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Why You Should Learn Korean Through Stories and Images

  • Mar 14
  • 3 min read

저는 지난주에 TTMIK Seoul Meetup에서 발표를 했어요.

Last week, I gave a presentation at the TTMIK Seoul Meetup.


Saehee Um speaking at the TTMIK Seoul Meetup about learning Korean through stories and illustrated novels


주제는 ‘이야기와 그림으로 한국어를 배워야 하는 이유’였어요.

The topic was “Why You Should Learn Korean With Stories and Images.”


이 메일을 받으시는 대부분의 독자가 이 밋업에 못 오셨는데요. 그래서 주요 발표 내용을 이번 메일에서 공유하려 해요.

Most of you who are reading this email weren’t able to attend the meetup, so I wanted to share the key points from my presentation here.


왜 이야기와 그림으로 한국어를 배워야 할까요?

So, why should you learn Korean through stories and images?



presentation slide from Saehee Um’s talk showing that images make meaning clear instantly

그림을 보면 뜻을 바로 알 수 있어요.

With images, you can understand the meaning right away.


‘눈을 비비다’라는 표현을 아세요?

Do you know the expression “눈을 비비다”?



illustration from The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree showing the Korean phrase 눈을 비비다 meaning to rub one's eyes

이 그림을 보니 뜻을 바로 알 수 있죠? 긴 설명 없이요!

Just by looking at this image, you can immediately grasp the meaning—no long explanation needed!



presentation slide from Saehee Um’s talk about repetition without memorization in Korean language learning
illustration from The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree showing the Korean word 양반 meaning aristocrat

제 소설 시리즈 The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree는 배경이 조선 시대예요. 그래서 ‘양반’이라는 단어가 계속 나와요. 이 단어가 처음에는 어려울 수 있어요. 하지만 총 4권을 읽으면서 이 단어를 계속 보면 자연스럽게 외워져요.

My novel series The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree is set in the Joseon Dynasty, so the word “양반” appears frequently. It may feel difficult at first, but as you read all four volumes and encounter the word repeatedly, it naturally sticks.


Learn Korean vocabulary for facial features with a Joseon-era character illustration from the ToonToon Korean story-based Korean learning novels written by author Saehee Um


이 시리즈의 남자 주인공 이휘선을 묘사하는 표현인데요. 이 묘사도 반복되므로 시리즈를 다 읽고 나면 묘사에 사용된 형용사와 명사가 머릿속에 들어와 있을 거예요.

This is how the male protagonist, Yi Hwiseon, is described. Because this description is repeated throughout the story, the adjectives and nouns used to describe him naturally stay with you by the time you finish the novel series.


“You understand without explanation” — the idea of learning Korean through story context in the ToonToon Korean illustrated K-drama style novels
Learn Korean vocabulary through a Joseon-era dialogue explaining 초경 (first menstruation) and 생리 (period) from the illustrated k-drama-style Korean learning novel The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree by ToonToon Korean and author Saehee Um


열네 살 소녀가 ‘초경’이라는 단어를 이해하지 못해요. 그래서 양반 여성(오른쪽)이 좀 더 쉬운 ‘생리’라는 단어를 써서 다시 물어요.

This fourteen-year-old girl doesn’t understand the word “초경” (first menstruation), so a yangban lady (on the right) asks again using the easier word “생리” (period).


여기에서 독자는 ‘초경’이 ‘생리’보다 어려운 단어임을 자연스럽게 알 수 있어요.

Through this interaction, readers naturally learn that “초경” is a more difficult word than “생리.”


이야기는 긴 설명 없이 많은 것을 가르쳐 줘요.

Stories teach you a lot—without long explanations.


Learn Korean through emotional Joseon-era story scenes from the illustrated Korean learning novel The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree by ToonToon Korean — because stories create emotion
Visual explanation of how stories with images help Korean learners read more, gain more exposure to Korean, and improve their Korean through the ToonToon Korean illustrated learning novels

한국어를 이야기와 그림으로 배워야 하는 네 가지 이유를 살펴봤어요.

These are the four reasons why you should learn Korean through stories and images.


이번 TTMIK Seoul Meetup 발표에서 쓴 그림과 대화는 제 소설 시리즈 The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree에서 가져왔어요.

The illustrations and dialogue used in my TTMIK Seoul Meetup presentation were taken from my novel series The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree.



Amazon listing of The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree, an illustrated Korean learning novel series in historical K-drama script format by Saehee Um



제4권이 곧 나올 예정이니 많이 기대해 주세요! 더 재밌는 이야기가 기다리고 있어요.

Volume 4 is coming out soon, and I hope you’re excited for it. An even more exciting story is waiting for you.


오늘도 한국어 공부 화이팅입니다!

As always, good luck with your Korean studies—keep going! 💛




[Update on 2026/03/14]


The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree is now complete as a 4-volume series. Ready to binge the entire story from beginning to end?


The Moon Caught in the Pine Tree complete series illustrated Korean learning novels


Written by Saehee Um


Saehee Um is the creator of ToonToon Korean and the author of illustrated novels for Korean learners. Her books combine binge-worthy storytelling, real-life dialogue, and cultural insights to make learning Korean engaging and fun.


She writes Korean learning novels presented in a K-drama-style script, helping learners improve their Korean through dramatic stories and immersive dialogue.


 
 
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