What started as a personal struggle with pronunciation became a global movement. Unaware of its impact, Youseop created a simple video to help others learn Korean naturally. Now, with millions of students, he proves that mastering Korean isn’t about grammar drills but immersion and confidence. Through social media and free courses, he’s making the language more accessible than ever.

1. Could you introduce yourself and share what inspired you to start teaching Korean? 

Hello, I’m Youseop, and I specialize in helping learners improve their Korean pronunciation! My journey started with a simple idea. Years ago, I tried learning Spanish using just a textbook, but I struggled immensely with pronunciation. That experience made me want to help others facing similar challenges with Korean.
The actual beginning came during a trip to Thailand. Sitting on a beach, I decided to record my very first video demonstrating easy and natural ways to pronounce Korean words.
Since then, for two years straight, I’ve been consistently uploading short-form videos every day, helping students worldwide learn Korean through social media!


2. How has teaching Korean on social media been different from more traditional teaching methods? What unique challenges and opportunities have you encountered?
When teaching through social media, it’s essential to quickly grab people’s attention and keep them interested. My content mainly targets beginners, so it’s challenging to dive deeply into more advanced or diverse topics.
Unlike traditional classrooms, where lessons can be tailored to each student, social media’s short format limits complexity. However, it offers the advantage of reaching a wider audience, enabling creative communication and immediate feedback.

3. What is the core mission you hope to achieve through teaching the Korean language, especially on such a global platform?
My primary goal is to help learners acquire Korean naturally and comfortably, allowing them to connect more deeply with Korea and its culture. Whenever possible, I meet students visiting Korea to enhance their experience. Ultimately, I hope language learning becomes a meaningful gateway for them to enjoy and appreciate Korean culture fully.

4. Korean is more popular than ever, with many people eager to learn it, especially through social media. What do you think drives this interest, and what’s one misconception learners often have about the process?
I believe many people are eager to learn Korean because of the global influence of K-pop, K-dramas, films, and other cultural content. Learning Korean allows people to go beyond simply enjoying this content—it gives them the ability to understand it more deeply and engage with it in a more meaningful way. That’s why so many people are drawn to it. One of the biggest misconceptions is the idea that you can master Korean in just a few days or weeks. Many social media posts promote the idea of learning a language quickly, but in reality, consistent exposure and repetition are key. Rather than focusing on speed, it’s more important to enjoy the process and grow gradually. That’s why I recommend watching a lot of Korean content that interests you. Even if you don’t understand everything at first, watching without subtitles can be a great way to improve. The more you listen and expose yourself to Korean, the more natural the learning process becomes!

5. Many learners find Korean challenging and sometimes feel stuck. What’s your best advice for them? And beyond just language learning, what message would you give to those passionate about Korean culture?
I always tell learners to stop memorizing and start experiencing. The best way to learn Korean is just like your native language—through immersion. Listen, surround yourself with it, and let words become familiar naturally. Professor Stephen Krashen’s Natural Approach highlights that true learning happens through meaningful exposure.
But learning Korean isn’t just about words; it’s about connecting with the culture and people. Just like how you absorbed your first language, Korean will become easier the more you engage with it. The journey may be tough, but enjoying the process makes fluency come naturally. Keep going!

6. How do you keep students motivated, especially when they face challenges in their language learning journey?

I often notice that students worry a lot about their pronunciation and sentence structure. Whenever I sense this anxiety, I reassure them that making mistakes is absolutely fine. I constantly emphasize that I’m not someone who tests or judges them—I’m more like a supportive friend, guiding their learning journey.
During lessons, I intentionally minimize corrections unless students explicitly request feedback, as I believe that language is fundamentally about communication, not perfection. I’ve seen firsthand how adopting this comfortable, supportive approach significantly boosts students’ confidence, enabling them to become more comfortable with their own mistakes. Eventually, they often surprise themselves by how naturally and quickly they improve.

7. Your content resonates with countless learners on social media. Do you follow your own creative vision or tailor it to your students' needs? And can you share a sneak peek into any exciting projects in the works?

I always prioritize my students' needs. While short-form videos on basic words and pronunciation gained the best response, they have limitations in delivering deeper content. This led me to create long-form YouTube videos, helping learners naturally acquire Korean through audio and images without translations.
Now, I’m working on content that makes learning more intuitive. I’m creating Korean story videos for beginners using illustrations instead of translations, along with visual vocabulary content that helps learners understand words in context rather than memorizing them. My goal is to keep learning engaging, natural, and effective.
 

8. Could you tell us more about your collaboration with EgyKorea as providing Korean courses for free to Arabs or Egyptians and what was your aim?

My connection with EgyKorea began when they reached out to me first. Since then, we have maintained a great relationship, working together to support Arabic-speaking and Egyptian learners who are passionate about learning Korean.

About two years ago, I held a one-month Korean course for three classes, and many students participated enthusiastically. Based on that experience, I promised to offer another course for Egyptian learners in the future.

Then, this past February, I conducted a Korean alphabet course and a basic expressions course for Egyptian students. Moving forward, I hope to continue collaborating with EgyKorea and regularly providing support for Egyptian learners who are eager to explore the Korean language and culture.

Key Words: 
Korean pronunciation, Language barriers, Free Korean courses,  Korean culture.