Photo: mduangdara, CC BY 2.0
K-pop Korean: The Words in the Songs
A fun, live hour of Korean for K-pop fans who are complete beginners. You will read your first words and group names in Hangul, learn the words that come up again and again in songs (사랑해, 보고 싶어, 너, 우리, 오늘, 밤, 꿈, 눈물, 하루) and the words of fan culture (최애, 막내, 컴백, 화이팅, 대박, 오빠, 언니), and practise what to shout at a concert. You will also learn which song words are casual and what to say to real people instead. Every word comes with romanization, so you do not need to read Hangul yet.
After this hour you can
- Read a few K-pop words and names in Hangul, block by block
- Recognise the love words in songs: 사랑해, 좋아해, 보고 싶어, 마음, 눈물
- Understand 나, 너 and 우리, and why songs are in casual Korean
- Know the time and dream words: 오늘, 밤, 하루, 내일, 꿈, 별, 영원히
- Use fan words: 최애, 막내, 컴백, 화이팅, 대박, 오빠, 언니
- Introduce yourself as a fan and cheer at a concert
- 0′–5′
Welcome
Know how the class works and what you will be able to catch in songs by the end.
- 5′–12′
Hangul taster: reading K-pop words
See how letters stack into blocks and read a few words and a group name.
나
na
say nah
I, me (casual)
너
neo
say nuh
you (casual)
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 12′–19′
Love words: what most songs are about
Recognise the love and longing words that come up in song after song.
사랑해
saranghae
say sah-rahng-heh
I love you (casual)
좋아해
joahae
say joh-ah-heh
I like you (casual)
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 19′–25′
You, me, us: 나, 너, 우리
Understand the pronouns in songs and what to use with real people.
나
na
say nah
I, me (casual)
너
neo
say nuh
you (casual)
+ 5 more on your phrase sheet
- 25′–31′
Time, night and dreams
Recognise the time and dream words that fill K-pop choruses.
오늘
oneul
say oh-neul
today
밤
bam
say bahm
night
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 31′–38′
Fan words
Understand and use the words of K-pop fan culture.
팬
paen
say pen
fan
최애
choeae
say chweh-eh
your favourite member, your bias
+ 6 more on your phrase sheet
- 38′–47′
Fan talk and concert Korean
Introduce yourself as a fan, ask about someone's bias and cheer at a concert.
안녕하세요!
annyeonghaseyo!
say ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh!
Hello! (polite)
저는 ___ 팬이에요.
jeoneun ___ paenieyo.
say juh-neun ___ peh-nee-eh-yoh.
I'm a ___ fan.
+ 7 more on your phrase sheet
- 47′–57′
Practice: fan meet-up
Chat with other fans in polite Korean and read song titles in Hangul.
- 57′–60′
Recap and this week
Remember the key words and know how to keep spotting them in songs.
Korean looks hard, but its alphabet, Hangul, was designed to be easy: 24 basic letters that stack into syllable blocks, and many people learn to sound out words in a few hours of practice. Song lyrics are a great way in, because the same words come back again and again. Songs mostly use casual Korean (반말, banmal), the way you talk to a partner or a close friend; with people you have just met you add 요 or use polite forms, and we practise both today. Korean has no strong word stress: say the syllables evenly.
- Zoom on a computer, tablet or phone
- A microphone; headphones with a mic are best
- Somewhere you are happy to speak out loud
- Pen and paper, if you like. No Korean needed.
Do I need to know any of the language already?
No. Every class is for complete beginners. We start from hello, and everything is explained in English. If you already know a little, it will be a good warm-up, but it will feel easy.
What happens in the hour?
A short welcome, then the sounds (or, for Japanese and Korean, a first look at the writing), greetings, introducing yourself, numbers to ten, ordering at a café and the phrases that get you out of trouble. Then you practise in small breakout rooms and we finish with a recap. Each class page shows the hour minute by minute.
Will I have to speak?
Yes, that is the point, but gently. Most of the time the whole class repeats together with microphones on, so nobody is singled out. Near the end you practise in breakout rooms of 2 or 3. Your camera is up to you.
How big are the classes?
At most 12 people, so everyone gets to speak and ask questions.
How much is a class?
One class is one payment, and you see the price before you pay. Nothing renews and there is no subscription.
Can I cancel or move my class?
Yes. Write to support@bunevents.com at least 24 hours before the start and we will refund you in full or move you to another time, whichever you prefer.
