With the rise of OTT services like Netflix, Korean dramas are enjoying explosive global popularity. Among them, Squid Game made history by landing in the Top 10 in 94 countries and setting a record for the most viewing hours. Season 2, scheduled for release on December 26, 2024, is already building massive anticipation. This K-drama boom has also fueled a wave of people learning Korean. In fact, many of my students first became interested in Korean after falling in love with dramas. But how effective is learning Korean through dramas?
Benefits of Learning Korean Through Dramas
Exposure to Everyday Language
Dramas immerse you in real-life Korean—casual conversations, trendy slang, colloquial speech, and even regional accents. Unlike rigid textbook dialogues, dramas showcase how grammar and vocabulary are naturally used. Watching them helps you pick up practical expressions that textbooks rarely cover.
Understanding Korean Culture
Language is a vessel for our thoughts.
Language and culture are deeply connected. Dramas offer a window into Korean customs, mindsets, relationships, and daily life. Understanding cultural context makes the language feel more alive and meaningful, greatly enhancing your comprehension and speaking ability.
Drawbacks of Learning Korean Through Dramas
Overuse of Informal Speech (반말)
One of my students self-studied Korean through dramas and became impressively fluent, even winning a Korean speech contest. However, she had a major blind spot: she couldn’t properly use formal language (존댓말). In Korean, knowing when to use formal or informal speech is essential to avoid awkwardness. Since many dramas focus on casual or peer conversations, it’s easy to overlearn 반말 without realizing it.
Exaggerated or Unrealistic Expressions
Most drama dialogue is realistic enough for daily use, but some lines are dramatized for storytelling purposes. For instance, “너, 거기 안 서?” ("You! Stop right there!") sounds natural during a chase scene, but saying it in everyday life would be strange. I still remember a classmate jokingly using it once, leaving everyone around him speechless!
How to Smartly Learn Korean Through Dramas
There are many study methods like rewatching scenes or using Korean subtitles, but honestly, I don’t want you to approach dramas like homework. After all, we watch K-dramas to enjoy them, right? Turning them into full-on study sessions could kill the fun.
Instead, here’s a simple method I recommend, based on real experience with my students: If you hear a phrase that catches your attention, write it down. Just one phrase is enough. Then, try adapting it to fit your own story or daily life. If you can practice using it with a native speaker or tutor, even better!
That’s it. No pressure, no overthinking. By watching dramas for fun and occasionally focusing on interesting expressions, you’ll naturally boost your Korean listening skills and vocabulary over time.
Korean dramas are a fantastic tool for immersing yourself in the language and culture, but it's important to balance them with some structured learning. Native-speaking teachers or friends can help you distinguish between formal and informal speech and avoid picking up unrealistic phrases. For a more guided experience, the Podo Korean app offers drama-based lessons where you can watch scenes, learn useful expressions, and build your real-world Korean fluency naturally.
