I'm curious about how to naturally converse with foreign friends in Korea.

As a foreigner living in Korea, I often feel anxious about conversing with locals due to my lack of Korean language skills. This is especially true because I only have an A2 level of Korean proficiency. I tried to make friends in Gangnam or Hongdae by finding people with similar interests through social media, but I get nervous every time I send a message. My friends are understanding of my beginner status, but I find it difficult to continue the conversation and often make mistakes. I am refraining from using a translator because I don't think it will help me improve. I worry every time I start a conversation whether I might be bothering the other person. How have you overcome these fears? Or is it better to postpone making friends for later?