Although, as you might expect, not all programs or websites that offer Korean lessons are created equal and the language is considered especially tricky for English speakers to learn without the proper support. For those who would like to get beyond a few Korean words or phrases and actually learn Korean, there are also a growing number of online resources for the language. There are also large Korean communities throughout the United States and likewise, the US has a strong military, diplomatic, and cultural influence on the Korean peninsula. The rising influence of the Korean language can be attributed in part to the popularity of Korean pop music and culture and to a budding interest in Korean cuisine. Although Korean descended from a different language family than Chinese, you’ll find some similarities between the languages such as some Korean vocabulary words which are based on Chinese characters. Linguistically, the Korean language is believed to be part of a family of Altaic languages that includes Japanese, Turkish, and Mongolian. However, Korean also has a significant foothold in other countries across the world, including over two million speakers in China, one million in the United States, and half a million in Japan. With over 75 million speakers, Korean is the official language of both North and South Korea. Looking to learn more about the Korean language? You’ve come to the right place.