South and North Korea, as well as the Korean ethnicity living in Northeastern China, speak Korean (or Kugo as it is known in Korea). Hangul, the Korean alphabet, was designed scientifically in the 15th century and is often regarded as the most rational alphabet ever devised. Hangul has 24 letters, 14 consonants, and 10 vowels. Syllables are made up of consonants and vowels. A word is made up of several syllables. Hangul is a reasonably simple language to pick up, and once you've mastered it, you'll be able to read Korean words even if you have no idea what they mean. Korean, like the other East Asian languages, is not an easy language to learn for Westerners. Korean colleges require students to have a particular level of Korean language proficiency in order to be admitted to degree programmes. For undergraduate programmes, you must pass TOPIK level 3 or above, and for graduate programmes, you must pass TOPIK level 4 or higher. If the programme you're interested in is entirely taught in English, a TOEFL score may suffice; nevertheless, many degree programmes contain some courses taught in Korean, even if English is the primary language of instruction. TOPIK is a Korean language test that includes reading, writing, and listening. The test is intended to assess the language competence of foreigners who speak Korean as a second language and wish to use it in academic and professional settings. The test is divided into three levels, each with two grades, ranging from Level 1 to Level 6, the most advanced level. The levels are generally equivalent to European Framework levels A1-C2 in terms of content. A year is divided into six examinations. In general, one level equals ten weeks of study in a KLI, so getting to TOPIK level 3, the minimal level for university admission, takes three quarters of a year/nine months. However, if you wish to continue on to the undergraduate programme afterward, we recommend that you take at least one year to ensure that you attain level 3 and make your college studies easier. Our partner Konkuk University gives degree students scholarships depending on their TOPIK scores.