How to Introduce Yourself in Korean (Script + Examples)

The 30-second Korean self-introduction script

To introduce yourself in Korean, say hello, give your name after 저는 (jeoneun, "I"), add where you're from and one or two facts about yourself, and close with 만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo, "Nice to meet you"). Koreans call this a 자기소개 (jagisogae, also written "jagi sogae"), and a short one takes about 30 seconds.

Below is the same script in two speech levels. The polite 해요 (haeyo) style, with sentences ending in -요, suits classes, language exchanges and most people you meet. The formal 합니다 (hamnida) style, ending in -ㅂ니다, is for job interviews, presentations and introducing yourself to a group.

Filled in, a polite version sounds like this: 안녕하세요. 저는 사라예요. 호주에서 왔어요. 간호사예요. 한국어를 배우고 있어요. 취미는 등산이에요. 만나서 반가워요. (annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun sarayeyo. hojueseo wasseoyo. ganhosayeyo. hangugeoreul baeugo isseoyo. chwimineun deungsanieyo. mannaseo bangawoyo.) That's "Hello. I'm Sarah. I'm from Australia. I'm a nurse. I'm learning Korean. My hobby is hiking. Nice to meet you."

You can mix the two styles: plenty of Koreans give their name with 입니다 and carry on in -요. Don't mix in 반말 (banmal, casual speech), though. A line like 나는 벤이야 (naneun beniya, "I'm Ben," casual) sounds rude coming from someone you've just met.

Saying your name: 입니다, 이에요 or 예요

All three mean "am" or "is" after a noun. Formal 입니다 (imnida) attaches to any name as it is. In the polite style, look at the last letter of your name in Hangul: 이에요 (ieyo) follows a final consonant, called 받침 (batchim), and 예요 (yeyo) follows a vowel. As the National Institute of Korean Language explains, 예요 is 이에요 contracted after a vowel.

What matters is how your name is written in Hangul. Mark ends in a consonant sound in English, but in Hangul it's 마크, ending in the vowel ㅡ, so it's 마크예요. Nick is written 닉, ending in ㄱ, so it's 닉이에요. If you don't know your name's Hangul spelling, ask a tutor or a Korean friend once and write it down. When in doubt, 입니다 works after any name.

Use 저 (jeo), the humble "I", in any introduction. 나 (na) is the casual "I": 나는 ___이야 (naneun ___iya) is fine with friends but sounds presumptuous to someone you've just met. To say "my name is", use 제 이름은 ___이에요/예요 (je ireumeun ___ieyo/yeyo); 제 (je) is the humble "my", where casual speech uses 내 (nae). The shorter 저는 ___이에요/예요 is equally common.

You'll also hear ___(이)라고 합니다 (___(i)rago hamnida, "I'm called ___"), with 라고 after a vowel (사라라고 합니다, sararago hamnida) and 이라고 after a consonant (벤이라고 합니다, benirago hamnida). The National Institute of Korean Language, though, recommends plain ___입니다 for your own name, saying forms like ___라고 합니다 can sound arrogant or old-fashioned. To say what you're not, use 이/가 아니에요: 저는 학생이 아니에요 (jeoneun haksaengi anieyo, "I'm not a student"). It's always 아니에요, never 아니예요.

Where you're from, your job, why you're learning and hobbies

After your name, add two or three of these lines. Each one is a frame: swap the word in the blank and keep the rest.

• Countries: 미국 (miguk, US), 캐나다 (kaenada, Canada), 영국 (yeongguk, UK), 호주 (hoju, Australia), 뉴질랜드 (nyujillaendeu, New Zealand), 싱가포르 (singgaporeu, Singapore), 필리핀 (pillipin, the Philippines), 말레이시아 (malleisia, Malaysia).
• Jobs: 학생 (haksaeng, student), 대학생 (daehaksaeng, university student), 회사원 (hoesawon, office worker), 개발자 (gaebalja, software developer), 간호사 (ganhosa, nurse), 교사 (gyosa, teacher), 디자이너 (dijaineo, designer).
• Hobbies: 요리 (yori, cooking), 등산 (deungsan, hiking), 여행 (yeohaeng, travel), 독서 (dokseo, reading), 운동 (undong, exercise), 게임 (geim, gaming).

Don't add the honorific 님 (nim) to your own job. If you teach English, say 교사예요 (gyosayeyo, "I'm a teacher") or 영어를 가르쳐요 (yeongeoreul gareuchyeoyo, "I teach English"), not 선생님이에요. 님 honors other people, so using it about yourself sounds like you're honoring yourself.

Age: why Koreans ask and how to answer

Don't be surprised if someone asks your age a minute after your name. Korean speech levels and forms of address depend partly on who is older, so age tells people how to talk to you: who keeps using polite speech, who might later suggest dropping it, and whether you'll call each other 형 (hyeong), 오빠 (oppa), 누나 (nuna) or 언니 (eonni). It's usually practical rather than nosy. Oppa, noona, hyung and unnie explained covers who calls whom what.

The polite question is 나이가 어떻게 되세요? (naiga eotteoke doeseyo?, "May I ask your age?"). 몇 살이에요? (myeot sarieyo?, "How old are you?") is plainer, and for someone clearly older people use the honorific word for age: 연세가 어떻게 되세요? (yeonsega eotteoke doeseyo?).

Answer with a native Korean number plus 살 (sal, "years old"): 스물다섯 살이에요 (seumuldaseot sarieyo, "I'm 25"). The tens are 스물 (seumul, 20), 서른 (seoreun, 30), 마흔 (maheun, 40) and 쉰 (swin, 50). Right before 살, 스물 shortens to 스무 (스무 살, seumu sal, "20 years old"), and 하나, 둘, 셋 and 넷 become 한, 두, 세 and 네 (서른두 살, seoreundu sal, "32"). In formal style, say 스물다섯 살입니다 (seumuldaseot sarimnida).

Which age, though? Korea long used "Korean age" (세는 나이, seneun nai), in which you're one at birth and everyone adds a year on 1 January. Amendments that took effect on 28 June 2023 made international age (만 나이, man nai), counted from your birthday, the standard in civil and administrative law. Give your actual age. If the other person seems to count differently, your birth year settles it: 2000년생이에요 (icheonnyeonsaengieyo, "I was born in 2000").

You don't have to answer. Among peers, a smile and 비밀이에요 (bimirieyo, "It's a secret") is fine; 나이는 비밀로 해도 될까요? (naineun bimillo haedo doelkkayo?, "Mind if I keep my age to myself?") is a softer version. A flat 왜요? (waeyo?, "Why?") can sound defensive. Once ages are known, the older person may offer to switch to casual speech; Korean honorifics explains the speech levels behind that switch.

Nice to meet you in Korean: 만나서 반갑습니다 vs 반가워요

만나서 반갑습니다 (mannaseo bangapseumnida) means "I'm glad to meet you" and is the safe formal choice with anyone. 만나서 반가워요 (mannaseo bangawoyo) is the same phrase in the polite 해요 style: a little warmer, and right for classes, language exchanges and people around your age. Both are often shortened to 반갑습니다 or 반가워요.

잘 부탁드립니다 (jal butakdeurimnida) has no neat English equivalent. Literally "I ask you to treat me well," it works like "I look forward to working with you" and signals a relationship that will continue. It's a natural last line in a new class, a new job or a first lesson with a tutor, and slightly odd with someone you'll never see again.

If the other person introduces themselves first, answer with 저도 반갑습니다 and then give your own introduction. For goodbyes and other everyday greetings, such as 오랜만이에요 (oraenmanieyo, "Long time no see"), see Korean greetings.

Bowing and handshake etiquette

A small bow goes with 안녕하세요: lower your head and shoulders a little as you say it. With teachers, interviewers and older people, bow slightly deeper and don't rush it. There's no need to measure angles; matching the other person's bow is a safe guide, and on a video call a nod with your greeting does the same job.

Handshakes are common at work and in other formal meetings, usually with a slight nod at the same time. The senior person typically offers a hand first. When shaking hands with someone older or more senior, many Koreans lightly support their right forearm with their left hand as a sign of respect, and you'll come across as polite if you do the same.

Give and receive business cards, gifts and anything you hand to someone older with both hands. Hugs and cheek kisses usually aren't part of a first introduction; a bow or a handshake is plenty. Customs vary with age, setting and workplace, and younger people in casual settings may nod and smile, so when in doubt, follow the other person's lead.

Versions for a class, a job interview and a language exchange

The core script stays the same. Only the speech level and the details change. Swap in your own name and facts.

For a Korean class, use the polite 해요 style and mention how long you've been learning and your level, so the teacher can pitch the lesson right.

• 안녕하세요. 저는 벤이에요. (annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun benieyo, "Hello. I'm Ben.")
• 캐나다 토론토에서 왔어요. (kaenada torontoeseo wasseoyo, "I'm from Toronto, Canada.")
• 한국어를 배운 지 3개월 됐어요. (hangugeoreul baeun ji samgaewol dwaesseoyo, "I've been learning Korean for three months.")
• 아직 잘 못하지만 열심히 할게요. (ajik jal motajiman yeolsimhi halgeyo, "I'm not good yet, but I'll work hard.")
• 잘 부탁드려요. (jal butakdeuryeoyo, "I look forward to learning with you.")

For a job interview, use the formal 합니다 style throughout. Korean interviewers often ask for a 1분 자기소개 (ilbun jagisogae, "one-minute self-introduction"). Keep it about the job: your background, one strength and why you're applying. In front of a panel, either 안녕하십니까 (annyeonghasimnikka) or 처음 뵙겠습니다 works as the opener.

• 안녕하십니까. 마케팅 직무에 지원한 사라 존슨입니다. (annyeonghasimnikka. maketing jingmue jiwonhan sara jonseunimnida, "Hello. I'm Sarah Johnson, and I've applied for the marketing role.")
• 저는 호주에서 왔고, 시드니에서 3년 동안 마케팅 일을 했습니다. (jeoneun hojueseo watgo, sideunieseo samnyeon dongan maketing ireul haetseumnida, "I'm from Australia and worked in marketing in Sydney for three years.")
• 제 강점은 꼼꼼함입니다. (je gangjeomeun kkomkkomhamimnida, "My strength is attention to detail.")
• 한국에서 일하고 싶어서 2년째 한국어를 공부하고 있습니다. (hangugeseo ilhago sipeoseo inyeonjjae hangugeoreul gongbuhago itseumnida, "I've been studying Korean for two years because I want to work in Korea.")
• 감사합니다. (gamsahamnida, "Thank you.")

At a language exchange, use the polite 해요 style even with someone who looks your age, and wait for them to suggest 반말.

• 안녕하세요. 저는 제니예요. (annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun jeniyeyo, "Hi. I'm Jenny.")
• 미국 시카고에 살아요. (miguk sikagoe sarayo, "I live in Chicago in the US.")
• 한국 드라마를 좋아해서 한국어를 공부하고 있어요. (hanguk deuramareul joahaeseo hangugeoreul gongbuhago isseoyo, "I'm studying Korean because I like Korean dramas.")
• 영어는 제가 도와드릴게요. (yeongeoneun jega dowadeurilgeyo, "I can help you with English.")
• 한국어로 천천히 말해 주시면 좋겠어요. (hangugeoro cheoncheonhi malhae jusimyeon jokesseoyo, "It would help if you spoke Korean slowly.")

If you get stuck mid-conversation, lifelines like 다시 한번 말해 주세요 (dasi hanbeon malhae juseyo, "Could you say that again?") are collected in basic Korean phrases.

Practice checklist

1. Write your introduction from the 30-second table, five or six sentences long.
2. Check every 이에요 and 예요 against the last letter of the word in Hangul, or use 입니다 throughout.
3. Make sure you've used 저 and 제, never 나 and 내.
4. Read it aloud slowly and watch for sound changes: 입니다 is pronounced [임니다] (imnida) and 반갑습니다 [반갑씀니다] (bangapseumnida). The rules behind them are in Korean pronunciation.
5. Record yourself once, time it (aim for about 30 seconds) and listen back.
6. Prepare answers to the likely follow-ups: 어디에서 왔어요? (eodieseo wasseoyo?, "Where are you from?"), 무슨 일 하세요? (museun il haseyo?, "What do you do?") and 왜 한국어를 배워요? (wae hangugeoreul baewoyo?, "Why are you learning Korean?").
7. Say it to a real person and ask for corrections.

The last step matters most. Write your intro from this script and ask your tutor to correct it in your first lesson: a native speaker can catch the speech-level slips and pronunciation habits you can't hear yourself, and you'll leave with an introduction you can keep reusing. What to expect in your first Korean lesson shows how to make that session count.

On HaruMeet you can message your tutor in the site chat before the lesson, so you can send your script ahead of time. As of October 2026, all 19 tutors teaching Korean list English among the languages they speak, and 10 list beginner lessons on their profiles; you can compare them on the Korean for beginners page.

Frequently asked questions