What Language Do They Speak in South Korea?

Header image for South Korea

South Korea

Known for its rich cultural heritage and technological advancements, South Korea is a vibrant nation in East Asia. It is renowned for its bustling capital, Seoul, where ancient history meets modern innovation, characterized by skyscrapers, palaces, and bustling markets. The country's dynamic pop culture, including K-pop and Korean dramas, has captured the attention of audiences worldwide, significantly contributing to the global entertainment industry.

Languages Spoken

South Korea is predominantly a monolingual nation where Korean is the most widely spoken language, constituting approximately 98% of the linguistic landscape. Korean is the official and national language, deeply rooted in the cultural identity of the country. In addition to Korean, English holds a significant position, particularly in educational contexts and international business, accounting for around 1% usage among the population. English is often taught from a young age in schools, and there is a high demand for English language education in the country.

Different Languages Spoken in South Korea

Language data last updated 2024 est. from Wikipedia - South Korea

LanguageUsage
Korean98%
English1%
Note: The total may add up to more than 100% as people may speak multiple languages

Useful Korean Phrases

Learn these phrases if you're planning on traveling to South Korea

안녕하세요

Hello

Use this as a polite greeting.

얼마예요?

How much is it?

This is used when asking for the price of something.

화장실 어디에 있어요?

Where is the bathroom?

A useful question for finding restrooms.

이해하지 못해요

I don’t understand

Use this when you don't understand something.

감사합니다

Thank you

A polite way to express gratitude.

Learn to speak Korean

Interested in speaking Korean in South Korea? Using Lingocat you can learn the basics of the language and start speaking in no time with the help of our AI Language Tutors.

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