A memory device includes: a plurality of memory cells; soft read logic configured to generate soft data by reading data from the plurality of memory cells in response to a soft read command from a controller, the soft data including at least a major symbol and at least a minor symbol; a compressor configured to generate compressed data by: encoding, into a code alphabet having a second length, a major source alphabet including repetitions of the major symbol by a first length among a plurality of source alphabets included in the soft data, and encoding, into a code alphabet having a longer length than the second length, a minor source alphabet including repetitions of the major symbol by a shorter length than the first length and ending with one minor symbol; and an interface configured to provide the compressed data to the controller.