Korean Reading Vocabulary: 8 Words to Learn from Korea's PISA 2025 News

Reading is in the news in South Korea. A new OECD PISA 2025 report found that the average reading score of Korean 15-year-old students was 501, down 14 points from the 2022 study. The report also showed that reading was the skill with the steepest decline across the participating OECD countries.

This is not a post about judging Korean students or turning one report into a simple conclusion. It is a useful reminder, though: reading needs time, attention, and a reason to keep going. That is true whether you are reading in your first language or learning Korean as an adult.

For Korean learners, a short article, webtoon caption, song interview, or children’s book can become a reading habit. Let’s use this timely Korea news story to learn eight Korean words you can use when talking about books, study, and reading.

한국어 해석

한국에서 읽기 능력이 뉴스가 되고 있습니다. 새로 발표된 OECD PISA 2025 보고서에 따르면, 한국 15세 학생들의 평균 읽기 점수는 501점으로 2022년 조사보다 14점 낮았습니다. 또한 보고서는 OECD 참여국 전체에서 읽기 영역의 하락 폭이 가장 컸다고 밝혔습니다.

이 글은 한국 학생들을 평가하거나 하나의 보고서만으로 단순한 결론을 내리기 위한 글이 아닙니다. 다만 읽기에는 시간과 집중, 그리고 계속 읽게 하는 이유가 필요하다는 점을 떠올리게 합니다. 이는 모국어로 읽을 때나 성인이 되어 한국어를 배울 때나 마찬가지입니다.

한국어 학습자에게 짧은 기사, 웹툰의 말풍선, 노래 인터뷰, 어린이 책도 읽기 습관의 시작이 될 수 있습니다. 이 최신 한국 뉴스를 바탕으로 책, 공부, 읽기에 관해 말할 때 쓸 수 있는 한국어 단어 여덟 개를 함께 배워 봅시다.

1. 읽다 (ik-da) — to read

읽다 means to read. It is the basic verb you need for books, articles, messages, and signs.

한국어 책을 읽어요.
Hangugeo chaegeul ilgeoyo.
I read Korean books.

책 means book, and -을 marks the object of the verb. In everyday speech, you will often hear 읽어요 rather than the dictionary form 읽다.

2. 독서 (dok-seo) — reading, the act of reading books

독서 is a slightly more formal word for reading, especially reading books as a habit or activity. You may see it at a library, school, or on a reading challenge poster.

저는 매일 독서를 해요.
Jeoneun maeil dokseoreul haeyo.
I read every day.

The phrase 독서를 하다 literally means “to do reading.”

3. 책 (chaek) — book

책 is short, essential, and everywhere.

이 책은 재미있어요.
I chaegeun jaemiisseoyo.
This book is interesting.

재미있어요 means “is fun” or “is interesting.” It is a great word when you want to say why you kept reading.

4. 도서관 (do-seo-gwan) — library

도서관 means library. You can notice the word 도서 (books) inside it, while 관 is a building or hall.

주말에 도서관에 가요.
Jumare doseogwane gayo.
I go to the library on weekends.

The location particle -에 appears again: 도서관에 means “to the library.”

5. 공부하다 (gong-bu-ha-da) — to study

공부하다 means to study. It works for Korean, science, history, or preparing for an exam.

저는 한국어를 공부해요.
Jeoneun hangugeoreul gongbuhaeyo.
I study Korean.

This is one of the most useful self-introduction sentences for any Korean learner.

6. 집중하다 (jip-jung-ha-da) — to concentrate, focus

집중하다 means to focus. It is useful when a text is difficult, when you want a quiet study session, or when you are trying not to check your phone.

책을 읽을 때 집중해요.
Chaegeul ilgeul ttae jipjunghaeyo.
I focus when I read a book.

-을 때 means “when.” You can use it in many sentences: 공부할 때 means “when studying.”

7. 이해하다 (i-hae-ha-da) — to understand

Reading is not only about finishing a page. 이해하다 means to understand the meaning or idea.

이 문장을 이해해요.
I munjangeul ihaehaeyo.
I understand this sentence.

문장 means sentence. If you do not understand, try this polite sentence: 이 문장을 잘 모르겠어요. — “I do not understand this sentence well.”

8. 습관 (seup-gwan) — habit

습관 means habit. A reading habit does not have to begin with a difficult novel. It can begin with five minutes and one paragraph.

한국어 읽기가 제 습관이에요.
Hangugeo ilggiga je seupgwanieyo.
Reading Korean is my habit.

Here, 읽기 turns the verb 읽다 into “reading” as an activity.

A simple Korean reading routine

Try this small routine three times a week:

1. Choose one short Korean text.
2. Read it once without translating every word.
3. Circle one word you recognize and one word you want to learn.
4. Say one sentence aloud: 이 문장이 재미있어요. — “This sentence is interesting.”

The goal is not to understand 100 percent. The goal is to return often enough that Korean stops looking like a wall of unfamiliar letters.

A 20-second study check-in

Use this after a reading session:

오늘 한국어 책을 읽었어요. 조금 어려웠지만 재미있었어요. 내일도 공부할게요.

Oneul hangugeo chaegeul ilgeosseoyo. Jogeum eoryeowotjiman jaemiisseosseoyo. Naeildo gongbuhalgeyo.

Today I read a Korean book. It was a little difficult, but it was interesting. I will study again tomorrow.

-지만 means “but,” and -할게요 expresses a willing promise: “I will.”

The point is to keep reading

The PISA news is a reminder that reading attention is valuable. As a Korean learner, you do not need to copy a school curriculum. Choose material you genuinely enjoy—K-pop interviews, food labels, webtoons, travel notes, or short news—and build a habit that feels possible.

One page still counts as reading. 한 페이지를 읽는 것도 독서예요. (Han peijireul ilgneun geotdo dokseoyeyo.)

Source

• KBS World: OECD Study: Reading Skills See Sharp Decline among 15-Year-Old Students in S. Korea