A memory system includes a memory controller; and a memory device, the memory device including a memory cell array, the memory cell array including least a first memory page having a plurality of memory cells storing a plurality of stored bits, the memory controller being such that, the memory controller performs a first hard read operation on the first memory page to generate a plurality of read bits corresponding to the plurality of stored bits, and if the memory controller determines to change a value of one of a first group of bits, from among the plurality of read bits, the memory controller selects one of the first group of bits based on log likelihood ratio (LLR) values corresponding, respectively, to each of the first group of bits, and changes the value of the selected bit.