Best YouTube Channels for Learning Korean: Fun, Engaging, and Free Resources
YouTube is arguably the best free resource when it comes to language learning. The amount of free content is endless, and you can find exactly what you are interested in in any language you would like. You may already have your favorites, but I wanted to share with you the creators who continue to teach me Korean week after week.
I found DDusin on TikTok when he was doing a live crochet tutorial. There are three things I love about his channel. The first is the amount of content he puts out. There are so many videos to comb through that I will never catch up or get bored. Second, he often goes live on both TikTok and YouTube. I can be easily distracted, so when watching live, I am more inclined to focus without pause and unable to slow my speaking speed. Third, he speaks in both Korean and English. Now, this is not something necessary or something I was looking for. However, when I’m struggling to figure out what a word means, it’s nice not to need to pull up a dictionary. Lastly, (I lied, there are four reasons) his bag designs are so cute!
I knit, crochet, cross-stitch, and have recently begun embroidery. While you may have no interest in any of these hobbies, I recommend choosing a hobby or skill that you already enjoy and have intermediate knowledge about and then finding someone who teaches it in your target language.
KKujun is a solo travel vlogger. He travels mainly within South Korea and other Asian countries. His videos are almost entirely Korean. When he can, he speaks English, but he often uses a translator app when English is not viable. KKujun’s content is a little quirky in the sense that I will probably never travel like him. He often travels as cheaply as possible and goes long distances on just his scooter.
I am not saying I could never travel this way, but it is very unlikely that I will. His travel style offers a unique perspective on solo travel while also teaching me travel vocabulary. Not only that, but I’m finding out about a lot of fun travel destinations and foods to try.
Basic Korean is the reason I made it to Level 3 in my Korean language courses. Pick any Korean grammar concept, and I promise there is probably already a video on it. Not only does she have a lot of content, but every video is structured the same. Concept, examples, conversation example, further explanation, batchim rules, guided practice, review the conversation example. In my experience, once I look up a grammar point with Basic Korean, I rarely have to look it up elsewhere.
Whether a YouTube creator or a traditional blogger, it is necessary to have a go-to for explaining the more difficult grammar concepts. It has been widely debated whether vocabulary or grammar is more important when learning Korean, but grammar is an important factor in language learning, and proper usage will elevate your status in the eyes of locals.
Eileen has a plethora of yoga content with sprinkles of travel vlogs. I was drawn to her content for her calming voice and clear audio. When I first came across Eileen, I was looking for women creators who I liked the voice of. Most of my early days of learning Korean from mostly men led to me sounding more like an ajusshi. (This came in handy when ordering food, but otherwise led to many unwanted results.) Her yoga flows are smooth, and she also provides different levels and flow times. Yoga may not be your thing; it’s not for everyone.
Consider looking for weightlifters, wrestlers, or even calisthenics trainers in your target language. They will provide a lot of insight into the body and active vocabulary beyond the basics.
ChoiSusu is another creator I found in my search for women to shadow. ChoiSusu teaches Korean in a podcast format, complete with free downloadable PDFs. I love that I can listen to audio while following a script. This has been the number one way I increased my comprehension. There is often a disconnect between what the word looks like and how it sounds, ChoiSuSu bridges that gap with a variety of topics.
I like to listen and make sure I understand an episode at normal speed. If I don’t understand, I will slow down the video and vice versa. My goal is always to reach a point when I can understand, at times two speeds or more, to keep up with native speakers’ natural flow.
태웅쌤 - Comprehensible Input Korean
Learn Korean through video games! To be honest, I am not much of a gamer. However, Taewoong is an excellent teacher. He takes the time to make sure viewers can follow along with what he’s saying. Even going as far as to draw pictures for extra clarification.
Much like ChoiSuSu, Taewoong’s videos teach basic Korean words and phrases through a myriad of different topics, sans the reading, of course.
A bonus channel just for you! Learn Korean with Jadoo is a cute and hilarious Korean animated show with both Korean and English subtitles. Through this channel, you will learn a lot of cultural context and helpful phrases. This is the perfect show to bring all your knowledge together in one visual. This is a family comedy, so you will watch and listen to different levels of politeness and different phrases based on who is speaking, and tune your ears to hear the difference in words based on the age of who speaks them. This show can be a lot to take in at first, but I promise you it is worth it.
Ready to make your language learning journey a little more personal? Try exploring one of these creators, or better yet, find someone who speaks to your own interests in Korean or any language you’re learning. When language connects with something you already love, it’s a whole new experience. Give it a try, and let me know if you have any favorite channels—I’d love to hear what’s helping you grow!
