Business Korean encompasses the formal language used in corporate settings, professional meetings, business correspondence, and workplace interactions. It balances formality with efficiency and emphasizes hierarchical respect.
Core Business Register
Business communication features:
- Formal -ㅂ니다/-습니다 endings
- Honorific language for superiors
- Humble expressions for self
- Professional Sino-Korean vocabulary
- Hierarchical awareness
Essential Business Verbs
Communication Verbs
Professional interaction:
- 보고하다 (to report)
- 전달하다 (to convey/deliver)
- 공유하다 (to share)
- 논의하다 (to discuss)
- 협의하다 (to consult/confer)
- 회의하다 (to meet/have a meeting)
- 발표하다 (to present)
- 설명하다 (to explain)
Work Process Verbs
Task management:
- 진행하다 (to proceed/carry out)
- 처리하다 (to process/handle)
- 검토하다 (to review)
- 확인하다 (to confirm/check)
- 승인하다 (to approve)
- 결재하다 (to authorize)
- 완료하다 (to complete)
- 제출하다 (to submit)
Planning Verbs
Business planning:
- 계획하다 (to plan)
- 준비하다 (to prepare)
- 추진하다 (to promote/push forward)
- 실시하다 (to implement/conduct)
- 검토하다 (to examine)
- 조율하다 (to coordinate)
Honorific Business Language
Company References
Referring to companies:
- 귀사 (your company - honorific)
- 폐사/당사 (our company - humble)
- 본사 (head office/our company)
- 타사 (other companies)
Usage:
- 귀사의 발전을 기원합니다 (We wish for your company's development)
- 폐사에서는 (At our company)
People References
Professional titles and references:
- 귀하 (you - formal written)
- 고객님 (customer - honorific)
- 담당자 (person in charge)
- 관계자 (relevant person)
- 임직원 (executives and staff)
Humble Forms for Self
When offering services:
- 도와드리다 (to help you - humble)
- 말씀드리다 (to tell you - humble)
- 여쭙다 (to ask you - humble)
- 안내드리다 (to guide you - humble)
- 알려드리다 (to inform you - humble)
Examples:
- 도와드리겠습니다 (I will help you)
- 설명 드리겠습니다 (I will explain to you)
Meeting Language
Opening Meetings
Starting phrases:
- 회의를 시작하겠습니다 (Let's start the meeting)
- 오늘 안건은 ~입니다 (Today's agenda is)
- 먼저 보고 말씀드리겠습니다 (First, I'll report)
During Meetings
Discussion phrases:
- 의견을 말씀해 주시겠습니까? (Could you share your opinion?)
- 질문 있으시면 말씀해 주세요 (If you have questions, please speak)
- 제 생각으로는 (In my opinion)
- 검토가 필요할 것 같습니다 (I think review is needed)
Closing Meetings
Ending phrases:
- 오늘 회의는 여기까지 하겠습니다 (Let's conclude today's meeting here)
- 수고하셨습니다 (Thank you for your hard work)
- 다음 회의는 (The next meeting is)
Email Phrases
Opening Lines
Starting business emails:
- 안녕하십니까 (Hello - formal)
- 수고 많으십니다 (You're working hard)
- 평소 귀사의 발전을 기원합니다 (Always wish for your company's development)
Purpose Statements
Stating email purpose:
- ~에 대해 말씀드립니다 (Regarding ~, I'm writing)
- ~을/를 요청드립니다 (I request ~)
- ~을/를 안내드립니다 (I inform you about ~)
- ~을/를 문의드립니다 (I inquire about ~)
Closing Lines
Ending emails:
- 감사합니다 (Thank you)
- 수고하세요 (Take care / Keep up the good work)
- 협조 부탁드립니다 (I ask for your cooperation)
- 확인 부탁드립니다 (Please confirm)
- 검토 바랍니다 (Please review)
Request Expressions
Polite Requests
-(으)시겠습니까? (Would you...?):
- 확인하시겠습니까? (Would you check?)
- 검토하시겠습니까? (Would you review?)
-(으)ㄹ 수 있으시겠습니까? (Could you...?)
Very polite request:
- 도와주실 수 있으시겠습니까? (Could you help?)
- 회신해 주실 수 있으시겠습니까? (Could you reply?)
부탁드립니다 (I request)
Common request formula:
- 확인 부탁드립니다 (I request confirmation)
- 검토 부탁드립니다 (I request review)
- 회신 부탁드립니다 (I request a reply)
-아/어 주시기 바랍니다 (Please do)
Formal request:
- 참고해 주시기 바랍니다 (Please refer to this)
- 확인해 주시기 바랍니다 (Please confirm)
Time Expressions
Business Time Markers
Professional time references:
- 금일 (today - formal)
- 명일 (tomorrow - formal)
- 익일 (next day)
- 차주 (next week)
- 차월 (next month)
- 금주 (this week)
- 금월 (this month)
Usage:
- 금일 오후에 회의가 있습니다 (There's a meeting this afternoon)
- 차주까지 제출 바랍니다 (Please submit by next week)
Deadline Expressions
Setting deadlines:
- ~까지 (by/until)
- ~이내에 (within)
- 가급적 빨리 (as soon as possible)
- 조속히 (promptly)
Examples:
- 금주 내로 제출 바랍니다 (Please submit within this week)
- 가급적 빨리 회신 부탁드립니다 (Please reply as soon as possible)
Reporting Language
Progress Reports
Reporting status:
- 진행 중입니다 (in progress)
- 완료되었습니다 (has been completed)
- 검토 중입니다 (under review)
- 준비 중입니다 (under preparation)
Report Structures
Opening reports:
- ~에 대해 보고드립니다 (I report on ~)
- 다음과 같이 보고드립니다 (I report as follows)
Closing reports:
- 이상 보고드립니다 (That concludes my report)
- 이상입니다 (That's all)
Problem and Solution Language
Expressing Problems
Issue identification:
- 문제가 발생했습니다 (A problem occurred)
- 어려움이 있습니다 (There is difficulty)
- 지연되고 있습니다 (It's being delayed)
Proposing Solutions
Offering solutions:
- 방안을 제안드립니다 (I propose a plan)
- 다음과 같이 개선하겠습니다 (We will improve as follows)
- 조치를 취하겠습니다 (We will take action)
Negotiation Language
Making Offers
Business proposals:
- 제안드립니다 (I propose)
- 추천드립니다 (I recommend)
- 안내드립니다 (I inform you)
Accepting/Declining
Responses:
- 검토하겠습니다 (We will review)
- 긍정적으로 검토하겠습니다 (We will review positively)
- 어려울 것 같습니다 (It seems difficult)
- 다시 검토가 필요합니다 (Further review is needed)
Professional Introductions
Self Introduction
Introducing yourself:
- ~에서 근무하는 ~입니다 (I'm ~ working at ~)
- ~을/를 담당하고 있습니다 (I'm in charge of ~)
- ~팀 ~입니다 (I'm ~ from ~ team)
Company Introduction
Introducing your company:
- 폐사는 ~을/를 전문으로 하는 회사입니다 (Our company specializes in ~)
- ~을/를 생산/제공하고 있습니다 (We produce/provide ~)
Business Jargon
Common Business Terms
Workplace vocabulary:
- 마감 (deadline)
- 일정 (schedule)
- 업무 (task/work)
- 실적 (performance/results)
- 목표 (goal/target)
- 성과 (achievement)
- 매출 (sales)
- 비용 (cost)
- 예산 (budget)
Project Terms
Project management:
- 착수하다 (to commence)
- 진행하다 (to proceed)
- 점검하다 (to check)
- 마무리하다 (to finalize)
- 평가하다 (to evaluate)
Apologies and Excuses
Formal Apologies
Professional apologies:
- 죄송합니다 (I'm sorry - formal)
- 대단히 죄송합니다 (I'm very sorry)
- 불편을 끼쳐 드려 죄송합니다 (Sorry for the inconvenience)
Giving Reasons
Explaining issues:
- ~로 인해 (due to ~)
- ~때문에 (because of ~)
- 불가피하게 (unavoidably)
- 예상치 못한 (unexpected)
Agreement and Confirmation
Expressing Agreement
Professional agreement:
- 동의합니다 (I agree)
- 그렇습니다 (That's correct)
- 이해합니다 (I understand)
- 알겠습니다 (I understand / I got it)
Seeking Confirmation
Confirming information:
- 맞습니까? (Is that correct?)
- 확인해 주시겠습니까? (Would you confirm?)
- 이해하신 것이 맞습니까? (Is your understanding correct?)
Feedback Language
Giving Feedback
Professional feedback:
- 수고하셨습니다 (Good work)
- 잘하셨습니다 (You did well)
- 개선이 필요합니다 (Improvement is needed)
- 검토가 필요합니다 (Review is needed)
Receiving Feedback
Responding to feedback:
- 감사합니다 (Thank you)
- 반영하겠습니다 (I will reflect this)
- 수정하겠습니다 (I will correct)
Phone Etiquette
Answering Calls
Business phone greetings:
- 여보세요, ~입니다 (Hello, this is ~)
- ~회사 ~팀 ~입니다 (This is ~ from ~ team at ~ company)
Putting on Hold
Hold phrases:
- 잠시만 기다려 주십시오 (Please wait a moment)
- 확인 후 연락드리겠습니다 (I'll contact you after checking)
Taking Messages
Message phrases:
- 전할 말씀 있으십니까? (Do you have a message?)
- 메모 남겨 드릴까요? (Shall I leave a note?)
- 전달하겠습니다 (I will convey)
Common Mistakes
❌ Incorrect: 우리 회사 (in formal context)
Too casual
✅ Correct: 폐사/당사
Proper humble form
❌ Incorrect: 해 주세요 (to superior)
Not sufficiently respectful
✅ Correct: 해 주시겠습니까?
Proper honorific request
❌ Incorrect: 오늘 (in very formal writing)
Too casual for formal documents
✅ Correct: 금일
Formal time marker
Summary Table
| Category | Expression | Meaning | Usage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Company (yours) | 귀사 | Your company | 귀사의 발전 |
| Company (ours) | 폐사/당사 | Our company | 폐사에서는 |
| Report | 보고드립니다 | I report | ~에 대해 보고드립니다 |
| Request | 부탁드립니다 | I request | 확인 부탁드립니다 |
| Today | 금일 | Today (formal) | 금일 회의 |
| Confirm | 확인하다 | To confirm | 확인 부탁드립니다 |
| Review | 검토하다 | To review | 검토 후 회신 |
| Complete | 완료하다 | To complete | 완료되었습니다 |