Why Learn to Type Korean?
Reading Korean is essential, but in today's world, you also need to type it. Whether you are searching on Naver (Korea's main search engine), messaging friends on KakaoTalk, or practicing vocabulary with apps, typing Korean is a daily skill.
The good news: Korean typing is logical and fast once you learn the layout. Many experienced Korean typists are faster in Korean than in English because syllable blocks pack more information per keystroke sequence.
The 두벌식 (2-Set) Keyboard Layout
The standard Korean keyboard layout is called 두벌식 (dubeolik, "2-set"), officially KS X 5002. It has been the national standard since 1969. Virtually all Korean keyboards, computers, and phones use this layout.
The name "2-set" means the keyboard is divided into two sets: - Left hand: Consonants (자음) - Right hand: Vowels (모음)
This division is elegant — your left hand handles consonants while your right hand handles vowels, creating a natural alternating rhythm as you type syllables (which always alternate between consonants and vowels).
Keyboard Layout Map
Here is the 두벌식 layout mapped onto a standard QWERTY keyboard. The English key is shown first, followed by the Korean character it produces:
Top Row (Number Row)
The number row types numbers in both Korean and English mode. No Korean letters are here.
Second Row (QWERTY Row)
| Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Q | ㅂ | W | ㅈ | E | ㄷ | R | ㄱ | T | ㅅ |
| Y | ㅛ | U | ㅕ | I | ㅑ | O | ㅐ | P | ㅔ |
Third Row (ASDF Row)
| Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| A | ㅁ | S | ㄴ | D | ㅇ | F | ㄹ | G | ㅎ |
| H | ㅗ | J | ㅓ | K | ㅏ | L | ㅣ | ; | (none) |
Fourth Row (ZXCV Row)
| Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean | Key | Korean |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Z | ㅋ | X | ㅌ | C | ㅊ | V | ㅍ | B | ㅠ |
| N | ㅜ | M | ㅡ | , | (comma) | . | (period) | / | (slash) |
Shift + Consonant = Double Consonant (쌍자음)
| Keys | Result |
|---|---|
| Shift + Q | ㅃ |
| Shift + W | ㅉ |
| Shift + E | ㄸ |
| Shift + R | ㄲ |
| Shift + T | ㅆ |
Shift + Vowel Key
| Keys | Result |
|---|---|
| Shift + O | ㅒ |
| Shift + P | ㅖ |
How to Remember the Layout
Consonant Side (Left Hand)
Think of the layout in groups:
Top row (Q-W-E-R-T): ㅂ-ㅈ-ㄷ-ㄱ-ㅅ — the five most common plain consonants
Home row (A-S-D-F-G): ㅁ-ㄴ-ㅇ-ㄹ-ㅎ — the remaining common consonants (ㅇ is on D, the strongest finger position, because it is the most frequently used consonant)
Bottom row (Z-X-C-V): ㅋ-ㅌ-ㅊ-ㅍ — the four aspirated consonants, in order matching their plain counterparts (ㄱ→ㅋ, ㄷ→ㅌ, ㅈ→ㅊ, ㅂ→ㅍ)
Vowel Side (Right Hand)
Home row (H-J-K-L): ㅗ-ㅓ-ㅏ-ㅣ — the four most common vowels. Notice ㅏ is on K (home position for right index finger) because it is the single most common vowel in Korean.
Top row (Y-U-I): ㅛ-ㅕ-ㅑ — the y-versions of ㅗ, ㅓ, ㅏ (same finger, one row up)
Bottom row (B-N-M): ㅠ-ㅜ-ㅡ — the remaining vowels
Top row (O-P): ㅐ-ㅔ — the compound vowels derived from ㅏ+ㅣ and ㅓ+ㅣ
Auto-Composition: How It Works
When you type Korean, the operating system automatically groups your keystrokes into syllable blocks in real time. This is called auto-composition or 자동 조합.
Step-by-Step Example: Typing 한글
Watch what appears on screen as you press each key:
| Step | You Press | Key | Screen Shows | What Happened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ㅎ | G | ㅎ | First consonant appears alone |
| 2 | ㅏ | K | 하 | Vowel joins → syllable block forms |
| 3 | ㄴ | S | 한 | Could be 받침 of 하 or start of new syllable — system waits |
| 4 | ㄱ | R | 한ㄱ | ㄴ is confirmed as 받침, ㄱ starts new character |
| 5 | ㅡ | M | 한그 | ㄱ+ㅡ form new syllable block |
| 6 | ㄹ | F | 한글 | ㄹ becomes 받침 of 그 → 한글 complete |
The "Ambiguity Moment"
At Step 3 above, when you type ㄴ after 하, the system does not know yet whether ㄴ is: - The 받침 of 하 (making it 한), or - The start of a new syllable (leaving 하 and starting ㄴ...)
The system tentatively treats it as 받침 (showing 한). If the next keystroke is a vowel, the ㄴ "moves" to become the initial consonant of the next syllable. If the next keystroke is a consonant, ㄴ is confirmed as 받침.
| After 한, you type... | Result | Why |
|---|---|---|
| ㅏ (vowel) | 하나 | ㄴ moves to next syllable: 하 + 나 |
| ㄱ (consonant) | 한ㄱ | ㄴ stays as 받침: 한 + ㄱ... |
Compound Vowels Are Automatic
You do not need to find compound vowels on the keyboard. Just type the component vowels in sequence:
| You Type | Keys | Result |
|---|---|---|
| ㅗ then ㅏ | H then K | ㅘ |
| ㅜ then ㅓ | N then J | ㅝ |
| ㅜ then ㅣ | N then L | ㅟ |
| ㅗ then ㅣ | H then L | ㅚ |
| ㅡ then ㅣ | M then L | ㅢ |
Setting Up Korean Input
Windows 10/11
- Open Settings → Time & Language → Language & Region
- Click Add a language
- Search for 한국어 (Korean) and install it
- In the taskbar, click the language indicator (ENG) or press Win + Space to switch
- Toggle between Korean and English: press Right Alt (한/영 key) or Shift + Alt
macOS
- Open System Settings → Keyboard → Input Sources → Edit...
- Click + (Add) at the bottom left
- Search for Korean and select 2-Set Korean (두벌식), then click Add
- Toggle between Korean and English:
- Press Caps Lock (on newer Macs, Caps Lock switches input source)
- Or press Control + Space (or Fn + Space on some setups)
- Or click the input source icon in the menu bar
Tip for Mac users: Go to System Settings → Keyboard → and enable "Use Caps Lock to switch input source" for the most convenient toggle.
iOS (iPhone/iPad)
- Open Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
- Tap Add New Keyboard...
- Select Korean
- Choose Standard (두벌식) layout
- While typing, tap the globe icon (🌐) to switch between keyboards
Android
- Open Settings → System → Languages & Input → On-screen keyboard
- Select your keyboard app (e.g., Gboard, Samsung Keyboard)
- Go to Languages → Add keyboard
- Select Korean → 두벌식 (2-Set)
- While typing, tap the globe icon or swipe the spacebar to switch
Mobile Keyboard Layout
On phones, the Korean keyboard typically shows the same 두벌식 layout adapted to the touchscreen. Consonants are on the left, vowels on the right, just like the physical keyboard. Some mobile keyboards offer:
- 10-key layout (천지인, Cheonjiin): A compact layout for one-hand typing, popular on older phones
- Standard layout (두벌식): The same layout as desktop, recommended for learners
For consistency with desktop typing, choose the standard (두벌식) layout on mobile.
Typing Practice
Level 1: Simple Syllables
Practice typing these basic syllables. The key sequence is shown in parentheses.
| Target | Keys | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 가 | R-K | ㄱ+ㅏ |
| 나 | S-K | ㄴ+ㅏ |
| 다 | E-K | ㄷ+ㅏ |
| 마 | A-K | ㅁ+ㅏ |
| 바 | Q-K | ㅂ+ㅏ |
| 고 | R-H | ㄱ+ㅗ |
| 누 | S-N | ㄴ+ㅜ |
| 두 | E-N | ㄷ+ㅜ |
Level 2: Syllables with 받침
| Target | Keys | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 한 | G-K-S | ㅎ+ㅏ+ㄴ |
| 글 | R-M-F | ㄱ+ㅡ+ㄹ |
| 말 | A-K-F | ㅁ+ㅏ+ㄹ |
| 집 | W-L-Q | ㅈ+ㅣ+ㅂ |
| 밥 | Q-K-Q | ㅂ+ㅏ+ㅂ |
| 국 | R-N-R | ㄱ+ㅜ+ㄱ |
Level 3: Words
| Target | Keys | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| 한글 | G-K-S-R-M-F | Hangul |
| 사랑 | T-K-F-K-D | love |
| 학교 | G-K-R-R-Y-H | school |
| 친구 | C-L-S-R-N | friend |
| 감사 | R-K-A-T-K | thanks |
Level 4: Sentences
Try typing these complete sentences:
- 안녕하세요. — D-K-S-S-U-H-G-K-T-J-Y-H-. (annyeonghaseyo)
- 감사합니다. — R-K-A-T-K-G-K-Q-S-L-E-K-. (gamsahamnida)
- 한국어를 공부해요. — Practice finding each character!
Typing Tips
Tip 1: Do Not Look at the Keyboard
Like English touch typing, the goal is to type without looking. Start slowly and build muscle memory. The home row position (ㅁㄴㅇㄹ for left, ㅗㅓㅏㅣ for right) is your anchor.
Tip 2: Trust the Auto-Composition
Do not try to manually form syllable blocks. Just type consonants and vowels in order, and the system handles the rest. If something looks wrong mid-word, keep typing — it usually resolves.
Tip 3: Backspace Behavior
Pressing Backspace in Korean mode deletes one jamo (letter) at a time, not one syllable block. So if you typed 한 and press Backspace, you get 하 (it removes the ㄴ받침), not nothing.
Tip 4: Space Separates Words
Korean does use spaces between words (unlike Chinese or Japanese). Press Space between words, and the auto-composition for the current syllable will finalize.
Tip 5: Practice Resources
- TypeRacer Korean (typeracer.com): Race against others while typing Korean text
- Hangul Attack (online game): Type falling Korean characters before they hit the ground
- Korean keyboard stickers: If you have a non-Korean keyboard, affordable stickers can help you see the layout while learning
Common Typing Mistakes
| Mistake | Cause | Fix |
|---|---|---|
| Wrong syllable grouping | Typing too fast before composition settles | Slow down; check after each syllable |
| Missing 받침 | Forgetting the final consonant | Read the target word carefully before typing |
| Wrong double consonant | Forgetting Shift | Remember: Shift + base consonant = double |
| ㅐ and ㅔ confusion | O key vs P key | ㅐ is O (left), ㅔ is P (right) |
| Typing in English mode | Forgetting to switch | Check the language indicator before typing |