📖 2025 Insights: What Students Struggle with Most? (TOPIK Beginner/Advanced)

Based on hundreds of hours of italki lessons in 2025, I’ve analyzed the most common hurdles for Korean learners. You are not alone—here is what your peers found hardest.

Professional italki Korean teacher explaining Sino-Korean characters and idioms to an advanced student during an online lesson

🔍 Real Data: Top Challenges by Level

Having taught numerous students with diverse backgrounds this year, I've noticed distinct patterns in what makes Korean difficult. Whether you are a total beginner or an advanced scholar, your struggles are a natural part of the growth process.

Student Level	The "Wall" They Faced in 2025	Teacher's Professional Tip
Beginner	Particles (은/는 vs 이/가) and sentence endings.	Don't over-analyze; focus on high-frequency patterns first.
Intermediate	Speech levels and connection adverbs (그래도, 그런데...).	Practice through natural conversation, not just textbooks.
Advanced	Sino-Korean (한자어), Proverbs (속담), and Idioms (관용구).	Learn the Hanja roots to unlock thousands of words at once.

⚠️ Culture Check: Why Advanced Students Get Stuck

Advanced learners often hit a plateau because Korean becomes very nuanced. In 2025, many of my advanced students struggled with Sino-Korean words (한자어) and Proverbs (속담), which are essential for understanding news or literature. These aren't just words; they are the cultural DNA of the language. If you're feeling stuck here, it means you've finally reached the gate of true mastery!

Is your progress slowing down? Read my analysis: Why your Korean isn't improving (and how to fix it)

🚀 Your Roadmap to 2026 Mastery

Reflecting on your 2025 journey is the best way to prepare for 2026. Based on my experience with other students at your level, here is how you should restart:

For New Beginners: Start with a strong 'Why'. Understanding the logic of Hangul will save you months of confusion. Learn Hangul Online: Why Korean?
For Goal Seekers: If you're aiming for TOPIK in 2026, you must know where you stand. Understanding Korean Proficiency Levels
For Advanced Learners: Focus on Hanja-based vocabulary and idioms to sound more like a native speaker.

🤝 Stay Connected with Your Korean Pillar

Let's Overcome These Hurdles Together!

I have spent 2025 guiding students through these exact challenges. My italki classroom is a place where we turn these "walls" into "bridges." Let's build your 2026 success story together.

Book a personalized Italki lesson to address your specific weak points: