You might think that after nearly eighty years of separation, the people in Pyongyang and Seoul would be speaking entirely different tongues. Honestly, it’s a fair assumption. We’ve seen how quickly slang moves on TikTok; now imagine that happening behind a literal iron curtain for decades. But the reality of what language does north korea speak is a bit more nuanced than just "Korean, but different."
Basically, they speak Korean. Specifically, they call it Chosŏnŏ.
In the South, it’s Hangugeo. This name difference alone tells you a lot about the political rift. While a person from the North and a person from the South can still sit down and have a conversation about the weather or dinner, they’re going to hit some serious "lost in translation" moments the second they start talking about technology, social status, or even just household chores.
The Myth of a "Pure" Language
North Korea is obsessed with linguistic purity. Back in the 1960s, Kim Il-sung pushed for a "cultivated language" known as Munhwaŏ. The idea was to scrub away the "poison" of foreign influence.
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They wanted to get rid of Chinese characters (Hanja), Japanese leftovers from the colonial era, and especially Western loanwords. So, while a South Korean might say syampu (shampoo), a North Korean uses meorimulbinu. It literally translates to "hair water soap."
- South Korea: Computer (keompyuteo)
- North Korea: Electronic Calculator (jeonjagyesangi)
- South Korea: Juice (juseu)
- North Korea: Sweet water (danmul)
It sounds noble in a "preservation" sort of way, but it’s actually a bit of a linguistic trap. By making the language so "pure," the government has essentially isolated its people. If a North Korean defector arrives in Seoul today, they don't just see a different city; they hear a different world. Some experts, like lexicographer Han Yong-woo, argue that no language is ever truly pure—it’s always shifting. Even in the North, they’ve had to sneak in some Russian or Chinese terms for things they just couldn't name otherwise.
Why the Accent Sounds So "Stiff"
If you’ve ever watched a North Korean news broadcast, you know that specific, aggressive, almost operatic tone the anchors use. That's not how people talk at the dinner table, but it does reflect a broader difference in phonology.
The North Korean standard is based on the Pyongyang dialect.
In the South, the Seoul dialect is the gold standard. Seoul speech is often described as "soft" or "nasal." In contrast, the North is more "stressed" and "rigid." One of the most famous differences is the "Initial Sound Rule" (두음법칙). In the South, they often drop or change the "r/l" (ㄹ) sound at the start of a word.
For example, the common surname Lee. In South Korea, it's just I. In North Korea? It's Ri. The North kept the original sound, while the South smoothed it out for easier pronunciation.
The Law That Could Get You Killed
Here is where it gets heavy. Language isn't just about communication in North Korea; it's about loyalty. In 2023, the regime passed the Pyongyang Cultural Language Protection Act.
This isn't just some dusty grammar rule. It’s a law that criminalizes speaking like a South Korean. We’re talking about "the puppet language." If a young person in Pyongyang is caught using South Korean slang—something they might have picked up from a smuggled K-drama—they can face years of hard labor. In extreme cases of "spreading" the language style, the law even allows for the death penalty.
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Imagine being executed for using the wrong word for "friend" or "honey." It sounds like science fiction, but for people living there, the way you conjugate a verb can be a matter of life or death.
Can They Still Understand Each Other?
Mostly, yes. But the gap is widening.
If you take a North Korean and a South Korean and put them in a high-level business meeting or a medical lab, they’d probably be lost. Research from the National Institute of Korean Language suggests that while everyday comprehension is around 60-70%, technical or professional comprehension drops to about 30%.
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That’s a huge problem for potential reunification. It's not just about tearing down a wall; it's about re-learning how to speak to your neighbor.
Actionable Insights for Language Learners and Travelers
If you’re interested in the Korean language or planning to engage with the culture (perhaps through volunteer work with refugees or academic study), keep these points in mind:
- Don't assume "Korean" is a monolith. If you’re learning, you’re almost certainly learning the South Korean standard (Pyojuneo).
- Vocabulary is the biggest hurdle. Focus on "pure" Korean words (Sino-Korean vs. Native Korean) if you want to understand the roots that both sides still share.
- Respect the sensitivity. For defectors, their accent is often a source of "linguistic discrimination" in the South. Being aware of the Ri vs. I distinction or the different names for "comrade" (tongmu) vs. "friend" (chingu) can help you navigate conversations with more empathy.
- Watch the "shampoo" rule. If you're looking at North Korean texts, look for compound words made of simple parts. They don't invent new sounds; they stack existing ones to describe new things.
The question of what language does north korea speak is ultimately a story of a single family that’s been forced to live in two different rooms for nearly a century. The bones of the house are the same, but the furniture looks—and sounds—wildly different.
To deepen your understanding, you might want to look into the "Standard Spacing Rules" updated in 2003, which even changed how they put spaces between words compared to the South. Or, check out some of the specific dictionaries compiled by defectors that act as a bridge between these two diverging worlds.