How to Introduce Yourself in Korean: The 15-minute Guide

Achieving full fluency in 국어 (the Korean language) might require years. However, learning to introduce yourself in Korean can be done in just 15 minutes.

This guide will show you how to say “Hello, my name is…” and other key phrases for initial meetings. You'll also find a sample dialogue and resources to help reinforce your learning.

You can also watch this lesson from our YouTube channel :

How to Introduce Yourself in Korean: An Overview

In English, a standard introduction is “Hello, my name is…”, a phrase suitable for anyone.

In Korean, the phrase changes slightly depending on the listener. Your speech to older relatives, for instance, will be different from how you talk to close friends.

If you're unfamiliar with Korean formality levels, here's a brief overview.

• 반말 (Casual language): Used with people younger than you and close friends.

• 존댓말 (Polite language): Used with strangers and people you don’t know well. It comes in two forms: informal and formal. Sentences written in the informal version usually end with a “ 요 ” on the verb. Sentences written in the formal version often end in (ㅡ) ㅂ니다 .

We will concentrate on the polite informal style, which is appropriate for most everyday scenarios.

Basic Phrases for Introducing Yourself in Korean

“Hello, My Name Is…”

Similar to English, Korean offers multiple ways to introduce yourself.

For a first meeting, use one of these phrases to say “Hello, my name is…”

If your name ends in a vowel, say:

안녕하세요? 저는 _____ 예요 . Hello, my name is _____.

If your name ends in a consonant, say:

안녕하세요? 저는 _____ 이에요 . Hello, my name is _____.

You can also use one of the following phrases with no difference in meaning.

If your name ends in a vowel:

제 이름은 _____ 예요 . My name is _____.

And if your name ends in a consonant:

제 이름은 _____ 이에요 . My name is _____.

If you want to ask somebody else what their name is, you can say:

이름이 뭐예요? What is your name?

“Nice to Meet You”

There are several ways to say “nice to meet you” in Korean, but one of the simplest is:

만나서 반가워요. Nice to meet you.

“I’m From…”

Soon after meeting, someone might ask about your background. Use this phrase to state your country or city of origin:

저는 _____ 에서 왔어요 . I come from _____.

Korean speakers often omit the word “I” from sentences. When the subject is clear from context, you can drop 저는 without altering the meaning.

Here’s a list of some countries you might be from. Many country names sound similar to English, but some, like America, Australia, and England, are different.

Canada: 캐나다 England: 영국 America: 미국 Ireland: 아일랜드 Scotland: 스코틀랜드 Northern Ireland: 북아일랜드 New Zealand: 뉴질랜드 India: 인도 Australia: 호주 The Philippines: 필리핀 Jamaica: 자메이카 The Bahamas: 바하마 제도

Talking About Your Age

When meeting someone new, you might ask their age to determine the appropriate level of formality.

Stating your age is simple. Provide a number followed by this phrase:

_____ 살이에요 . I am _____ years old.

Remember that Korean uses two number systems. For age, use native Korean numbers. Here’s a quick refresher.

One: 하나 ( 한 ) Two: 둘 ( 두 ) Three: 셋 ( 세 ) Four: 넷 ( 네 ) Five: 다섯 Six: 여섯 Seven: 일곱 Eight: 여덟 Nine: 아홉 Ten: 열 Twenty: 스물 ( 스무 ) Thirty: 서른 Forty: 마흔 Fifty: 쉰 Sixty: 예순 Seventy: 일흔 Eighty: 여든 Ninety: 아흔

To ask someone's age, use one of these expressions, depending on formality.

나이가 어떻게 되세요? How old are you? (Formal)

몇 살이에요? How old are you? (Casual)

If you’re asking somebody older than you their age, you should say:

연세가 어떻게 되세요? How old are you?

Talking About Your Job

To state your profession, use this expression, inserting your job title in the blank:

저는 _____ 이에요/예요 . I am a _____.

Here’s a list of some common job titles.

Teacher: 선생님 Student: 학생 Doctor: 의사 Nurse: 간호사 Scientist: 과학자 Athlete: 운동 선수

To ask someone's profession, use this expression, which translates to “what is your profession?”

무슨 일 하세요? What’s your job?

Sample Conversation for Introducing Yourself in Korean

Well done—you now have a good foundation for self-introductions and starting conversations in Korean!

Now that you know some basic phrases, here’s a sample conversation using them together:

Ryan: 안녕하세요? 저는 Ryan이에요. 이름이 뭐예요? Hello, I’m Ryan. What’s your name?

Min-Soo: 저는 Min-Soo예요. 한국에서 왔어요. I’m Min-Soo. I’m from Korea.

Ryan: 만나서 반가워요. Nice to meet you.

Min-Soo: 저도요. Ryan, 나이가 어떻게 되세요? Same to you. How old are you, Ryan?

Ryan: 25살이에요. 무슨 일 하세요? I’m 25 years old. What’s your job?

Min-Soo: 학생이에요. I’m a student.

This is just one possible conversation. To practice, try this dialogue with a classmate or language partner, varying the responses. Recording yourself can provide extra pronunciation practice.

Online Resources for Practicing Your Introducing Yourself in Korean

Learning these phrases once isn't sufficient. Consistent practice is key!

Here are some apps and websites to help reinforce your learning:

Watch Authentic Korean Videos on Lingflix

You can search for the phrases above to see them used in authentic Korean media.

Connect with Native Speakers on HelloTalk

HelloTalk is a social media app that pairs you with native speakers interested in learning your language.

You can chat, ask questions, and correct each other’s speech and writing. This app is excellent for practicing introductions, as you'll introduce yourself to each new contact!

If you want to know more about this app, read our HelloTalk review .

Run Grammar Drills on How to Study Korean

For improving grammar and building fluency, How to Study Korean is one of the top free online resources.

The site offers over 150 lessons to enhance your Korean, plus games and activities for practice.

Work on Memorization with Korean Flashcards from Quizlet

To learn more phrases for immediate real-world use, this Quizlet card set can assist. After memorizing the phrases, test your retention. Other flashcard apps supporting Korean are also available.

If you prefer physical flashcards, that's excellent too: create your own with paper or notecards. Writing the phrases helps practice spelling and aids memorization.

Chat with a Robot on MondlyAR

MondlyAR—a component of the wider Mondly language-learning platform—includes a virtual reality chatbot for practicing phrases.

Try starting a conversation and using the phrases you learned. A chatbot is a great tool to build confidence before speaking with a native speaker. Learn more about MondlyAR in our review .

Many other apps are available to improve your Korean.

For more on Korean introductions, you can also watch this YouTube video:

And if you want to master honorifics, this video can help:

See? In just 15 minutes, you've become a more confident Korean speaker.

Now that you know some basic phrases, use them to begin your next Korean conversation. This could be the perfect opportunity to turn a Korean-speaking acquaintance into a new friend.