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What language is spoken in South Korea? Do they speak English?

South Korea is a country located in the east of the Asian continent. It is a destination with an attractive natural environment and a wide range of activities. Every year, it welcomes large numbers of tourists who enjoy visiting it. Its warm and welcoming people will be delighted to show you around, with great pride and conviviality. You want to visit, but you have no idea of the different dialects used in this country. Focus on the different languages of South Korea.

Local languages

There are officially two languages specific to this environment. These are Hangugeo and Korean sign language.

Korean

Le Hangugeo or Korean is a language shared by North and South Korea. It is the most widely spoken language in the country and differs from that of Western countries. It has developed over the years and has become more modern.

It is the main dialect of South Korea, and is even used beyond the country's borders by the diaspora. It is a complex language that is difficult to understand and speak, but it remains fascinating and interesting. It is also rich in culture and history.

Other Korean dialects

Although Korean is the main language, it is not the only one spoken in South Korea. There are several other ethnic groups, including gyeonggi in the region around the capital Seoul. It is a very popular dialect and forms the basis of the Korean language.

The Jeju. It is used in Jeju province and is very different from other languages. The Gyeongsang is another dialect used by people living in the Yeongnam region. The Jeolla is mainly used by local people from Honam and Gwangju. Those who speak Chungcheong are found in the Chungcheong region and in the city of Daejeon.

Korean sign language

South Korea does not exclude the deaf or hard of hearing from communication. This is why it is introducing a sign language to enable this group to communicate easily.

On 31 December 2015, the National Assembly passed a law to make Korean sign language official. It will not come into force until 4 August 2016, making the sign dialect solemn.

Foreign languages

South Korea opens its doors to visitors and other travellers from abroad, which is why the country's inhabitants are also interested in the languages of other nations.

English

It is the second language spoken in South Korea. It is included in the education system and is taught primarily in schools. All young Koreans are able to speak English as simply as possible.

Virtually all Koreans from the 1940s who went to school had the opportunity to learn the language. The only people who cannot communicate in this language are those who have dropped out of school and the elderly.

In the capital, everything tourist-related is translated into English to make it easier for visitors to understand. Visitors will be able to speak Korean without difficulty, and have easy access to metro and bus stations.

If you want to visit South Korea, you should at least have a good command of this language. It will enable you to move around and communicate without constraint in this country of natural panoramas.

Additional languages

Apart from English, several other foreign languages are studied and spoken in South Korea. From secondary school onwards, the Korean education system includes the following in its curriculum Chinesethe Frenchthe Japanese, Spanish or German. This apprenticeship lasts two years.

In South Korea, there is a small proportion of the population whose mother tongue is English. Japanese. Most of them are bilingual and therefore also speak good Korean.

It's a country with a linguistic richness not insignificant. This makes the country open to foreign populations and develops the tourism sector and the economy. If you haven't yet visited this magnificent country on the Asian continent, make sure you do.

You won't find it too difficult to talk to the locals if you have a good command of English. However, you can also learn Korean in just a few days to help you feel more at ease during your visit.