Talk To Me In Korean as a Business: Reflections and Future Plans

[@joss7318]

If it weren't for Hyuno and his team, I don’t think I would have discovered the joy of learning Korean. I'm just a girl from Norway who had no plans to learn any languages, but seven years ago on a random afternoon I stumbled upon a TTMIK video. From that moment, I was hooked on learning Korean❤️. I remember listening to your learning clips every single day before going to school for several years!! It was such a nice way to start the day, I miss it a lot🥹 Thank you for all your incredible content! Now, my best friend, twin brother, and even my boyfriend are all watching your videos, enjoying the exciting and fun journey of learning a new language! I can’t thank you enough!! Love from Norway🇳🇴❤️

[@HyunwooSun]

정말 감사합니다! Thank you so much for studing with us ❤

[@fransmith3255]

What's this, "We're old" thing? You still all look young!! 🤣 I learned with Talk to Me in Korean a few years ago now. I still learn, but feel comfortable learning on my own. I would recommend you guys as THE best place to learn Korean for an absolute beginner. Everyone I have met who learns Korean knows you guys and probably learns from you guys. I reckon you guys are pretty awesome, and I wish you all the best with your future. You were definitely the best course then, and you probably still are.

[@HyunwooSun]

정말 감사합니다!! ❤

[@ButterflyisNabi]

Great to hear a bit of the behind the scenes of your journey mate! I still remember back when you first asked us listeners of your podcast if we could buy you a coffee! Although I've ebbed and flowed with my Korean learning, your business has always been there when my motivation kicked in. Happy to say I own many of your books, still have my paid account, and am excited to be spending a whole month this year travelling Sth Korea visiting and staying with friends we've made on this incredible journey. You're an inspiration to many of us Hynwoo! Can't wait to see where you'll be in another 15yrs.

[@HyunwooSun]

Thank you so much for remembering our start and being there with us all along. 정말 감사합니다! ❤

[@purplerayofhope]

Had no idea the great ttmik has these much of unsuccessful projects though they all seems to be very well thought and put together. It is so cool of you to take us through this side of your journey which makes us even closer in connection, not only as a teacher and student. This story gives us even more motivation and strength to carry on on our learning journey, as sometimes it feels so difficult and overwhelming to learn all these new words, grammars rules etc. 이제부터 한국어를 더 열심히 공부할 거예요. 너무 감사합니다 티티믹 팀들.

[@moradelnafs]

TTMIK is amazing. Thank you for sharing these stories. I am sure it wasn’t easy, and it’s so admirable to hear how you got through these tough times. I and I am sure many others are definitely interested in hearing more. It would be great if you created a course or wrote a book about your experience in creating TTMIK for others who would like to follow your footsteps for other languages as well. All the very best. I have always admired your hard work and efforts and now I am admiring them even more.

[@camideleon5880]

I’m one of your followers since probably 2013 or ‘14 but I’ve known Hyunwoo as a creator and teacher longer through other channels. Your voice is so familiar and you are my first ever Korean teacher online. I’ve watched TTMIK grow like when the website only had Level 4 up and Haru Korean was still an active service. I had also planned to visit the Language exchange cafe but due to my trip, I couldn’t go. I’m so happy for TTMIK’s expansion in content and books. I have your “NEWS IN KOREAN” “Survival Korean” “Build Korean Sentences” books and it’s so useful, I look back on them time to time now. I’m excited for the future of TTMIK and I will always be here to watch you guys continue

[@HyunwooSun]

Oh you still remember HaruKorean! Thank you so much for being with us all these years. ❤

[@camideleon5880]

@@HyunwooSun 당연하죠! 현우 선생님하고 티티믹 덕분에 한국말 더 쉽게 배우게 돼서 제가 지금 통역사로서 일하고 있고요. 다음에 티티믹 처럼 재미있는 한국어 선생님이 되고 싶어요 ^^ 너무 너무 감사합니다 🥺

[@cherylschaeffer7832]

Loved this video! It's fascinating what things you did that didn't work (they were all good ideas that maybe now would work because of the increase in students). I've owned various small businesses since I was 15 years old and I've learned the most from my mistakes. For TTMIK, the most exciting part is all the successes and all the amazing talent in one company, even though it's not a company of thousands of people. What you and your team have created is extraordinary and to be applauded. And I would absolutely love to see more videos on the behind the scenes aspect of TTMIK.

[@NicoleYoshihara]

Literally one of the best resources for learning Korean and to get into language learning in general ❤

[@thebabythesavage]

I’m a mixed Korean-American who never got to learn more than a few Korean words and it’s through TTMIK that I’ve been able to learn more functional Korean and feel connected to my heritage on my own terms. It’s a priceless gift. 고맙습니다♥️ 그리고 축하합니다!

[@ProteaAurea]

It's great to hear a bit of a behind-the-scenes of TTMIK because I've been following you ever since the very beginning when there were just a few podcasts and the site was different. A bit of a tangent, but I never understood how people could still love and support Simon and Martina after they crowdfunded from their viewers for a new studio in Korea, opened the café with TTMIK and then just left for Japan, took the money, broke their promises, and left so many people hanging. I have EDS like Martina and it make life VERY difficult but that's no excuse to treat people like that.

[@슈기-h9t]

You and your team are really the best! I have always wondered how fun it must be working as TTMIK member and having you as a boss. Clearly you put a lot of effort in maintaining that positive work environment. All the best for all your future projects!!🎉💕

[@nurkamiliailyana]

I started learn korean around september 2023. You were already a paid service by the time i started learn korean. Though i could not use your paid content (due to currency exchange & my situation) but i still find the free ones are actually helpfull too. Thank you so much for this platform, thank you for.. idk, staying(?) Despite all the challenges you had. Really appreciate it. I guess, all the failure, the mistakes teaches to find better ways, do better maybe? Started from 0 and become one of the biggest and most popular one among korean learner. You have such amazing team as well! Thank you all 🥰

[@neminaree]

thank you for doing this wonderful project ♡ happy 15th anniversary! TTMK is The resource for learning Korean. thank you so much for your hard work all these years, and I wish you to stay strong and good luck ♡ can't wait to see what amazing things await TTMK in the future!

[@niharika170]

Hyunwoon you are not just our teacher but also an inspiration for all of us to not give up even after many hurdles and failure.❤ Because of you and your team I've become very consistent , I love the way you and kyeongun teach . I'm currently on level 4 of your essential Korean curriculum and read and write curriculum but I will work hard and complete every lesson. I would love to meet you someday if I'll be able to get the scholarship to study in korea.❤❤love and support form India! 🇮🇳

[@someguy1202]

What a cool video and what an amazing accomplishment you all have achieved in the last 15 years. Thank you for sharing it with us. :) Something that I think really sets you guys apart is your genuine care for the people engaged with your platform. The subscribers and consumers yes but possibly more importantly your coworkers. It really really shines through and gives a genuine and much appreciated joy to your content. God bless you guys and best wishes on the next 15 years! Here's one of the Korean sentences I know from you all ( 저는 외계인 아니에요 ) :D

[@KajaCorée]

Congratulations for all what you did so far, you are truly inspiring!

[@andrewchoi2613]

This was really fascinating--your journey is both impressive and inspiring! Glad to hear you and your team are getting the wide recognition you deserve!

[@RobertHeslop]

Hyunwoo, TTMIK have done an AMAZING thing to so many people around the world and in my opinion, you also helped spread what media have called the 'Korea-wave' to the Western World. I don't speak it amazingly, but because of finding your company and pressing subscribe, I now watch mainly Korean shows on streaming services, been to Korea and found more interest in learning not just about the language but the history and culture of Korea. You should all be proud of yourselves!

[@HyunwooSun]

Thank you!! We'll continue working hard : )

[@mollymoo7432]

I love your vision! I’m working as a teacher in Korean now, but someday it’s my dream to work for Talk to Me in Korean or a company with the same goal of making it more accessible and common to learn Korean. Thank you for all the great work you’ve done!

[@Kilmyana]

Thank you so much for being here. The road may have had its challenges, but so many of us have learned so much with you, your projects and continue to grow in our own endeavors. I hope you all continue to be here and grow in the years to come. We all need people like you and the TTMIK team. Many thanks and congratulations on your 15yrs!🎉💜

[@Kilmyana]

And this type of video is also great! I love hearing about your journey, projects, etc. It's inspiring!

[@atmeeks]

Thank you for sharing. I'm really thankful for TTMIK.

[@michaelcorbett4236]

An old girlfriend of mine had a translation company in the UK that sourced and used good bilingual or even bilingual native speakers. So for example, someone who was Korean but maybe grew up in the UK or someone who had spent many years in copywriting in another language. This was to get the best quality and nuanced translation for customers. She is Italian born herself and can do both Italian into English and vice-versa. They had great success but as computer-based translation and then AI the company was finding it harder to compete. They ended up being bought out. Which isn't a bad thing considering. But it highlights how a good idea can often become obsolete just by time and progress in other fields as well as how people's behaviours change. That said the TTMIK Stories app is brilliant.

[@inbedwithkpop]

LOVED this video! It is always nice to get some behind the scenes information about something. And to hear about your journey was very inspiring. Thank you

[@nurbaetylega]

I JUST WANT TO SAY THANK YOU SO SO SOOO MUCHHHHH "TALK TO ME IN KOREAN" ACCOMPANYING ME LEARNING KOREAN EASILY ❤

[@kimnamcu]

My greatest thanks and recommendation of using TTMIK: Without TTMIK, we wouldn't know how to actually USE Korean in a more realistic way. (In the classroom, we're obligated to only learn "textbook Korean," the safest method. Although TTMIK also supplements with "safe" korean usage of grammar points, you guys offer a more realistic usage of what we're learning in formal classes or mention how a point is used colloquially.) As a learner who has lived in Korea for almost as long as TTMIK began, I am very appreciative and see the need of TTMIK❤ You decrease awkward interactions due to what we learned in class😭 & you help make 문법 make sense (Especially liking how you are increasing teaching us REAL Korean nowadays🙆🏽‍♀️👍)

[@vocecita]

Where we were Where we are Where we are going Thank you for all you and your team do for us K Learners! My favorite resource!!

[@BobIzam]

Ngl this video was inspiring cause if you can learn to speak English (a cluster🤬 of a language) at this level, then i can do the same with Korean

[@kdtatayoo]

우리 선생님 진심으로 존경합니다 정말 자랑스러워요!! 선생님 덕분에 한국어를 쉽게 공부할 수 있어요!! 티티믹 덕분에 언제든지 시간이 있을 때 유튜브나 웹사이트에서 공부할 수 있어요! 진짜 진짜 고생 많으셨습니다!!! 항상 응원할게요!!!

[@ChristyLuisDostoevskyinSpace]

We appreciate TTMIK thank you 🥹

[@kpopgrrl]

I really hope I can come back to Seoul and visit your office and see everyone I met in 2010, so much has happened since that time and it would be amazing to be able to catch up. Your content has also helped me as I've been here in Chicago learning Korean with the help of various teachers at the Korean Education Center of Chicago and Hana Center, some of those teachers have even used your content in their classes. I imagine the lower level classes use even more of your content but by the time I started taking KEC classes in 2011 I was already above the beginner level, admittedly with many gaps. My biggest advice to other Korean learners is to spend a lot of time listening to native speakers, the Real-Life Korean Conversations books are excellent, and focus on vocab in context

[@NewBeginner27]

Great video. It is very interesting to get a peek behind the scene. Would love to see more😊

[@stanLSF]

Thank you for all your efforts, I've just started learning Korean language and your curriculum and style makes the most sense to me so I'll definitely be sticking with you guys - keep up the good work 👏🏻

[@Eborden1123]

I really enjoyed hearing about your teaching journey. I tried watching many different content creators to try and learn Korean (I am still very much in the begining of my learning phase), but i was very overwhelmed by it all. I found TTMIK, and it took all of about two days to make up my mind that you would be my learning focus. I have signed up for your lessons online,and i just got my first textbook and workbook this past week. Your lessons are fun and easy to understand, and you make me feel that I just may not be too old to learn. Thank you for your dedication! I'm so happy to have found you!

[@kaylew83]

i wish I could love a video instead of just like. I've been following TTMIK for years. they're what originally inspired me to continue my korean studies after college. unfortunately i had to let my subscription go recently. Glad to see they're doing well and sharing more BTS :) Hopefully I'll be able to come back and study again.

[@ChPrasomwong]

I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your hard work. It is very inspiring. I have been learning other languages, but not Korea. When I first had an idea of exploring another new language. So, I picked Korean and started learning that people are talking about "Talk To Me In Korean". I took a look and I fell in love with it. I can see the quality of lessons and I just think it is all I need. Thank you once again for creating "TTMIK" for us.

[@TerenceCole]

Dude, I really appreciate you sharing this information, as well as all you and your crew have done.

[@jeshandwriting]

Thank you for your hard work, TTMIK team. I improved a lot in learning Korean thanks to TTMIK ^^

[@shangguanwang]

I would love to attend the cultural events and meet the TTMIK team in person!

[@jinah7151]

I like learning about the background of TTMIK! I was always curious of your story and to see how you guys are doing after many years of listening to you. I’m glad to see your brand expanding and it’s clear you learned a lot (as with any business owner) from the failures and challenges. Wishing you more success in the future 🎉

[@gabynas]

Amazing and inspiring video! Thank you for sharing a part of the story (I imagine you've been through so many things)! I am happy that after years, even with so many challenges, you have remained in something you like and that helps so many people. Learning and knowledge are precious things in life and you take it to the world. It inspired me to dedicate myself more and continue in my studies of English and Korean. A hug from Brazil! 🇧🇷🤗

[@cherylpurplediary]

I learnt about TTMIK from a Hong Kong KZbinr who lives in Korea now. TTMIK is a part of my Korean learning journey and as I listened to your stories just now, it reminded me all these years. I was touched and got teary eyes. Thanks for working super hard and staying strong for all these years! Thinking about all these years of learning Korean, from TTMIK, courses provided by schools and 1 to 1 private lessons, I have come so far too. But 1 to 1 private lessons are expensive and I have been considering subscribing TTMIK to learn by myself again. BUT! This really requires self discipline and I am not that good at it ㅠㅠ but I did subscribe to TTMIK stories!

[@Arong-iv3yw]

여러가지 노력끝에 한국어 교육계에 큰 획을 그어주시고 훌륭한 교육들을 제공해주셔서 감사합니다^^

[@Siennaflower]

Thank you for this video. I enjoyed and appreciate you sharing your journey. I find you to be such a pleasant and interesting person, and I think a lot of your success is due to the kind and friendly person you are, the passion and talent you have for language learning, your perseverance and likeableness! I am also always so impressed with your english, especially knowing you did not leave Korea to learn it! ❤

[@getchwaltzetki6022]

i still remember listening to TTMIK first podcast from 2010, or is it 2009? and wow, i just realized hyonuson voice almost didn't change at all. thank you , to you and whole TTMIK team because TTMIK is one of many reason im able to work in korea

[@НинаКищенко-ь1т]

Thank you 😊 very interesting 💛💛💛 would be happy to see more videos like this ❤️

[@AzzamLah]

Seeing the notification of this new video being posted had me anxious I had to wait for hours until I am ready for a big announcement before I could watch this video. Thank goodness you addressed it in the very beginning! 😭 Growing a business is never easy and you guys have my respect for keep going. Thank you guys for your services to learners and educators.

[@howme.school]

Thanks for sharing your entrepreneurial journey as an Educator, Hyunwoo! I'm pursuing it as well as a content creator who loves EdTech, and you're definitely a team that I look up to! So, listening to you and paying attention to your next moves is something that I do often. 🤭💛 Keep sharing all this, it's extremely helpful ✨✨

[@rahee.liulee]

I got interest to learn korean thanks to you. Your lessons helped me alot to understand the korean language easily. Thank you so much & I am so happy to see you growing day by day & becoming successful. Love you TTMIK & I'm really really greatful for you teachers ❤

[@NicoleYoshihara]

It’s amazing to see this grow over the years 🥳🎂🎊🎉ttmik❤

[@NicoleYoshihara]

Definitely interesting to hear about this, would like to hear more 😊❤

[@Stones223]

감사합니다 성생님! I never would have been able to even know what that means or how to spell that without Talk to Me in Korean!!

[@priskasandra1132]

Thank you Hyunwoo for sharing your experience as an enterpreneur. I work in a fiduciary company and I always love it to see how companies grow over the years. I enjoyed this video very much! I'm looking forward to all new courses which will be German - Korean. If you need any help (like asking some Swiss Universities whether they want to start a collaboration) feel free to ask. Much love from Switzerland to Korea ! ❤ Priska

[@TheGoonies51]

This was a really interesting video, great to hear some behind the scenes. I started my own business in 2010 (gardening, so not at all related to language teaching!), so have been going for around the same time as TTMIK. I can remember those first 3 years, they were super scary! I also have my dream job! Love your content 🇰🇷💗

[@clare7396]

I wanted to say thank you for doing this video. It was very interesting! I'm so sorry that the Sing to Me project didn't work out because I spend a lot of time puzzling over kpop lyrics. And I wanted to add that I'm one of the users of the Korean Stories app, and I think it's amazing. I know it's a tremendous amount of work, but seeing the grammar points I'm learning show up in the stories has a real impact on how I remember them. So, thanks for launching that. It's really really worth it.

[@sulinalimin9073]

I want to hear more please! Thank you for sharing🤍

[@LeeJiHye_24]

What a journey... 수고 많으세요... This has inspired me to start my own podcast teaching Arabic as a foreign language. BTW I visited that café when I visited Korea for the first time in 2014.

[@bilingualbackpacker]

Really interesting! I hope we can have a future event in Korea and maybe we can have a Korean Language Challenge fot beginners. We have done that at previous events.

[@irenkazoika]

Thank You for your job! I really appreciate what you have done and you are doing!

[@kasiahaydenful]

I LOVED this video and would be interested in more like it. It’s inspiring to hear all of the “failed” experiments you tried and I hope the coffee shop idea reincarnates in a sustainable way in the future. Maybe it could be possible as part of a corporate partnership and housed in an office building‘s lobby, kinda like the Blue Bottle in the Ryse building in Hongdae. My Korean friend tutors executives in Seoul and their biggest roadblock to learning English is needing to reschedule the lessons as meetings pop up during the day, so a drop-in cafe might work best for busy companies needing flexible lesson times.

[@prods5hni]

I love this thanks for the insight! i really really appreciate this kind of content it inspires to go for your dreams

[@nw6gmp]

So proud of you Hyunwoo!

[@emily20187]

Thank you so much to TTMK from Taiwan.

[@ATRI_Total_Rewards]

I will be moving to Hongdae soon. I am starting Level 5 now.. i am an HR consultant and content creator. Happy to assist you as you grow.

[@hannasizemore8028]

Thanks for this video! I would definitely be interested in hearing more about the company and your story. Also: thank you, thank you for the reading app. It is so helpful!

[@코나-d1d]

It’s amazing. I really love TTMIK.

[@soggymoggytravels]

Well done for persisting with your dream!

[@GregorSchafrothAI]

Super interesting, would love to hear more about the Business!! :) How much time did it take you from the moment you started TTMIK until you were able to earn enough money to live from it?

[@lilianavuscan5652]

I found TTMIK by chance and started to listen to it while driving to and back from work. I am a 54 year old woman passionate about the Korean language, and it's culture but with very limited free time and with no intention to work or study in Korea. The very first lesson of Level 1 states that these audio lessons will stay free forever, but that is not the case anymore. When I was reaching about level 5 you stopped the free podcasting and my learning stopped to a griding halt. And so it did probably for numerous other younger people. Many will not be able to " taste" the quality of your work (which motivated me in the first place) and they will not embark onto the journey of learning this language, unless the need is there. The ten TTMIK levels are floating in the ether anyway, they are not hard to find, but these are not promoting your website and your merchandise anymore...maybe another business mistake?

[@naeemai123]

Thanks for sharing. I found this really interesting.

[@ashliel.3517]

Now that your company is more well known, would you reconsider group tutoring? Love what TTMIK has offered so far, but I’m lacking in being able to use Korean daily with others…

[@seanoceallachain]

I've been listening to your podcasts and subscribed to you since before arriving in Korea in 2013. I'm also a member of your subscription plan. I'm really glad it's worked out well for you and wish you all the best on your future endeavours and success. Although 90% of everything you guys have done has been awesome, there are still some things that are a little annoying or that I don't agree with, especially as you took them due to a business decision, even though it seems like you guys are easily making enough through all the books and websites. The main gripe being the removal of the original, free audio podcasts. I can find them in the website if I look hard enough, but they are so awkward to play on the go now. Also, the pricing and fact that the TTMIK Stories is seperate and crazily priced.

[@andrewchoi5808]

Keep korea japan china and other countries and nations safe 🙏 ❤

[@davidg6800]

This was a good video 👍

[@paulwalther5237]

Have you thought about teaching English to Koreans or making content for that? It seems you would be good at it and maybe there could be some crossover like language exchanges with TTMIK students. Ok, not going to lie. I am thinking they would make good customers for the TTMIK cafe so I could visit it when I am lucky enough to visit Seoul 😂.

[@Kloveer_333]

❤

[@drocpdp]

My biggest advice... get a better technology infrastructure if possible. The site runs really slow. It's stable... but slow... Not enough for me to unsubscribe. But it is annoying for it to take 20 seconds for something that should take 1 second to load nowadays...

[@Smittenhamster]

I can confirm that and always wondered why that is

[@drocpdp]

@@Smittenhamster I'm guessing the website is hosted by a 3rd party.

[@saradiego1]

Definitely agree on this.

[@HyunwooSun]

Thank you so much! This has been a long overdue hurdle we need to overcome and I am happy to tell you that we are finally working on a solution!

[@drocpdp]

@@HyunwooSun Thanks for the reply! Like I said, this has not stopped me from loving your content! You guys are hard workers and show your passion well! Thanks!!!

[@deepakkamble1509]

I want to join your team

[@christianjay5743]

🫶🫶🫶

[@andrewchoi5808]

Send prayers and daimoku to save Koreans Japanese Chinese Vietnamese Filipinos Taiwanese Americans Latinos Africans and Europeans from extinction pollution erosion climate change global warming crimes drugs chemicals alcohol smoking toxins aging diseases old age mortality sickness illness virus covid death hunger poverty deforestation and other environmental threats and unsustainable activities

[@Hieronymus1450]

very boring this is just another ad