By Honorary Reporter Menna Zahran from Egypt
Photos = An Jinsu

An Jinsu, who runs the Korean-language education site Golden Key Korean and based in Korea, has gained recognition for his simple, engaging and beginner-friendly content. 

He emphasizes the "simplest" approach toward learning the language, something that has earned him 800,000 Instagram followers.

The following are excerpts from a June 20 Instagram interview with him on his philosophy of teaching, promoting Korean globally and his commitment to his students.

Jinsu, whose site is Golden Key Korean, has more than 800,000 followers on Instagram.

Briefly describe your background and motivation for teaching Korean.

I am a Korean-language educator and content creator at Golden Key Korean. I help learners build a solid foundation in Korean within just six months, allowing them to enjoy Korean content like dramas, music and daily conversations. I aim to make Korean more accessible and enjoyable through short-form videos, structured lessons and cultural tips. 

Explain your style of content presentation and keeping your audience engaged.

My content is primarily targeted at absolute beginners. When the material seems simple or basic, this is a deliberate choice to ensure clarity and accessibility. 

For example, I intentionally avoid content that is overly specific, advanced or complex as my goal is to ease learners into Korean. Unlike English, Korean is still relatively new and unfamiliar to a lot of people, and so it's important to start with the basics before gradually moving on to more advanced content. I also aim to keep the tone light, engaging and approachable to help the audience maintain interest and enjoyment.

Jinsu stresses the use of simple teaching methods instead of serious and academic.

What are common challenges beginners face in learning Korean?

Some vowels are harder to pronounce than others. I always tell my students not to rely on romanization as being fixated on it ruins pronunciation and makes things more difficult. That's why I always demonstrate big and exaggerated mouth motions for my students, because it helps them understand how to shape the sounds correctly.

Jinsu seeks to teach Korean enough that learners can use their skills to watch K-dramas or talk to Koreans.

What are your goals for your site and other plans?

I don't think my teaching content will grow into something huge for now. I decided to dedicate three years to serving Korea in my own way. The first two years were about teaching Korean, and the final year is for helping those who visit or live in Korea. 

I'm building an online service that helps people connect and enjoy their time (in Korea). To start, I'm connecting cafe lovers since many people love exploring Korea's cafes. I believe bars and clubs shouldn't be the only places where people can make new friends.

msjeon22@korea.kr

*This article is written by a Korea.net Honorary Reporter. Our group of Honorary Reporters are from all around the world, and they share with Korea.net their love and passion for all things Korean.