Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need to speak Korean to use this site?
No. You only need to recognize the Hangul alphabet — the letters, not vocabulary or grammar. If you're starting from zero, the free introductory e-book from the King Sejong Institute (linked on our home page) teaches the alphabet itself; come back here when the letters look familiar and you want them to become fast.
Why is your romanization different from what's printed on real signs?
Real signs print the official romanization, which spells the sound after Korean sound-change rules apply — 종로 becomes “Jongno.” Our readings spell the blocks: Jong·Ro, one chip per syllable, letters kept faithful to the spelling. It's deliberate: this site trains your eyes to decode blocks, and hiding the letter-to-sound mapping would defeat that. See How to Read for the full explanation.
How were the words chosen?
By hand, from real Korean signage, in the four situations where you actually read under time pressure: subway stations, restaurants, tourist sites, and markets. We prioritize frequency — the words you'll meet ten times a day beat rare dictionary entries — and each entry keeps the spacing and phrasing a real sign would use.
Is Read Hangul free?
Yes, completely. No account, no sign-up, nothing to install. The site is supported by a few ads placed around the content — never inside the flashcards.
What does the Listen button play?
Each word three times in one clip: at normal speed, then syllable by syllable, then normal again. Read the card aloud first, then use the audio to check yourself — the slow middle pass is there to confirm each block, the final pass to hear the word at street speed.
Is my progress saved? What about my data?
There are no accounts and our servers store nothing about you. Preferences like your language choice live only in your own browser. The full details are in our privacy policy.
Does it work on my phone?
Yes — the flashcards are designed for a phone in one hand, and the word tables reflow into stacked entries on small screens. A quick deck on the subway ride is exactly the intended use.
Who makes Read Hangul?
MaverickWorx, a small team building free Korean-learning tools — including our sister sites TypeHangul, a Hangul typing game, and Yunseul, a Korean-writing community. Feedback and corrections are welcome at [email protected].