Korean

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.