The Question Everyone Asks
"How long to speak Korean?" Short answer: it depends on what "speak Korean" means to you.
What Science Says
The FSI classifies Korean as Category V (hardest), with 2200 hours for professional proficiency.
Real Progression Milestones
Months 0-3: Survival Kit
Read Korean, order food, ~300-500 words.
Months 3-12: Basic Conversations
Simple sentences, understand general conversations, ~2000-3000 words.
Years 1-2: Fluent Conversation
Normal conversations on familiar topics, ~4000-6000 words.
Years 2-5: Professional Level
Complex discussions, read articles, work exclusively in Korean.
Accelerators
- Living in Korea (+++)
- Korean partner (++)
- Daily study, even 20 min (+)
- Fun context: K-pop, dramas (+)