Graded Korean Readers
Korean reading practice organized by CEFR level, from first sentences to richer intermediate stories.
A0 Korean Stories
고양이와 공
A story about a child giving a ball to a cat.
아빠의 책
A story about a father giving his book to a child.
파란 문
This is a simple story about a friend, water, and a blue door.
의자에 앉아요
A child gets a chair and sits down.
사과 두 개
A story about a mother and child eating two apples.
엄마와 물
A child asks their mother for water at home.
친구가 와요
A story about a friend who comes home and receives water and an apple.
빵과 우유
A story about a mother giving bread and milk to a child.
아빠의 빨간 책
A child asks Dad for his red book.
아이의 컵
A story about a child who drinks water from a small cup.
작은 개가 와요
A story about a child giving water and a ball to a small dog.
가방은 어디에
A story about Minsu looking for his bag in a room.
친구의 사과
A story about a friend who gives an apple.
공을 주세요
A story about two friends and a red ball in a room.
큰 고양이
A story about a child who gives milk to a big cat.
A1 Korean Stories
아무도 집에 없는데 아직 따뜻한 찻잔
A story about a girl named Jia who finds a mysterious warm teacup when she returns home to an empty house.
엉뚱한 책상 위에 놓인 붓
A student finds her missing calligraphy brush with the help of her teacher.
셋을 넘어서 세지 못하는 도깨비
A story about a Dokkaebi who learns how to count beyond three with the help of a child.
추수 축제에서 너무 일찍 울린 꽹과리
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.
잘못된 가방에 묶인 노리개
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.
분실된 우산 속 쪽지
A story about a girl who finds a lost umbrella and returns it to its owner.
밤새 절 계단에 놓여 있던 해금
A story about a girl who finds a traditional Korean instrument called a haegeum on temple steps.
좀처럼 깨지지 않는 태권도 송판
Jiwoo learns the importance of his mindset during a difficult Taekwondo exam.
하루 늦게 도착한 왕실 전령
A story about a royal messenger who struggles to deliver a letter in time to save a prisoner's life.
광화문 거리에서 마지막으로 잘린 상투
A young boy named Junho experiences a significant cultural change in 1895 Korea when he is forced to cut his traditional topknot.
엉뚱한 문틈으로 들어간 숙제
A student accidentally slips his homework under the wrong door.
지리산에서 두 번 울린 곰 방울
Minjun feels nervous while walking on Jirisan until he hears the sound of another bear bell.
해가 뜨기 전에 울린 템플스테이 종
A story about Minjun, a man from the busy city of Seoul, who finds peace while experiencing a temple stay in the mountains.
겨울이 오기 전에 너무 일찍 봉한 막걸리 항아리
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.
전학 가는 날 이후에도 두 사람 몫으로 놓인 책상
A girl named Jina welcomes a new student to her classroom, filling the void left by her friend who transferred.
섣달그믐에 엎어져 떨어진 윷가락
A family plays a traditional Korean game on New Year's Eve with a special rule for the losers.
이웃집 도시락이 늘 걸려 있던 자리에 남은 빈 고리
A story about a girl named Jisu who discovers the secret behind the lunchbox hanging on her neighbor's door.
모닥불 주위를 두 번 돈 멧돼지 발자국
A hiker named Jisu discovers mysterious wild boar tracks around her campfire in the mountains.
추석에 먹기엔 덜 달았던 송편
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.
북한산에서 기다리는 호랑이
A young girl named Jisu encounters a mysterious tiger on a mountain while carrying a special letter.
추석 보름밤에 강을 거슬러 헤엄친 이무기
A girl named Sua helps a magical creature on Chuseok night.
마을버스 맨 뒷자리에 남겨 둔 자리
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.
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.
나뭇가지에 묶이지 않으려 한 운세 종이
A girl learns a valuable life lesson from an unexpected fortune she receives at a temple.
잘못된 아파트 문 앞에 놓인 행운의 동전
A story about a girl named Jisu who accidentally finds a lucky coin that wasn't meant for her.
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.
고요한 밤에 깜박인 등대지기의 신호
A girl notices a strange light from the lighthouse at night and learns its secret meaning from her grandfather.
A2 Korean Stories
성문이 닫히기 전에 울린 북
A kind man uses his big drum to help people get inside the city gates before they close at night.
학교 공연에서 비어 있던 자리
A young girl named Jisu feels sad when her mother is late for her school performance, but everything changes when she finally arrives.
엉뚱한 손님에게 내준 꿀유자차
A story about a café employee who accidentally serves a honey citron tea to the wrong customer.
골대를 맞힌 페널티킥
A young soccer player named Jiwoo learns that friendship is more important than winning when he misses a penalty kick.
보리밭 위에서 너무 일찍 울어 버린 뻐꾸기
A young child observes the barley field and learns from their grandfather about a cuckoo bird that sings too early.
얼어붙은 개울가에서 멈춘 발자국
Two friends follow a mysterious set of footprints in the snow to find out what happened to their neighbor.
동트기 전 길 반대편으로 돌아선 장승
A mysterious story about a boy who learns the meaning behind a totem pole's strange behavior at dawn.
막내딸 없이 차려진 제사상
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.
첫 찻잎을 따기 전 보성에 내려앉은 안개
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.
해녀의 마지막 전복
An elderly female diver named Kim Sun-hee fulfills a heartfelt promise to her granddaughter by catching one last abalone for her wedding porridge.
이천 가마 바닥 아래 숨겨진 청자 파편
Jisu visits a pottery town in Icheon and discovers a piece of history hidden under an old kiln floor.
사흘간 비가 내린 뒤에도 타이어가 마른 채 돌아온 자전거
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.
엉뚱한 산길을 비춘 도깨비불
A story about a young man who encounters a mysterious light while trying to visit his sick grandmother at night.
마지막 곡선에서 코스를 바꾼 스피드 스케이터
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.
끝내 차려지지 않은 밥상에 지은 보리밥
A grandmother cooks barley rice every Sunday for her daughter who left home three years ago, hoping for a reunion.
축제 전 벽을 향해 놓인 탈춤 가면
Minjun, a young boy learning traditional dance, discovers the hidden meaning behind an old, mysterious mask in his practice room.
빈 위층 아파트에서 여전히 켜져 있는 전기밥솥
A story about a woman who discovers a mysterious smell and a glowing rice cooker in an empty apartment upstairs.
마지막 음을 앞두고 끊어진 가야금 줄
A story about a determined girl named Jisu who learns a valuable lesson about music and courage during a Gayageum competition.
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.
임진왜란을 앞두고 잘못 울린 봉화
A young soldier at a signal station faces a difficult decision when he sees ships approaching the coast before the Imjin War.
두 친구가 서로 다른 곳을 바라보는 반 사진
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.
두 장을 샀지만 한 사람이 쓴 기차표
A story about a girl named Jisu who takes a solo trip to Busan after her boyfriend cancels their plans.
진주에서 가장 멀리 떠내려간 등불
A young girl named Sua travels to Jinju to honor her late grandfather by participating in a traditional lantern festival.
폭풍이 오기 전 속삭이는 담양의 대숲
A woman seeking answers about her career finds clarity and peace in a whispering bamboo grove before a storm.
마을 씨름 챔피언에게 도전한 소년
A young boy named Junho trains with his injured father to defeat the arrogant village wrestling champion.
잘못된 교지에 서둘러 찍힌 도장
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
조선 선비가 책을 불태운 밤
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.
서울의 마지막 양봉가가 사는 옥상
A story about a persistent beekeeper in Seoul and how a neighbor's change of perspective brings peace.
엉뚱한 절의 지붕에 숨겨진 간장독
A woman discovers that her late grandmother's secret soy sauce crocks were accidentally delivered to the wrong temple three years ago.
엉뚱한 아들에게 전해진 씨름 띠
A touching story about two brothers who discover that family heritage is more than just a physical object.
진도 앞바다를 가르는 물길
Jisu visits the mysterious parting sea of Jindo with her grandfather, discovering the deep meaning behind his wish to share this experience with her.
한옥 문 밑으로 밀어 넣은 편지
Two sisters reunite after three years of silence when one leaves a heartfelt letter under a traditional Korean house door.
새 도로가 나기 전 미륵산을 넘는 마지막 버스
A woman takes a final bus ride over a mountain road to reconnect with her mother and memories of her late grandmother.
새 다리를 건너지 못한 도깨비
A story about a mythical creature who cannot cross a new concrete bridge until it absorbs human memories.
B2 Korean Stories
이화동 담벼락에서 덧칠된 벽화
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.
설악산의 모든 지도에 표시되지 않은 길
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.
마을 기념비에서 정으로 깎여 나간 이름
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.
북녘에서만 기억하는 냉면
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.
병합 전에 말라 버린 잉크
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.
거짓말하는 법을 잊어버린 구미호
A mysterious Gumiho finds herself unable to lie and meets a hunter who challenges her perception of truth and existence.
이사하는 날 낯선 이에게 넘겨진 고시원 방
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.
팀 결승전에서 왼쪽으로 불어온 양궁장의 바람
A story about an archer who must make a critical decision during a tense final match when wind conditions suddenly change.
더는 존재하지 않는 주소로 보내진 사과 편지
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.
첫눈이 찾아오기 전에 자리를 옮긴 포장마차
A story about a woman who discovers a mysterious street food stall that only appears before the season's first snow.