The Magic of Hangul (Part 1): Hangul Is Easier Than You Think

10 May, 2025

Korean can look intimidating at first.
You see a block of text and think, "That’s too many circles and squares."

But here’s the secret:
Hangul is one of the most learner-friendly writing systems in the world.

It’s not random. It’s designed.

Hangul wasn’t created over centuries.
It was invented — by a king, in the 15th century — to make reading and writing easier for everyone.

It’s a system. A tool.
And once you understand the logic behind it, it unlocks itself.

You don’t memorize Hangul. You build it.

Hangul is made of pieces — consonants and vowels — that combine into syllable blocks.
Each block looks like one unit, but it’s actually a mini puzzle.

For example:

• ㅁ + ㅏ + ㄴ = 만 (man)
• ㄱ + ㅜ + ㄱ = 국 (guk)

Once you learn the building blocks, you can start reading real words — sometimes within a day.

Why it feels so satisfying

When you first read your first Korean word, something clicks.

It’s not just about learning a foreign alphabet.
It’s the feeling of solving something.
Like cracking a code.

But unlike a code, Hangul makes sense.
And once it starts to make sense, you can’t unsee it.

What’s next

If you enjoyed this, here’s where to go next:

• Part 1: Hangul is easier than you think
  Korean letters aren’t hard. In fact, they’re easier than English.

• Part 2: How Korean letters fit together
  Letters don’t just sit side by side. They *combine. Here's how.*

• Part 3: Start reading Korean in minutes
  You’ve seen the pieces. Now it’s time to put them together.

• Part 4: You can read these words now!
  A few shapes turn into real words — like magic.

• Part 5: What to say after “Annyeonghaseyo”
  You know how to greet someone. Here’s what comes next.

Want to see how real Korean sounds?

Once you’ve learned Hangul, try picking up Korean through music and lyrics:

• Pookie — And the K-Pop Drama Behind the Smile
• Midnight Special — A Song About Lingering, and a Member Who Never Leaves

← Back to Korean Expressions