If you are searching for things like “Is Korean hard to learn?” , “Can I learn Korean by myself?” , or “How to speak Korean faster?” , you are probably standing at the same starting line I once stood on. Back then, I collected apps, bookmarked grammar guides, and watched beginner videos like a squirrel storing nuts for winter. I was very prepared. I was not very fluent. This article is not a list of textbooks or apps. It is a map of the mental terrain you will walk through when you start learning Korean. If you understand this landscape first, you will waste less energy and enjoy the climb much more. Why Learning Korean Feels Different From Other Languages Korean Is Not Just a “Study Language” At the beginning, I treated Korean like a school subject. I memorized rules. I underlined examples. My notes looked neat. My speaking did not. Korean behaves less like a museum artifact and more like a living street market. You can observe it quietly, but it only becomes yours when you s...