# How to make Korean friends (online and in Korea)

[Sea Pals](https://seapals.app/) › [Guides](https://seapals.app/guides) › [How to make Korean friends](https://seapals.app/guides/korean-friends)

Updated 11 October 2026

To make Korean friends online or in Korea, start with a shared interest in a friendship community, language class or organised activity. Introduce yourself briefly, ask about everyday life and agree on a comfortable language and pace. Keep online conversations in the app and leave personal details private.

## Where to meet people who share your interests

Online, try a friendship community, a language exchange or a moderated hobby group. Read the age rules and community guidelines before joining, then take part in an existing discussion instead of asking strangers to be your friend.

If you are already in Korea, look for organised language classes, cooking workshops or hobby clubs that welcome newcomers. Ask the organiser about the language used, age requirements and how the group works. Join for an activity you would enjoy anyway, and let conversations grow from doing it together. Teens should choose age-appropriate activities with a trusted adult, rather than arranging meetings with people met online.

K-pop, dramas, food or learning Korean can give you a reason to write. Be specific: “I tried making tteokbokki, but the sauce was hotter than I expected. Do you like cooking?” is easier to answer than “I love Korea. Be my friend.” Share a small story, then leave room for theirs.

Not every Korean person shares your favourite group or watches dramas. If a topic does not interest them, try another. A friendship can begin with music and grow into conversations about books, games or a quiet weekend.

- “I keep replaying this song for the chorus. What have you been listening to?”
- “I liked the friendships in that drama. What kind of stories do you enjoy?”
- “I want to try a Korean dish that is not too spicy. What would you suggest?”

## Learn a little Korean, without waiting to be fluent

A greeting shows that you are willing to meet someone partway. These polite expressions are useful when you first write. The romanisation is a starting point for reading them aloud; learning Hangul will help you read Korean more directly.

You can mix a Korean greeting with a message in a language you both understand. Try “안녕하세요! I am learning Korean, so I may make mistakes. What do you like doing on a quiet day?” If you want corrections, ask first: “Could you help me with one sentence?” Talk about things you both enjoy as well.

Three polite Korean greetings and expressions

| Korean | Romanisation | Meaning and use |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 안녕하세요 | annyeonghaseyo | Hello — a polite way to start. |
| 반가워요 | bangawoyo | Nice to meet you — a warm reply to an introduction. |
| 고마워요 | gomawoyo | Thank you — polite, with a friendly tone. |

## Be curious about an ordinary day

Ask questions someone can answer from their own life. “What do you like eating when you want something comforting?” invites a personal answer. “What do all Korean people eat?” asks one person to speak for a whole country. Share your own answer too.

Follow up on something they mentioned: “Did the recipe you tried turn out well?” shows you read their reply. Choose one or two questions at a time. If a reply takes a while, give it space without demanding an explanation.

- What small thing made your day better?
- What do you like doing when you have an afternoon to yourself?
- Is there a Korean word you like that is hard to explain in another language?

## Keep respect simple and personal

Avoid guesses about someone’s looks, personality or tastes based on being Korean. Do not ask a new friend to find idol contacts, get tickets or introduce you to an artist. Even if you both love the same group, the friendship should leave each person free to talk about other things.

Korean has different levels of politeness. Expressions ending in 요 are a useful polite starting point; casual speech, called 반말, is something to agree on together. Age can affect how people address each other, but you do not need to ask for a birth date to be respectful. Ask “Is it okay if we keep using polite Korean?” and let them guide their own preference. Do not rush to use family-style terms just because you heard them in a drama.

## Get to know people safely in the app

Use a nickname. Do not share your full name, school, address, phone number, social handles or photos early on. Keep meeting and talking in the app, rather than moving to private accounts. If someone presses for personal details, you can stop replying, block or report them. Teens should tell a trusted adult if something feels wrong, even if the person asks them to keep it secret.

## Try Korean pen pals by letter

[Start a letter on Sea Pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean) with a Korean greeting and a small story from your day. Mochi looks for shared interests and languages to help you meet.

## Sea Pals at a glance

- Price: Free

- Works on: iPhone, Android and the web

- App languages: English · 한국어 · 日本語 · Deutsch · Português (Brasil) · Español · Русский · Türkçe · Bahasa Indonesia · Tiếng Việt · ไทย · Italiano · Français · Polski

- Minimum age: 13+ · 14+ in South Korea · 16+ in Australia

- Translation: Built-in, on supported devices and language pairs

## Questions

### Can I find a Korean pen pal who wants to learn English?

You may meet someone who wants to practise English. Mention that you would enjoy exchanging Korean and English, then ask what they would like to practise.

### Do I need to speak Korean?

No, you can start in a language you both understand and add a few Korean greetings. Message translation is available on supported phones and language pairs.

### Is it okay to talk about K-pop?

Yes, if the other person enjoys it too. Ask what they like, and leave room for topics beyond idols.

### Can I choose to only meet Koreans?

No, you cannot choose a country or a particular recipient. Shared-language matching can help you meet Korean pen pals, but your letters may reach people from other countries too.

## Try it

[Explore Korean pen pals](https://seapals.app/pen-pals/korean)

[Get Sea Pals](https://seapals.app/#get)

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- [Guides](https://seapals.app/guides)

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