Korean Font Subsetting Guide
Learn how to optimize Korean Hangul fonts for faster web performance. Reduce font file sizes by 80% or more while keeping all the characters you need.
Understanding Hangul Structure
Korean uses a unique writing system called Hangul. Unlike Chinese characters, Hangul is an alphabet. It has individual letters that combine into syllable blocks. This is important for understanding font size.
Hangul has 14 basic consonants and 10 basic vowels. These combine to form syllable blocks. A single block represents one syllable. The total possible combinations create 11,172 syllable blocks.
A complete Korean font must include all 11,172 possible syllables. This makes Korean fonts relatively large. Typical sizes range from 2MB to 5MB. While smaller than Chinese fonts, they still slow down websites.
The good news is that Korean does not use all syllables equally. Many combinations are rare or unused. By keeping only common syllables, you can reduce font size significantly.
Size Reduction Examples
Here is what you can expect when subsetting Korean fonts:
Common Korean Character Sets
Several standard character sets exist for Korean. Each serves different needs:
| Character Set | Syllables | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Full Hangul | 11,172 | 100% - All possible combinations |
| KS X 1001 | 2,350 | 99%+ of common Korean text |
| Common 2000 | ~2,000 | Most frequently used syllables |
| Custom | Varies | Only characters in your content |
For most Korean websites, the KS X 1001 standard is recommended. It covers virtually all text you will encounter in everyday use.
How to Subset Korean Fonts Step-by-Step
Follow these instructions to create an optimized Korean font:
Open Our Font Subsetter
Visit the Font Subsetter Tool. It works in your browser. No download or installation required.
Upload Your Korean Font
Drag and drop your font file to the upload area. You can also click to browse files. We support TTF, OTF, WOFF, and WOFF2 formats.
Popular Korean fonts include Noto Sans KR, Noto Serif KR, Pretendard, and Spoqa Han Sans. Many are available free from Google Fonts.
Analyze the Font (Optional)
Click the purple "Analyze Font" button to see font details. The analysis shows total characters and preset coverage percentages.
This helps you understand what your font contains. You can see which presets will work best.
Select the Korean Preset
Look for "Korean" in the Quick Presets section. Click to select it. A checkmark confirms your selection.
Also add "Basic Latin" if your site includes English content. Many Korean websites display both languages.
Add Custom Text If Needed
For maximum reduction, paste your actual website text in the "From Text" box. The tool automatically extracts every unique character.
This works great for sites with static content. You get exactly the characters you need and nothing more.
Create Your Subset
Click the orange "Subset Font" button. Processing takes a few seconds. Your browser will download the optimized font.
Review the success message for size reduction stats. Check that the reduction meets your expectations.
Unicode Ranges for Korean
These are the main Unicode ranges for Korean characters:
/* Hangul Syllables (main Korean text) */ U+AC00-D7AF /* Hangul Jamo (individual letters) */ U+1100-11FF /* Hangul Compatibility Jamo */ U+3130-318F /* Korean Punctuation (shared with CJK) */ U+3000-303F /* Halfwidth Hangul */ U+FFA0-FFDC
The Hangul Syllables range (U+AC00-D7AF) contains all 11,172 syllable blocks. This is the main range for Korean text display.
Tips for Korean Web Fonts
Convert to WOFF2
After subsetting, convert to WOFF2 format. This adds another 20-30% compression. Use our Font Converter for quick conversion.
Include Jamo for Input
If users type Korean on your site, include the Hangul Jamo range. This shows individual letters during typing before they combine into syllables.
Test Thoroughly
Korean has many syllable combinations. Test your website with real content. Look for missing character boxes that indicate problems.
Consider Font Weight
Korean fonts often come in multiple weights. Subset each weight separately. Only include the weights you actually use.
Ready to Convert Your Fonts?
8 formats and 56 conversion paths available
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Written by
Sarah Mitchell
With help & verified by language expert