabulary lists are accompanied by English, Chinese, and Japanese translations. This course takes approximately 31  hours to complete with 6 modules.

Offered by – Yonsei  University

Language Taught – English

Instructor (s) – Sang Mee Han

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10.       A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Beginners Ⅰ (Coursera)

This course is an introductory course to the Korean language that aims to cultivate basic communication skills for those who are interested in learning the Korean language. The course is composed of essential expressions that are often used in everyday life, and designed to teach grammar using basic dialogues that reflect colloquial characteristics of the Korean language. By the end of this course, a student will be able to express him/herself on ordinary topics. Also, the course provides dialogues used in both formal and informal situations to help students express themselves in the Korean language appropriately in particular situations and provides various materials to help students understand the unique culture of the Korean language. This course takes approximately 17 hours to complete with 6 modules.

Offered by – Sungkyunkwan University

Language Taught – English

Instructor (s) – Kyong Hwon Kim and Won-Sook Hyun

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11.       A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Intermediate1 (Coursera)

This course is designed for anyone who wants to learn Korean. This course is useful for learners who want to improve their communication skills on personal topics frequently encountered in their daily lives after learning basic Korean. Through this class, you can use expressions such as introducing, talking about experiences, and comforting, and you will be able to increase your understanding of basic Korean culture. This course is organized in the order of core expression, conversation, grammar, and self-assessment. The entire course is six weeks long and consists of two sub-themes within one major topic, so there are a total of 12 lessons. Improve your Korean language skills with this course! This course takes approximately 12 hours to complete with 6 modules.

Offered by – Sungkyunkwan University

Language Taught – Korean ( video subtitles are available)

Instructor (s) – Kyong Hwon Kim and Su Mi Lee

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12.       The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul  (Coursera)

This course introduces the Korean character,’Hangeul’, and provides high-level knowledge related to Hangeul. In this course, the background of ‘Hangul’ is created, who made the Hangeul, and according to what principle it is systematically explained. It also introduces anecdotes related to Korean tourist destinations related to Hangeul and teaches how to write Hangeul. Learners can increase their understanding of Korea, learn Hangeul accurately, and cultivate high-level knowledge of Hangeul.  This course takes approximately 17 hours to complete with 4 modules.

Offered by – Sungkyunkwan University

Language Taught – English

Instructor (s) – Keum-hee Lee

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13.       A Bridge to the World: Korean Language for Advanced Ⅰ (Coursera)

Through this course, you can understand Korean more deeply and get advanced Korean language skills. This course is for advanced Korean learners who are interested in Korean language and culture. The course consists of 5 lessons, each lesson has the main topic of language, job, science, pop culture, and international issues. You can listen to and understand news and dialogues, and learn the expressions used in them in each lesson. Also, on the last day of each week, you can share your opinions with other learners through discussion activities. Take your Korean up a notch with this course! This course takes approximately 10 hours to complete.

Offered by – Sungkyunkwan University

Language Taught – Korean ( video subtitles are available)

Instructor (s) – Kyong Hwon Kim and  Eun Sil Hong

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14. Basic Korean

This is a laid-back but practical YouTube course by Conversational Korean that’s easy to follow. Pictures and very basic animation help drill vocabulary into your head. They also enable you to envision interactions and real situations where you might need to use Korean as you’re learning. What’s cool about this series is that it teaches Korean using an entertaining, visual approach that’s normally reserved for kids in educational materials, but appeals to grown-up learners. This course jumps right into showing full Hangul phrases, so you’ll want to have learned the alphabet before starting. You’ll also need to pause to take notes if you want to retain vocabulary and grammar explanations. It is one of the best free online Korean classes available online.

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This article is a wealth of knowledge at your disposal and we hope you have a lot of fun going through them.

Free Online Korean Classes – FAQs

Can I Self-Learn Korean?

Yes, it is possible to self-learn the Korean language. Hangul is easy to write, so it won’t be a problem. All you need Is effort, time, and practice

Where Can I Learn Korean Online for Free?

Below is the list of Korean classes you can learn online for free.

  • Learn Korean Pronunciation in 30 Minutes (Through Udemy)
  • Introduction to Korean
  • Learn to Speak Korean 1 (Through Coursera)
  • KoreanClass101
  • Let’s Speak Korean
  • Korean From Zero!
  • How to Study Korean
  • Loecsen
  • Quick Korean
  • Introduction to Korean (Through FutureLearn)
  • Click Korean
  • Talk To Me In Korean
  • Basic Korean

What is the best free app to learn Korean?

The Rocket Languages Korean course is the overall best app to learn Korean because of the quality of its lessons. It will help you go from complete beginner to having decent conversations in Korean.

The activities are interactive and focus on communication instead of memorizing and regurgitating words and phrases. The course covers everything from learning the Korean alphabet to pronunciation.

Key Features

  • Start communicating in Korean from the very first lesson
  • Flexible structure lets you choose your lessons
  • Includes extensive writing practice to help you learn the alphabet quickly
  • Activities are engaging and cover useful topics

Pricing

Unlike most other apps, you pay for the Rocket Korean course upfront instead of paying a monthly subscription. The course costs $149.95, and you also have the option to pay $27.00 per month for 6 months. Rocket Languages also offers a free trial so you can test it out before buying.

Are There Special Korean Classes for Beginners?

Yes, there are special Korean classes for beginners. Below are some of the special Korean classes for beginners

  • Korean Lessons+
  • Tengu Go Hangul
  • Korlink’s Talk to Me in Korean
  • Korean Vocabulary Free – Flashcards for Beginners and Kids
  • Dongsa Korean Verb Conjugator
  • Egg bun
  • Learn the Korean Language by Drops
  • Sejong Korean Grammar-Basic/Sejong Korean Vocab-Basic
  • Korean by Nemo
  • My Korean Teacher

These apps are special applications for beginners in the Korean language and can be downloaded using either Android or IOS devices

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