📖 Best Korean Books for Intermediate+ Learners

If you've made it past the beginner level in Korean, congratulations! 📚 You're ready to level up with real reading practice. The best way to do that? Dive into books written for native speakers—or simplified for learners. Below are some curated recommendations to help you improve vocabulary, sentence patterns, and cultural understanding.

1. Why Read in Korean?

Reading helps reinforce grammar and vocabulary you already know—and exposes you to idioms, culture, and real-world expressions. Whether you're reading news, novels, or webtoons, it builds fluency and confidence.

2. Top Recommended Books

세종한국어 시리즈 (Sejong Korean) – Great for structured review and vocabulary expansion.
우리말 이야기 – Korean folktales with vocabulary notes for learners.
소설 ‘82년생 김지영’ (Kim Ji-young, Born 1982) – A powerful, modern novel with everyday vocabulary.
쉬운 한국어 뉴스 (Easy Korean News) – Real news written in beginner-friendly language.
Talk To Me In Korean Level Books – Short stories and grammar books for learners.
네이버 웹툰 (Naver Webtoons) – Free comics with modern slang and culture.
Topik 기출문제집 – Great for those preparing for the proficiency test.
이야기 한국어 시리즈 – Story-based learning with audio support.
읽기 교과서 (Korean Reading Textbooks) – Used in Korean schools, available secondhand.
Graded Readers by Darakwon – Structured for learners with vocabulary lists.

3. Reading Tips

Choose books at your level, not above it. Don’t frustrate yourself.
Use a dictionary like Papago or Naver Dictionary.
Highlight useful grammar structures.
Keep a reading journal to summarize what you've read in Korean.

4. Did You Know?

📊 According to the Korean Foundation, Korean is the 14th most widely studied language globally. As of 2023, over 1.3 million people around the world are formally studying Korean—and this number is growing fast thanks to K-pop, K-dramas, and Korean literature!

5. Learn with Me on italki

📘 Want personalized help with reading Korean books? Join my Korean lessons on italki and let's explore Korean literature together!