Korean keyboard layout (2-set, 두벌식)
The standard Korean keyboard is the 2-set layout, 두벌식 (dubeolsik). "2-set" means the letters come in two groups: consonants on the left half of the keyboard and vowels on the right. It works on any ordinary keyboard once the Korean input is switched on (see how to type in Korean).
Every letter and its key
Each Hangul letter sits on one English letter key. Five consonants and two vowels have a second letter on Shift.
| Letter | Key | With Shift | Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅂ | Q | ㅃ | Shift + Q |
| ㅈ | W | ㅉ | Shift + W |
| ㄷ | E | ㄸ | Shift + E |
| ㄱ | R | ㄲ | Shift + R |
| ㅅ | T | ㅆ | Shift + T |
| ㅁ | A | ||
| ㄴ | S | ||
| ㅇ | D | ||
| ㄹ | F | ||
| ㅎ | G | ||
| ㅋ | Z | ||
| ㅌ | X | ||
| ㅊ | C | ||
| ㅍ | V |
| Letter | Key | With Shift | Keys |
|---|---|---|---|
| ㅛ | Y | ||
| ㅕ | U | ||
| ㅑ | I | ||
| ㅐ | O | ㅒ | Shift + O |
| ㅔ | P | ㅖ | Shift + P |
| ㅗ | H | ||
| ㅓ | J | ||
| ㅏ | K | ||
| ㅣ | L | ||
| ㅠ | B | ||
| ㅜ | N | ||
| ㅡ | M |
Letters that aren't on the keyboard
Hangul has more letters than the keyboard shows, but the rest are built from these:
- Combined vowels: ㅘ = ㅗ+ㅏ, ㅙ = ㅗ+ㅐ, ㅚ = ㅗ+ㅣ, ㅝ = ㅜ+ㅓ, ㅞ = ㅜ+ㅔ, ㅟ = ㅜ+ㅣ, ㅢ = ㅡ+ㅣ. Type the two vowels one after the other.
- Double final consonants: ㄳ ㄵ ㄶ ㄺ ㄻ ㄼ ㄽ ㄾ ㄿ ㅀ ㅄ are two consonants typed in a row at the end of a syllable (앉다: ㅇ ㅏ ㄴ ㅈ ㄷ ㅏ).
How to learn the layout quickly
- Learn the home row first. Left hand: ㅁ ㄴ ㅇ ㄹ ㅎ on A S D F G. Right hand: ㅗ ㅓ ㅏ ㅣ on H J K L. These nine keys cover a large share of everyday Korean.
- Notice the pairs. The vowels with an extra stroke sit right next to their simple forms: ㅏ (K) and ㅑ (I), ㅓ (J) and ㅕ (U), ㅗ (H) and ㅛ (Y), ㅜ (N) and ㅠ (B).
- Remember Shift doubles. ㅂ ㅈ ㄷ ㄱ ㅅ on the top row become ㅃ ㅉ ㄸ ㄲ ㅆ with Shift.
- Type words, not letters. After a first look at the chart, practise with real words so your fingers learn common syllables like 는, 이, 요 and 습니다 as single movements.
- Don't buy stickers yet. An on-screen keyboard that highlights the next key teaches the positions without making you look down.
What about 3-set (세벌식)?
There is also a 3-set layout (세벌식, sebeolsik) with separate keys for first and final consonants. Some enthusiasts prefer it, but phones, computers, schools and offices in Korea default to 2-set, so it's the one to learn.
Practise the layout
KoreanAssist shows this keyboard on screen while you type real Korean, highlighting the next key to press. Paste any Korean text or pick a YouTube video, and type it word by word.
Start typing on KoreanAssist Free, in your browser, nothing to install.