Korean keyboard layout and how to type Korean

① The Korean keyboard layout (Dubeolsik): consonants left, vowels right

The most common layout is called Dubeolsik (두벌식, “two-set”). Consonants sit on the left side of the keyboard and vowels on the right.

Top	ㅂQ	ㅈW	ㄷE	ㄱR	ㅅT	ㅛY	ㅕU	ㅑI	ㅐO	ㅔP
Home	ㅁA	ㄴS	ㅇD	ㄹF	ㅎG	ㅗH	ㅓJ	ㅏK	ㅣL
Bottom	ㅋZ	ㅌX	ㅊC	ㅍV	ㅠB	ㅜN	ㅡM

Holding Shift changes some keys on the top row:

A good place to start: the common consonants ㅁ ㄴ ㅇ ㄹ ㅎ are on the left home row, the basic vowels ㅓ ㅏ ㅣ are on the right home row, and ㅗ sits just to their left.

② How to type Hangul: in the order you build it

Type each syllable in the order it’s built: consonant → vowel → (bottom consonant). The keyboard groups the letters into blocks for you.

For example, when you type 가나, the screen shows 간 right after you press ㄴ. As soon as you type ㅏ, the ㄴ moves to the next block and you get 가나. Once you’re used to this, typing gets much smoother.

③ Typing double consonants, compound vowels and batchim

• Double consonants (ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ): Shift + the plain consonant’s key (ㄲ = Shift + R). More on these sounds: Double consonants →
• Compound vowels: ㅐ ㅔ ㅒ ㅖ have their own keys; for the others, type two vowels in a row (ㅘ = ㅗ + ㅏ = H then K; ㅢ = ㅡ + ㅣ = M then L). Compound vowels →
• Batchim: just type a consonant after the vowel and it goes to the bottom of the block. Double batchim (like ㄺ in 닭) is made by typing the two consonants in a row. Batchim →

④ Adding a Korean keyboard on your phone

iPhone

1. Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards
2. Add New Keyboard → Korean (the layout matches the computer’s Dubeolsik)
3. Tap the globe key to switch while typing

Android (Gboard)

1. Open Gboard settings → Languages → Add keyboard
2. Choose Korean and pick the 두벌식 (Dubeolsik, two-set) layout
3. Switch with the globe key (or by long-pressing the space bar)

• If your phone uses a different default keyboard (for example, Samsung Keyboard on Galaxy phones), add Korean from that keyboard’s settings.

Phones also offer other layouts, such as Cheonjiin (천지인), which builds vowels by combining three basic strokes (ㅣ ㆍ ㅡ). If you want one layout for both phone and computer, choosing the standard two-set layout means you only learn it once.

⑤ Adding a Korean keyboard on your computer

Windows 11

1. Settings → Time & language → Language & region
2. Add a language → Korean
3. Switch languages with Windows key + Space. After switching to Korean, toggle between Hangul and English letters with the Right Alt key (or the 한/영 key on Korean keyboards)

Mac

1. System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Input Sources → Edit
2. Click + → Korean → 2-Set Korean
3. Switch with Control + Space or the globe key

Menu names may differ depending on your OS version.

Using an English (QWERTY) keyboard: once you’ve added Korean input as above, you don’t need a keyboard with Korean letters printed on it — just press the English keys shown in the layout table. Keyboard stickers can help while you’re learning.

⑥ Korean typing practice

1. Build muscle memory: start with the home row (ㅁ ㄴ ㅇ ㄹ ㅎ / ㅗ ㅓ ㅏ ㅣ), then add the top and bottom rows
2. Type short words: words without double batchim, like 김치, 한국 and 사랑, help you get used to building blocks as you type
3. Type with a purpose: search for a place name, or reply to a message with one word

Related: Hangul chart / Batchim / Compound vowels / Double consonants / How to learn Hangul / How to read a Korean menu / About Hangul Builder