TOPIK & Beyond

Welcome to TOPIK & Beyond! Whether you're just starting to learn Korean or preparing to pass the TOPIK exam, this podcast is your companion on the journey. In each episode, we’ll explore useful vocabulary, essential grammar, and real-life stories from daily life in Korea to help you master the language and feel more confident. Tune in to learn practical tips, cultural insights, and much more, taking your Korean skills beyond the classroom!

Last refreshed: June 16th, 2026 at 9:22 AM

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Episodes

#86: How Korean Talks About Age - And Why It Changes Everything

Age in Korean is not just a number - it is the foundation of how every conversation is structured. In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, host Eliza explains the age-based speech system that shapes all Korean social interaction: how to count and express age correctly (살 vs 세), the relational titles that replace names (언니, 오빠, 형, 누나, 선배, 후배), and the speech level system (반말 vs 존댓말) that adjusts based on age and relationship. Anchored in an anonymous student story about a conversation that suddenl...

Jun 16, 2026•21 min•Ep. 86

#85: How to Write a TOPIK II Conclusion That Actually Concludes

Most TOPIK II conclusions restate the introduction and call it done. Examiners see this pattern in the majority of Level 3 essays -and it keeps scores stuck. In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, host Eliza completes the four-part TOPIK II writing series by addressing the most overlooked section of the essay: the conclusion. This episode diagnoses the three Level 3 conclusion patterns (재진술, 단순 요약, 빈약한 마무리), introduces three conclusion structures that signal Level 4 and above thinking, and provi...

Jun 09, 2026•20 min•Ep. 85

#84: How to Use Korean Dramas to Actually Improve Your Korean

Most Korean learners watch dramas passively - subtitles on, comfortable pace, full episodes. It feels like studying. But passive watching and active language acquisition are very different things. In this episode of TOPIK & Beyond, host Eliza explains the mindset shift that changes how you watch Korean dramas, and teaches five concrete techniques for turning drama time into real Korean improvement. This episode covers 수동적 시청 vs 능동적 시청, the problem of 자막 의존 (subtitle dependency), the concept ...

Jun 02, 2026•15 min•Ep. 84

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