Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!

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In this first episode of the Korea Unscripted series, I begin with a story from my teenage years in New York—an eye-opening moment when I realized how words I "knew" in English meant little without real-world context. That lesson shaped how I teach Korean today: language exists in context.
From that truth, Korea Unscripted was born—a new series that captures real-life conversations and small but powerful Korean phrases heard in everyday moments.

In this episode, I also take you to a dinner table in a Korean restaurant where a casual exchange between a married couple turns into a rich language moment. You'll learn how the simple phrase “딱 맞아” (‘It’s exactly right’) captures more than just proportion—it reflects real-life rhythm, tone, and connection. Along the way, we’ll explore how “딱” functions in everyday speech and see language as it’s lived—unscripted, natural, and full of small “aha” moments.

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Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

📍 To learn more about or register for the upcoming new beginner class, visit my.essentialkorean.com and check the latest post under Kay샘’s Desk for the link and full details.

Join us and start your Korean journey the right way! ☘️

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!

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In this special episode, we explore the -지요 verb ending in Korean—a versatile and engaging speech pattern often used for confirmation, connection, and inclusivity in conversation.

Through real-life examples, Kay샘 will guide you in understanding how -지요 functions in different contexts, alongside key grammar points like the -고 conjunctive and honorific verbs in Korean.

But today’s episode is also deeply personal. As Kay샘 teaches these language concepts, she'll share a letter to her late father, reflecting on words, unspoken actions, love, and cherished memories. Through this, you’ll hear authentic Korean in action—woven into a tribute that is both linguistic and personal.

Let's learn, reflect, and celebrate both the power of language and the love that connects us across time and memory.

Key Takeaways from This Episode:

✅ The meaning and function of -지요 in Korean conversations
✅ How -고 is used to connect ideas in natural speech
✅ The role of honorific verbs in storytelling and respect
✅ A personal letter, shared in both Korean and English

To happy learning and memories... 💕

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!

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The Korean writer Han Kang (한강) has been awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature this year, marking the first-ever Nobel Prize win in literature in Korean history. 

To pay tribute to this remarkable writer, we have a lesson in this episode built around "The Vegetarian," for which she received the 2016 Man Booker International Prize, using a few elements from the book to have a Korean lesson.

Today, we’ll learn:

• One way to form words that mean ideology and a person who believes in that ideology (semantics).
• A pattern to express one’s attempt or intention (syntax).
• Comparison between the original Korean titles of some of her books and their translated titles.

All this is in tribute to Han Kang, for being the first Korean writer ever to receive the Nobel Prize in Literature!

Are we ready for our lesson then? Let’s get started!

#HanKang #한강 #TheVegetarian #채식주의자 #KoreanLiterature #KoreanBooks #KoreanAuthors #LearnKorean #KoreanLanguage #KoreanLessons #KoreanGrammar #KoreanCulture #LanguageLearning #LiteratureLovers #WorldLiterature #ManBookerPrize #KoreanNovels #BookDiscussion #LanguagePodcast #LiteraryPodcast

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Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!

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In this episode, we’ll explore how to talk about the Olympics in Korean, with a focus on key phrases, expressions, and vocabulary related to this global event. Along the way, you'll study/review Sino-Korean numbers and native Korean numbers, as well as learn to pronounce tricky phrases naturally, more like a native speaker :)

Stay tuned until the end, where we’ll uncover how the term 효자—which means a pious, caring son—relates to the Olympics. Let's dive in to the lesson right away!

#Sino-KoreanNumbers, #NativeKoreanNumbers #KoreanPronunciation #FromAndToInKorean #SportsInKorean #KoreanArchery #2024Olympics #88SeoulOlympics

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!

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In this episode, we dive into the essential Korean particles 부터, 에서, 까지, and (으)로. Whether you're navigating time, locations, or means, these particles are key to mastering Korean fluency.

We'll break down each particle with explanations and examples, helping you understand when and how to use them in everyday conversation. Plus, Kay샘 will guide you through applying what you've learned in real-life scenarios, specifically in the context of dating and significant others :-)

Ready to dive in? Let's get right to it!

#KoreanGrammar #EssentialKoreanPodcast #EssentialKoreanPhrases

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Send us a Text Message.

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together! 


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Dive into the poetic depths of the Korean language with Episode 53 of the Essential Korean Podcast, where Kay샘 unravels the complexities of 'ㅆ을까'—a grammatical form that captures the poignant musings of past choices and the bittersweet tang of what might have been.

In this episode, we dissect a poignant scene from a movie, parsing the emotion behind 'ㅆ을까'. Then, we groove to the beat of Psy's song '어땠을까', unpacking the layers of retrospective longing woven into its lyrics. With grammar and practical language lessons, we’ll explore how this unique expression shapes narratives and conveys deep emotions in storytelling. 

Join the discussion post-episode on our website essentialkorean.com under "EK Podcast Episode 53." Share your insights, engage with our supportive community, and become a part of our collaborative learning experience.

#EssentialKorean #LearnKorean #KoreanGrammar #KoreanCinemaLove #KPopLanguage #KoreanPodcast #LanguageLearners #ㅆ을까Journey #박정현 #Psy싸이

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Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. We’ve created the Essential Korean membership to help provide a complete set of tools to elevate your Korean to the next level. Check that out on our website, along with my weekly newsletter, at essentialkorean.com!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Send us a Text Message.

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together! 

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Transcript and Key Lesson Points

In this episode, we explore unique Korean verbs that are associated with the preparation of traditional dishes such as kimchi 김치, jjigae 찌개, namul 나물, and more. This episode introduces the verbs in a fun and interactive way, using vivid imagery and repetition for a memorable learning experience. You'll not only learn how to converse about making these iconic dishes but also gain deeper insights into the culture surrounding them. Additionally, stay tuned till the end for an exciting update about our website. Let's get started!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Send us a Text Message.

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!


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In this episode, we'll cover one of the question words, which is long overdue because we had an episode, Episode 3, on basic questions such as 뭐예요 (what is it), 언제예요 (when is it), 어디예요 (where is it), 누구예요 (who is it), and 얼마예요 (how much is it). Yet, it's not until today’s episode, Episode 51, that we introduce the crucial question word for numbers, 몇!

We'll delve into this important question word and learn how to use it by 1) discussing some key concepts and 2) practicing them with situational examples, set in a nice Korean barbecue restaurant! 

By the end of this episode, you'll be able to comprehend and use this question word 몇 with various classifiers and level up your Korean. You'll also hear a few cultural things to note regarding different types of meat. So, without further ado, let's get started!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean

Send us a Text Message.

Welcome to the Essential Korean Podcast, where I help break down the nuances of the Korean language to help you become a more aware and confident speaker of Korean. Ready to elevate your Korean skills and join a vibrant community of learners? Join the EK Community at my.essentialkorean.com for engaging courses, comprehensive resources, exclusive content, and great conversations on diverse Korea-related topics with other members. Visit our membership page to choose a plan that gives you access to episode transcripts and an enhanced learning experience with weekly classes and study sessions alongside like-minded people. Let’s embark on this wonderful journey together!


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In today’s episode, we’ll discuss 1) the difference between the Korean "you" and the English "you" and 2) how to address people you're talking to in Korean. 

This is the topic many of you have requested, and I am very happy that I finally got to it and am sharing it with you.  

Are you ready to tackle this topic? Let’s dive right in - it’ll be fun and culturally enlightening!

Support the show

• Home page: www.essentialkorean.com
• Community: my.essentialkorean.com
• https://www.instagram.com/essential.korean