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How to Type in Korean — Keyboard Setup and the 2-Set Layout

By 4 min read

Contents
  1. 1. Add a Korean keyboard
  2. 2. The 2-set layout — left consonants, right vowels
  3. 3. Letters snap into blocks
  4. 4. Practise with Malpul

You can type Korean on any keyboard you already own. Add the Korean input in your device settings, and use the 2-set (dubeolsik, 두벌식) layout — consonants sit under your left hand, vowels under your right. You type letter by letter, and the computer snaps them into syllable blocks for you.

1. Add a Korean keyboard

Menu names can differ a little by version, but the path is about the same.

DeviceWhere to add itHow to switch
WindowsSettings → Time & language → Language & region → Add a language → KoreanWindows key + Space to pick Korean, then the 한/영 key or Right Alt to flip Korean ↔ English
MacSystem Settings → Keyboard → Text Input → Edit → + → Korean → 2-Set KoreanControl + Space (or the Globe key)
iPhoneSettings → General → Keyboard → Keyboards → Add New Keyboard → Korean → StandardTap the globe key
Android (Gboard)Gboard settings → Languages → Add keyboard → Korean → QWERTY layoutTap or hold the globe/space key

Choose the standard / 2-set layout. It is the one almost everyone in Korea uses on computers, and it matches the stickers you will see on Korean keyboards.

2. The 2-set layout — left consonants, right vowels

RowLeft hand (consonants)Right hand (vowels)
Topㅂ ㅈ ㄷ ㄱ ㅅ (Q W E R T)ㅛ ㅕ ㅑ ㅐ ㅔ (Y U I O P)
Homeㅁ ㄴ ㅇ ㄹ ㅎ (A S D F G)ㅗ ㅓ ㅏ ㅣ (H J K L)
Bottomㅋ ㅌ ㅊ ㅍ (Z X C V)ㅠ ㅜ ㅡ (B N M)
  • Home position: left index finger on ㄹ (F), right index finger on ㅓ (J). Those two keys have bumps you can feel.
  • Double consonants ㄲ ㄸ ㅃ ㅆ ㅉ and the vowels ㅒ ㅖ: hold Shift with the *other* hand, then press ㄱ ㄷ ㅂ ㅅ ㅈ / ㅐ ㅔ.

3. Letters snap into blocks

You never place blocks yourself. Type the letters in reading order and the input does the rest.

You typeYou get
ㄱ ㅏ가
ㄱ ㅏ ㄴ간
ㄱ ㅏ ㄴ ㅏ가나 — the ㄴ jumps to start the next block
ㅎ ㅏ ㄴ ㄱ ㅡ ㄹ한글
ㄱ ㅗ ㅏ과 — ㅗ + ㅏ join into one vowel

That jump in the third row surprises everyone at first: a consonant waits at the bottom of a block, but if a vowel comes next, it moves to the front of the new block — because every Korean syllable starts with a consonant.

4. Practise with Malpul

  • Hangul Road teaches each letter with its sound, a picture and a small sound game.
  • Key practice starts with the home row (ㅁ ㄴ ㅇ ㄹ / ㅓ ㅏ ㅣ) and adds one row at a time, showing which finger to use.

Keep playing on Malpul

Malpul's games are getting ready to open. Coming soon!

Sources · Malpul typing engine (2-set Korean key map) · Malpul Hangul Road
Updated 2026-10-10


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