Korean Keyboard Layout (2-Set Dubeolsik)
Almost everyone in Korea types on the 2-set layout called Dubeolsik (두벌식). It puts consonants on the left hand and vowels on the right hand of a normal QWERTY keyboard, so you do not need a special keyboard — just switch your input language to Korean.
QㅃㅂWㅉㅈEㄸㄷRㄲㄱTㅆㅅYㅛUㅕIㅑOㅒㅐPㅖㅔ
AㅁSㄴDㅇFㄹGㅎHㅗJㅓKㅏLㅣ
ZㅋXㅌCㅊVㅍBㅠNㅜMㅡ
- Consonant
- Vowel
ㄲWith Shift
How Hangul syllables are typed
A Hangul syllable is a block of an initial consonant, a vowel and sometimes a final consonant. You type the letters in order and the keyboard builds the block for you: ㅎ + ㅏ + ㄴ becomes 한. If a consonant is followed by a vowel, it automatically moves to start the next syllable.
| Word | Meaning | Keys on a QWERTY keyboard |
|---|---|---|
| 한글 | Hangul | gksrmf |
| 안녕하세요 | Hello | dkssudgktpdy |
| 감사합니다 | Thank you | rkatkgkqslek |
| 사랑해요 | I love you | tkfkdgody |
| 타자 | Typing | xkwk |
| 빨리 | Quickly | Qkffl |
| 닭 | Chicken | ekfr |
| 의자 | Chair | dmlwk |
Shift letters: double consonants and ㅒ ㅖ
- Shift + Q W E R T gives the tense consonants ㅃ ㅉ ㄸ ㄲ ㅆ.
- Shift + O P gives the vowels ㅒ and ㅖ.
- Other keys type the same letter with or without Shift.
Compound vowels and double final consonants
- Compound vowels are typed as two vowels: ㅘ = ㅗ + ㅏ, ㅝ = ㅜ + ㅓ, ㅢ = ㅡ + ㅣ.
- Double final consonants are typed as two consonants: 닭 = ㄷ ㅏ ㄹ ㄱ, 값 = ㄱ ㅏ ㅂ ㅅ.
How to add a Korean keyboard
- Windows: Settings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language → Korean. Switch with the 한/영 key or Right Alt.
- Mac: System Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit → + → Korean → 2-Set Korean. Switch with Caps Lock or Control + Space.
- iPhone: Settings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Korean → Standard.
- Android (Gboard): Settings → Languages → Add keyboard → Korean, then choose the QWERTY (2-set) layout.
💡 On Typing Derby you can practise Korean typing even without a Korean keyboard installed: the game reads which physical key you press and shows the Hangul letter.
Start the Korean typing test ▸
FAQ
- Which Korean keyboard layout should I learn?
- Learn 2-set Dubeolsik. It is the national standard and what nearly all Korean computers and phones use. 3-set (Sebeolsik) layouts exist but are rare.
- Do I need Korean keyboard stickers?
- No. Stickers help for the first days, but touch typing is faster to learn if you look at a layout chart like the one above instead of your keys.
- How fast do Koreans type?
- Korean speed is counted in keystrokes per minute (타수). Around 200–300 is common for adults, and 500 or more is fast. In Typing Derby, 500 keys per minute for a full race finishes the 100m.