The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul
The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul is a beginner-level online course from Coursera in History. It is structured in 4 modules with 3 stated learning outcomes, over 8h 26m. Learners rate it 4.7/5 from 510 ratings on Coursera.
Part of our History courses collection, where we compare it against 2 other courses.
Course highlights
| Provider | Coursera |
| Duration | 8h 26m |
| Level | Beginner |
| Mode | Self-paced |
| Language | English |
| Certificate | Yes — shareable certificate |
| Rating | 4.7★ (510 reviews) |
| Price | Check price |
About this course
This course, The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul, teaches you about Hangeul, the writing system for the Korean language. Offered by Sungkyunkwan University, it covers the fundamental principles behind Hangeul’s character creation. You learn about the history of Hangeul and how it was designed, understanding its significance to Korean people.
The course is structured to introduce Hangeul from its origins. You explore the creation and distribution of Hangeul, followed by an in-depth look at the principles that guide its characters. This includes understanding the structure of consonants and vowels. The final section focuses on practical application, guiding you through reading and writing Hangeul characters.
Upon completing The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul, you will be able to recognize and write Korean characters. You will understand the historical context of Hangeul and its cultural importance. This skill forms a basic foundation for further language learning, developing your literacy in Korean.
This course is a beginner-level introduction, lasting 8 hours 26 minutes. It focuses specifically on the Hangeul alphabet. It does not cover advanced Korean grammar, vocabulary beyond basic character recognition, or conversational Korean. If you are interested in broader historical topics, you might explore History courses, such as The Modern World, Part One: Global History from 1760 to 1910. For other types of creative learning, consider the Mehendi Online Course: Learn Mehndi Designs.
What you’ll learn
Level and time commitment
- Anyone interested in Korea, Korean and Hangeul can take the course.
Skills you’ll gain
What this course covers
4 modulesThe 4-part outline Coursera publishes for this course, across 8h 26m.
Module 1 · INTRODUCTION TO HANGEUL
Module 2 · CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANGEUL
Module 3 · PRINCIPLES OF HANGEUL’S CHARACTER CREATION
Module 4 · READING AND WRITING HANGEUL
What learners rate it
Rated 4.7/5 by 510 learners on Coursera (checked 10 Aug 2026).
This rating is collected by Coursera from its own enrolled learners. We reproduce it as reported and do not accept paid or incentivised reviews. See it on Coursera →
Compiled by the CoursesGlobal editorial desk. Fees, ratings, duration and certificate details for the 1 course shown are read directly from Coursera course pages — we never estimate a price or a rating. Last verified 10 August 2026.
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Compare with alternatives
Same topic, different trade-offs — here's who runs each one and what it's best at.
| Course | Provider | Rating | Price | Duration | Why pick this one |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul This |
 Coursera
|
4.7★ | Check price | 8h 26m | Quickest to finish (8h 26m) |
| The Modern World, Part One: Global History from 1760 to 1910 |
Coursera
|
4.8★ | Check price | PT15H27M10.613S | Highest rated (4.8★ from 3.1K reviews) |
| Mehendi Online Course: Learn Mehndi Designs |
 Udemy
|
4.3★ | Free | Free — and still gives a certificate |
Common questions
How much does The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul cost?
Coursera does not publish a price we can read on the course page, so we do not show one. Check the fee on the provider site — we would rather say nothing than quote a number we did not collect.
Does The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul come with a certificate?
Yes — Coursera lists a certificate on completion. It is a course certificate, not a formal qualification or university credit.
How long does The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul take?
Coursera lists it at 8h 26m. It is self-paced, so that is the volume of material rather than a deadline — how long it actually takes depends on the hours you put in each week.
Is The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul suitable for beginners?
Yes. Coursera lists it at Beginner level, so no prior experience in the subject is assumed.
What does The Korean Alphabet: An Introduction to Hangeul cover?
It is organised into 4 modules, starting with INTRODUCTION TO HANGEUL and going on to CREATION AND DISTRIBUTION OF HANGEUL, PRINCIPLES OF HANGEUL’S CHARACTER CREATION, READING AND WRITING HANGEUL. The full outline is on this page.