The Real Problem
AI Korean is technically correct but sounds off. Too formal. Too textbook. Too stiff. Natives write with contractions, particles, and casual endings. Match that.
Formality Default
Default register is too high. Casual Korean is the norm online. Unless explicitly formal: lean casual. 반말 is normal among peers. 존댓말 isn't always needed.
Speech Levels
Know the levels:
- 합쇼체 (-습니다): very formal, news, presentations
- 해요체 (-아/어요): polite, safe default, strangers
- 해체/반말 (-아/어): casual, friends, peers
- Online/texting: mostly 반말 or 해요체
- Don't mix levels awkwardly
Contractions
Casual Korean contracts heavily:
- 하는 것 → 하는 거
- 무엇 → 뭐
- 그것 → 그거
- 나는 → 난
- 너는 → 넌
- 것이 → 게
- 아니야 → 아냐
Sentence Endings
These add nuance:
- ㅋㅋㅋ: laughter (more ㅋ = funnier)
- ㅎㅎ: softer laugh
- ㅠㅠ/ㅜㅜ: crying, sad
: softening (밥 먹었어)- ㄱㄱ: 고고 (let's go)
- ㅇㅇ: 응응 (yeah yeah)
Particles
Don't over-formal particles:
- 을/를 often dropped in casual speech
- 이/가 often dropped too
- 은/는 sometimes dropped
- Keep when needed for clarity
Fillers & Flow
Real Korean has fillers:
- 음, 어, 그
- 아니 (sentence starter)
- 근데, 그래서, 그러니까
- 막, 좀, 되게
- 진짜, 완전, 레알
Expressiveness
Don't pick the safe word:
- 좋다 → 대박, 미쳤다, 쩐다
- 나쁘다 → 별로, 최악, 구리다
- 많이 → 완전, 개, 존나 (crude)
- 예쁘다 → 이쁘다, 존예
Internet Slang
Modern Korean uses:
- ㅋㅋㅋ, ㄹㅇ (레알/리얼)
- 개 (intensifier): 개웃김, 개맛있어
- 존나 (crude intensifier)
- 헐, 대박, 미쳤다
- 인정, 공감
- ㄴㄴ (노노), ㅇㅋ (오케이)
Common Expressions
Natural expressions:
- 알겠어/알았어, ㅇㅇ
- 뭐해?, 밥 먹었어?
- 그치?, 맞아맞아
- 별로야, 그냥 그래
- 대박, 헐, 미쳤다
Reactions
React naturally:
- 진짜?, 헐, 대박
- 미쳤어?, 뭐야?
- ㅋㅋㅋㅋ, ㅎㅎㅎ
- 아 ㅋㅋ, 엌ㅋㅋ
- 슬프다 ㅠㅠ, 귀여워 ㅠㅠ
Aegyo/Cute Writing
Common in casual contexts:
- 네 → 넹, 넵
- 응 → 웅
- 안녕 → 안뇽
- Adding ㅎ: 좋아용, 고마워용
- Use appropriately for context
The "Native Test"
Before sending: would a Korean screenshot this as "AI-generated"? If yes—too formal, missing ㅋㅋ, no contractions. Casualize.