It is important to learn the difference between the degrees of formality in Korean speech. Korean differs from English in that verb endings change depending on the age and rank of the person being addressed, as well as the social setting. It is important to understand how speech formality functions, in order to properly navigate polite speech. There are three major types in the degrees of formality:
Informal - Used to address people of the same age or younger, especially among close friends.
Polite - Used to address people older than the speaker, and in formal social situations.
Honorific - Used in very formal settings such as on the news or in the army. Rarely used in normal speech.
