Graded Korean Readers
Korean reading practice organized by CEFR level, from first sentences to richer intermediate stories.
A0 Korean Stories
The Cat and the Ball
A story about a child giving a ball to a cat.
Dad's Book
A story about a father giving his book to a child.
The Blue Door
This is a simple story about a friend, water, and a blue door.
Sit on the Chair
A child gets a chair and sits down.
A Friend Comes
A story about a friend who comes home and receives water and an apple.
Mom and Water
A child asks their mother for water at home.
Two Apples
A story about a mother and child eating two apples.
Bread and Milk
A story about a mother giving bread and milk to a child.
Dad's Red Book
A child asks Dad for his red book.
The Child's Cup
A story about a child who drinks water from a small cup.
A Small Dog Is Coming
A story about a child giving water and a ball to a small dog.
Where Is the Bag?
A story about Minsu looking for his bag in a room.
Friend's Apple
A story about a friend who gives an apple.
Please Give Me the Ball
A story about two friends and a red ball in a room.
Big Cat
A story about a child who gives milk to a big cat.
A1 Korean Stories
The Teacup That Was Still Warm When No One Was Home
A story about a girl named Jia who finds a mysterious warm teacup when she returns home to an empty house.
The Calligraphy Brush Left on the Wrong Desk
A student finds her missing calligraphy brush with the help of her teacher.
The Dokkaebi Who Couldn't Count Past Three
A story about a Dokkaebi who learns how to count beyond three with the help of a child.
The Kkwaenggwari That Rang Too Early at the Harvest Dance
A young boy named Minjun accidentally plays his traditional instrument at the wrong time during a festival, but finds encouragement from his teacher and others.
The Norigae Tied to the Wrong Bag
A story about a girl named Jia who buys a beautiful traditional Korean ornament at the market and learns the importance of finding her own bag.
The Note Inside the Lost Umbrella
A story about a girl who finds a lost umbrella and returns it to its owner.
The Haegeum Left on the Temple Steps Overnight
A story about a girl who finds a traditional Korean instrument called a haegeum on temple steps.
The Royal Messenger Who Arrived One Day Too Late
A story about a royal messenger who struggles to deliver a letter in time to save a prisoner's life.
The Taekwondo Board That Refused to Break
Jiwoo learns the importance of his mindset during a difficult Taekwondo exam.
The Last Topknot Cut on Gwanghwamun Street
A young boy named Junho experiences a significant cultural change in 1895 Korea when he is forced to cut his traditional topknot.
The Homework Slipped Under the Wrong Door
A student accidentally slips his homework under the wrong door.
The Bear Bell That Rang Twice on Jirisan
Minjun feels nervous while walking on Jirisan until he hears the sound of another bear bell.
The Temple Stay Bell That Rang Before the Sun Rose
A story about Minjun, a man from the busy city of Seoul, who finds peace while experiencing a temple stay in the mountains.
The Desk Still Set for Two After Transfer Day
A girl named Jina welcomes a new student to her classroom, filling the void left by her friend who transferred.
The Makgeolli Jar Sealed Too Soon Before Winter
Suah tries to help her grandmother by making makgeolli before winter, but learns an important lesson about the process.
돌잔치 사진에서 사라진 고모
A story about a boy named Minjun who discovers a mystery involving his aunt in an old family photo.
The Yut Stick That Landed Face-Down on New Year's Eve
A family plays a traditional Korean game on New Year's Eve with a special rule for the losers.
The Empty Hook Where the Neighbor's Dosirak Always Hung
A story about a girl named Jisu who discovers the secret behind the lunchbox hanging on her neighbor's door.
The Wild Boar Tracks That Circled the Campfire Twice
A hiker named Jisu discovers mysterious wild boar tracks around her campfire in the mountains.
The Songpyeon That Wasn't Sweet Enough for Chuseok
A young girl named Jisu learns the secret to making delicious Songpyeon for the Chuseok holiday.
한양 성문을 닫지 않은 수문장의 밤
A gate guard must decide whether to follow the rules or help people in danger.
The Imugi That Swam Upriver on Harvest Moon Night
A girl named Sua helps a magical creature on Chuseok night.
The Tiger Who Waits on Bukhansan
A young girl named Jisu encounters a mysterious tiger on a mountain while carrying a special letter.
The Seat Saved at the Back of the Village Bus
A story about a girl named Jisu who saves a seat for her friend on the bus every morning.
광장시장 빈대떡집의 마지막 맷돌
At a busy market festival, Jisu helps her grandmother repair an old millstone and make delicious mung bean pancakes.
The Fortune Slip That Refused to Tie to the Branch
A girl learns a valuable life lesson from an unexpected fortune she receives at a temple.
The Lucky Coin Left at the Wrong Apartment Door
A story about a girl named Jisu who accidentally finds a lucky coin that wasn't meant for her.
군대 간 형에게서 온 빈 편지
Jisoo worries about a blank letter from his older brother serving in the army, but learns that his brother sent it to keep their promise.
낙원상가 수리점에 돌아온 첫 기타
A guitar repairman discovers that a worn guitar brought to his shop was the first guitar he ever repaired.
덕수궁 돌담길에 처음 켜진 전등
This story tells how the first electric lights changed the dark stone-wall road beside Deoksugung Palace in Seoul.
성주신이 이사 트럭에 오르지 않은 이유
This story follows a family moving to a new house and making sure the house guardian, Seongjushin, comes with them.
정선아리랑 장단을 놓친 어린 소리꾼
This story follows a young singer who loses the rhythm during a performance but finds it again.
제주 올레길에서 사라진 파란 화살표
Mina follows clues on Jeju's Olle Trail after a blue arrow disappears and helps an elderly woman find the way.
중고 거래 장소에 세 사람이 나온 날
Minjun meets two different buyers named Sujin while selling a red chair at a subway station.
PC방 결승전에서 멈춘 스페이스바
During a PC bang final, Minho and Sujin must win after Minho's spacebar gets stuck.
제주 곶자왈의 숨골에서 들린 두 번째 휘파람
A brave girl hears a second whistle in Jeju's gotjawal forest and helps an injured man.
홍대 무인 사진관에서 한 장 더 나온 사진
Jisu and Minho find Minho’s missing key through a mysterious extra photo at a self-service photo studio.
The Lighthouse Keeper's Signal That Blinked on a Calm Night
A girl notices a strange light from the lighthouse at night and learns its secret meaning from her grandfather.
A2 Korean Stories
The Drum That Beat Before the City Gates Closed
A kind man uses his big drum to help people get inside the city gates before they close at night.
The Seat Left Empty at the School Play
A young girl named Jisu feels sad when her mother is late for her school performance, but everything changes when she finally arrives.
The Honey Citron Tea Left for the Wrong Guest
A story about a café employee who accidentally serves a honey citron tea to the wrong customer.
Penalty Kick Off Target
A young soccer player named Jiwoo learns that friendship is more important than winning when he misses a penalty kick.
The Cuckoo That Called Over the Barley Too Early
A young child observes the barley field and learns from their grandfather about a cuckoo bird that sings too early.
The Footprints That Stopped at the Frozen Creek
Two friends follow a mysterious set of footprints in the snow to find out what happened to their neighbor.
The Jangseung Post That Turned Away from the Road Before Dawn
A mysterious story about a boy who learns the meaning behind a totem pole's strange behavior at dawn.
The Jesa Table Set Without the Youngest Daughter
A story about a daughter who misses a traditional family memorial ceremony and her mother's quiet reaction.
우포늪에서 혼자 겨울을 난 따오기
This story follows an ibis that survives the winter alone at Upo Wetland and teaches people the value of protecting nature and waiting patiently.
종묘제례악 연주자가 한 박자를 비운 이유
A young musician learns that silence and sound are both important parts of a traditional Korean performance.
The Fog Over Boseong Before the First Tea Picking
A young girl named Jisu helps her grandmother pick the first tea leaves of the season in the misty Boseong tea fields.
한강 밤섬을 떠나지 않은 겨울 철새
This story follows a young winter migratory bird that stays on Bamseom, adapts to changes in the river, and eventually joins other birds.
첫차가 오기 전에 사라진 버스 정류장 의자
Mina follows clues to find out why a bus stop bench disappeared before the first bus arrived.
The Haenyeo's Last Abalone
An elderly female diver named Kim Sun-hee fulfills a heartfelt promise to her granddaughter by catching one last abalone for her wedding porridge.
The Celadon Shard Beneath the Kiln Floor in Icheon
Jisu visits a pottery town in Icheon and discovers a piece of history hidden under an old kiln floor.
The Bicycle Returned with Dry Tires After Three Days of Rain
A girl discovers the mystery behind why her bicycle returned to her home clean and dry after three days of heavy rain.
한라장사 결승에서 샅바를 다시 묶은 심판
This story is about a referee who reties a loose satba during a Korean wrestling final to protect both athletes.
The Fox Fire That Lit the Wrong Mountain Path
A story about a young man who encounters a mysterious light while trying to visit his sick grandmother at night.
The Speed Skater Who Changed Lanes at the Final Curve
A determined speed skater competes in a national final and finds respect in an unexpected way from his greatest rival.
안동 헛제삿밥에 제사가 없던 날
This story follows Sujin as she learns how Andong's traditional heotjesapsap carries old food traditions and warm community feelings into the present.
독도 우체통에 도착한 주소 없는 엽서
A postal worker helps a man send a postcard to remember a promise he made to his late father.
The Barley Rice Cooked for the Table That Was Never Set
A grandmother cooks barley rice every Sunday for her daughter who left home three years ago, hoping for a reunion.
The Talchum Mask Left Facing the Wall Before the Festival
Minjun, a young boy learning traditional dance, discovers the hidden meaning behind an old, mysterious mask in his practice room.
The Rice Cooker Still On in the Empty Apartment Upstairs
A story about a woman who discovers a mysterious smell and a glowing rice cooker in an empty apartment upstairs.
The Gayageum String That Broke Before the Last Note
A story about a determined girl named Jisu who learns a valuable lesson about music and courage during a Gayageum competition.
The Wrong Signal Fire Before the Imjin War
A young soldier at a signal station faces a difficult decision when he sees ships approaching the coast before the Imjin War.
부산 피란학교의 마지막 출석부
This story follows a refugee-school teacher who helps a student receive a stamped school certificate before leaving Busan.
세탁기 속에서 발견된 어린이 교통카드
Minseo finds a child's transportation card in her washing machine and helps return it to Doyun before his school trip.
The Class Photo Where Two Friends Aren't Looking
A story about two friends who reconcile after a misunderstanding involving a broken secret.
망원시장 보관함에 매주 놓이는 귤 세 개
Two old friends reconnect through three tangerines left every week in a market locker.
The Train Ticket Bought for Two, Used by One
A story about a girl named Jisu who takes a solo trip to Busan after her boyfriend cancels their plans.
The Lantern That Floated Farthest at Jinju
A young girl named Sua travels to Jinju to honor her late grandfather by participating in a traditional lantern festival.
The Bamboo Grove That Whispers Before a Storm in Damyang
A woman seeking answers about her career finds clarity and peace in a whispering bamboo grove before a storm.
The Boy Who Wrestled the Village Champion
A young boy named Junho trains with his injured father to defeat the arrogant village wrestling champion.
The Seal Pressed in Haste on the Wrong Decree
A story about a clerk in the Joseon dynasty who accidentally seals the wrong official document and must quickly correct his mistake to save a life.
팥죽 냄새를 피해 다니는 동지 귀신
A young woman helps a ghost return his mother's silver ring before midnight.
제주 돌하르방의 코를 두 번 만지면 안 되는 밤
On a stormy night in Jeju, Sora touches a Dolhareubang twice while searching for her injured younger brother and loses a precious memory.
새벽 배송 상자에 찍힌 모르는 집 주소
At dawn, Hana takes a misdelivered food box to an elderly woman and discovers how a small act of kindness can help someone.
B1 Korean Stories
The Night a Joseon Scholar Burned His Books
A dedicated scholar faces a difficult choice to destroy his master's writings to protect his family during a political purge in the Joseon Dynasty.
The Rooftop Where Seoul's Last Beekeeper Lives
A story about a persistent beekeeper in Seoul and how a neighbor's change of perspective brings peace.
The Soy Sauce Crocks Hidden on the Wrong Monastery Roof
A woman discovers that her late grandmother's secret soy sauce crocks were accidentally delivered to the wrong temple three years ago.
The Ssireum Belt Passed to the Wrong Son
A touching story about two brothers who discover that family heritage is more than just a physical object.
The Tide That Parts the Sea at Jindo
Jisu visits the mysterious parting sea of Jindo with her grandfather, discovering the deep meaning behind his wish to share this experience with her.
The Letter Slipped Under a Hanok Door
Two sisters reunite after three years of silence when one leaves a heartfelt letter under a traditional Korean house door.
The Last Bus Over Mireuksan Before the New Road
A woman takes a final bus ride over a mountain road to reconnect with her mother and memories of her late grandmother.
The Dokkaebi Who Could Not Cross the New Bridge
A story about a mythical creature who cannot cross a new concrete bridge until it absorbs human memories.
B2 Korean Stories
The Mural Painted Over on Ihwa-dong's Wall
A story about a tourist who discovers a famous mural in Ihwa-dong has been painted over, leading to a reflection on the conflict between tourism and the residents' quality of life.
The Path Unmarked on Every Seoraksan Map
A son follows a mysterious map left behind by his late father to a hidden spot in the mountains that holds a deep personal memory.
The Name Chiseled Off the Village Monument
A returning veteran discovers that a name has been forcibly removed from a village monument to independent movement activists, leading him to uncover a buried truth about the past.
The Cold Noodles That Only the North Remembers
An elderly woman reflects on her memories of Pyongyang and her longing for her lost home through the taste of cold noodles during the 2018 Inter-Korean summit.
The Ink That Dried Before the Annexation
A story about a humble scribe named Lee Jae-hyung who chooses to record his own memories of his country while forced to transcribe the treaty that would lead to its annexation.
The Gumiho Who Forgot How to Lie
A mysterious Gumiho finds herself unable to lie and meets a hunter who challenges her perception of truth and existence.
The Goshiwon Room Passed to a Stranger on Moving Day
A story about a woman reflecting on her past and leaving a hidden message for a stranger as she moves out of her small Goshiwon room.
The Archery Lane Blown Left During the Team Finals
A story about an archer who must make a critical decision during a tense final match when wind conditions suddenly change.
The Apology Sent to an Address That No Longer Exists
A man writes an apology letter to an ex-girlfriend three years later, only to find she has moved on to a new, fulfilling life.
The Pojangmacha That Moved Before the Snow Could Find It
A story about a woman who discovers a mysterious street food stall that only appears before the season's first snow.