Road to TOPIK II

100 Korean Antonyms (Verbs and Adjectives) 1. 가난하다 to be poor – 부유하다 to be rich 2. 경박하다 to be frivolous, superficial – 중후하다 to be dignified, stately 3. 경시하다 to belittle, think little of [도외시하다 to ignore, disregard] – 중시하다 to regard smthg as important 4. 가냘프다 to be faint, feeble, thin – 억세다 to be strong, tough 5. 고귀하다 to be noble (high) – 비천하다 to be humble (low) 6. 가늘다 to be thin – 굵다 to be thick 7. 공격하다 to attack – 수비하다 to defend 8. 공평하다 to be just, fair – 불공평하다 to be unjust, unfair 9. 가로젓다 to shake one’s head – 끄덕이다 to nod 10. 과대평가하다 to overestimate – 과소평가하다 to underestimate 11. 과식하다 to eat too much, overeat – 소식하다 to eat too little 12. 교만하다/거만하다 to be haughty, arrogant – 겸손하다 to be humble, modest 13. 교제하다 to be friends – 절교하다 to stop being friends 14. 권고하다 to recommend, advise – 만류하다 to dissuade 15. 개시하다 to begin, start – 종료하다 to finish, wrap up 16. 거부하다 to refuse – 수락하다 to accept 17. 거절하다 to refuse, reject – 승낙하다 to accept, consent 18. 건설하다 to build, establish – 파괴하다 to destroy 19. 건전하다 to be sound, healthy, wholesome – 불건전하다 to be unsound, unhealthy, unwholesome 20. 깊다 to be deep – 얕다 to be shallow 21. 검소하다 to be frugal, thrifty – 사치하다 to be luxurious, high living 22. 끊다 to cut, sever – 잇다 to link, join, connect 23. 결석하다 to be absent – 출석하다 to attend 24. 나누다 to divide, split – 합치다 to combine, unite 25. 겸허하다 to be modest, humble – 자만하다 to be conceited 26.더하다 to add, increase, to be more – 덜하다 to lessen, decrease, to be less 27. 낙관하다 to be optimistic – 비관하다 to be pessimistic 28. 남다 to be left, to remain – 모자라다 to be insufficient 29. 낭비하다 to waste – 절약하다 to save, economize 30. 둔감하다 to be insensitive – 민감하다 to be sensitive 31. 뒤떨어지다 to fall behind, lag – 앞서다 to precede, come before, take the lead 32. 낯설다 to be unfamilliar – 낯익다 to be familiar 33. 따뜻하다 to be warm – 차다 to be cold 34. 떼다 to take off, remove – 붙이다 to stick, attach 35. 뜨겁다 to be hot, burning – 차갑다 to be cold, chilly 36. (물에) 뜨다 to float (on water) – 가라앉다 to sink 37. (눈을) 뜨다 to open one’s eyes – (눈을) 감다 to close one’s eyes 38. (해가) 뜨다 the sun rises – (해가) 지다 the sun sets 39. 내쉬다 to exhale, breathe out – 들이쉬다 to inhale, breathe in 40. 말다 to fold, roll – 펴다 to unfold, spread open 41. 너그럽다 to be generous, understanding – 옹졸하다 to be narrow-minded, petty 42. 농익다 to be overripe, over-cooked – 설익다 to be unripe, under-cooked 43. 매다 to tie, fasten – 풀다 to untie, unfasten 44. 늘다 to grow, increase – 줄다 to decrease, diminish 45. 명확하다 to be clear, definite, certain – 불명확하다 to be unclear, vague, uncertain 46. 늦다 to be late – 이르다 to be early 47. 단축하다 to reduce, shorten – 연장하다 to extend, prolong 48. 모호하다 to be ambiguous, vague – 분명하다 to be obvious, clear 49. 몰라주다 to fail to understand – 알아주다 to recognize, understand 50. 당기다 to pull – 밀다 to push 51. 당선되다 to be elected – 낙선되다 to lose an election 52. 무능하다 to be incompetent – 유능하다 to be competent 53. 불리하다 to be disadvantageous – 유리하다 to be advantageous 54. 무디다 to be blunt, dull – 날카롭다/예리하다 to be sharp 55. 성실하다 to be faithful, sincere – 불성실하다 to be untrustworthy, disloyal 56. 불손하다 to be irreverent, insolent – 공손하다 to be polite, curteous, well-mannered 57. 무식하다 to be ignorant – 유식하다 to be knowledgeable, educated 58. 이행하다 to fulfill, carry through – 불이행하다 to fail to fufill, break (a contract) 59. 무용하다 to be useless – 유용하다 to be usefull 60. 일치하다 to agree, concur, match – 불일치하다 to be in discord with, mismatch 61. 무익하다 to be useless, vain, futile, to be for naught – 유익하다 to be usefull, of benefit 62. 충분하다 to be sufficient – 불충분하다 to be insufficient 63. 무한하다 to be infinite, endless – 유한하다 to be limited, finite 64. 친절하다 to be kind, friendly – 불친절하다 to be unkind, unfriendly 65. 미루다 to delay, postpone – 앞당기다 to advance, move up 66. 불쾌하다 to be unpleasant – 유쾌하다 to be pleasant 67. (아이가) 미숙하다 to be immature – 성숙하다 to be mature 68. 믿다 to believe, trust – 불신하다 to distrust 69. 불허하다 to disapprove – 허가하다 to approve, allow 70. 밑돌다 to fall short – 웃돌다 to exceed 71. 확실하다 to be sure, certain – 불확실하다 to be unsure, uncertain 72. 비다 to be empty – 차다 to be full 73. 볼록하다 to pop up, bulge, stick out – 오목하다 to be dented, concave 74. 비범하다 to be extraordinary – 평범하다 to be ordinary 75. 부인하다 to deny, refute – 시인하다 to admit, concede 76. 부적합하다 to be unsuitable, unfit, inappropriate – 적합하다 to be suitable, fit, appropriate 77. 부정하다 to deny, negate – 긍정하다 to affirm 78. 상반되다 to be opposite, contrasting, antithetic – 일치되다 to be in accord 79. 부족하다 to be insufficient – 풍족하다 to be plentiful 80. 상승하다 to rise, increase – 하강하다 to fall, decrease 81. 생성하다 to generate, create – 소멸하다 to disappear, go extinct 82. 선하다 nice – 악하다 bad, evil 83. 불결하다 dirty, unclean – 청결하다 clean 84. 세다 strong – 약하다 weak 85. 월남하다 to defect to the South – 월북하다 to defect to the North 86. 유사하다 similar – 상이하다 different 87. 수축되다 to contract, shrink – 팽창되다 to expend, grow 88. 수출하다 to export – 수입하다 to import 89. 유창하다 to be fluent, speak well – 어눌하다 to be inarticulate 90. 순행하다 to go in order – 역행하다 to run counter to 91. 유해하다 harmful – 무해하다 harmless 92. 의존하다 to depend, rely on – 자립하다 to be independant, rely on oneself 93. 승진하다 to be promoted – 강등하다 to be demoted 94. 승리하다 to be victorious – 패하다 to be defeated 95. 이주하다 to move, emigrate – 정착하다 to settle 96. 신임하다 to be confident, to trust – 불신임하다 to mistrust 97. 잦다 frequent – 드물다 rare 98. 후하다 to be generous – 박하다 to be stingy 99. 열등하다 (of quality, rank…) to be inferior – 우수하다 excellent, remarkable, superior 100. 옅다 light – 짙다 dark, thick

Korean Idiomatic Expressions (숙어) 주야장천 : day and night, unceasingly 금상첨화 : the icing on the cake 남녀노소 : men and women of all age 명실상부 : worthy of/true to one’s name 시종일관 : consistent, from start to finish 혼비백산 : to be scared to death 설상가상 : to make the matter worse, to add salt to injury 십중팔구 : in 9 cases out of 10, most likely 유언비어 : groundless rumor 학수고대 : to look forward to 승승장구 : on a roll 속수무책 : helpless 배은망덕 : ungrateful 오매불망 : unforgettable 진퇴양난 : stuck between a rock and a hard place, in a dilemma

Korean Idiomatic Expressions (숙어) 고진감래 : pleasure follows pain 동병상련 : sympathy with fellow sufferers 대기만성 : great talent matures late 자수성가 : self-made 횡설수설 : gibberish 반면교사 : something that allows one to learn a lesson from a mistake 설상가상 : to make matters worse 양자택일 : choose one or the other 남가일몽 : fleeting glory 외유내강 : gentle in appearance, tough in spirit 동고동락 : to go through thick and thin together 역지사지 : putting oneself in another’s shoes 팔방미인 : well-rounded person 연목구어 : seeking the impossible (출처: Rieul, among others)

Korean Honorifics Verbs/Nouns Verbs 있다 — 계시다 to be (at a place) 말하다 — 말씀하시다 to speak 아프다 — 편찮으시다 to be sick 먹다 — 드시다/잡수시다 to eat/drink 자다 — 주무시다 to sleep 죽다 — 돌아가시다 to die Nouns 집 — 댁 house 이름 — 성함 name 생일 — 생신 birthday (이) 사람 — (이) 분 (this) person 아내 — 부인 wife 말 — 말씀 speech 나이 — 연세 age 살 — 세 age counter (한) 명 — (한) 분 person counter 누구/누가 — 어느 분/어느 분이 who 밥 — 진지 meal

List of adjectives in ~스럽다 This list is by no means exhaustive. 사랑스럽다 : lovely 자랑스럽다 : proud 자연스럽다 : natural 실망스럽다 : disappointing 만족스럽다 satisfactory 송구스럽다 : sorry, apologectic 급작스럽다 : abrupt, sudden 촌스럽다 : to be out of style 수다스럽다 : talkative 뻔뻔스럽다 : shameless 바보스럽다 : foolish, stupid 변덕스럽다 : unpredictable, fickle, temperamental 부담스럽다 : burdensome 혼란스럽다 : confusing 탐스럽다 : desirable, attractive 유감스럽다 : unfortunate 퉁명스럽다 : abrupt, brusque 조심스럽디 : careful, cautious 안쓰럽다 : to feel sorry (for) 당황스럽다 : embarrassed, disconcerted 겸연스럽다 : embarrassed, sheepish 혐오스럽다 : disgusting, detestable 후회스럽다 : regretful, remorseful 여성스럽다 : feminine, girly 남성스럽다 : masculine 무지스럽다 : ignorant, dull 의심스럽다 : doubtful, suspicious 쑥스럽다 : shy, bashful 어른스럽다 : mature, adult-like 믿음직스럽다 : reliable, worthy 존경스럽다 : admirable 감동스럽다 : touching, moving 먹음직스럽다 : appetizing 개탄스럽다 : deplorable, lamentable 감격스럽다 : impressed, touched 망령스럽다 : childish, foolish 수치스럽다 : shameful, disgraceful 공포스럽다 : frightening, scary 별스럽다 : odd 죄스럽다 : feeling guilty

List of adjectives in ~적 This list is by no means exhaustive. 낙관적 : optimistic 비관적 : pessimistic 사교적 : sociable 개인적 : personal, individual 이례적 : unprecedented, rare 성공적 : successful 양심적 : conscientious 구체적 : detailed, concrete 열정적 : passionate 감동적 : emotional 민주적 : democratic 세계적 : worldwide 보수적 : conservative 경제적 : economical 과학적 : scientific 역사적 : historical 문화적 : cultural 지속적 : continuous 순간적 : being momentary 실질적 : actual, real 기본적 : basic, fundamental 한정적 : limited, restrictive 서술적 : descriptive, narrative * Adding ~으로 to these adjectives will turn them into adverbs. Ex: 성공적으로 (successfully) 개인적으로 (personally, individually). Adding ~인 will allow you to describe a noun. Ex: 보수적인 정당 (conservative party) 문화적인 문제 (cultural problem)

The Korean Military Draft Recently I have been interested in the military draft system in Korea, so I wrote a small explanation of some of it and am leaving it here :) In Korea I often met people who did special work instead of military service, or had exemptions for various reasons I didn’t completely understand. So I did some research, and it’s pretty interesting, in my opinion. Draft Assignment This conscription system is called a 징병제, and the military service is called 병역. Those who are drafted either get drafted into active duty(현역), or into non-active duty. Being drafted into active duty is referred to as 징집, while being drafted into another service is called 소집. Those non-active duty services include the reserve(예비역) and what is referred to as ‘supplemental duty’ (보충역) which includes a variety of alternative services (대체복무). Those in active service go into the army (육군) or the marine corps (해병) for 21 months, the navy (해군) for 23 months, or the air force (공군) for 24 months. The types of 대체복무 are as follows: 1. 공익근무요원 Public Interest Service Personnel 2. 국제협력봉사요원 International Cooperation Personnel 3. 예술·체육요원 Arts and Sports Personnel 4. 산업기능요원 Skilled Industrial Personnel 5. 전문연구요원 Technical Research Personnel 6. 국제협력의사 International Cooperation Doctor 7. 공익법무관 Public Service Advocate 8. 공중보건의사 Public Health Doctor 9. 징병전담의사 Draft Physical Doctor (ie, a doctor who gives draftees physical examinations) 1&2 serve for 24 months, 3&4 serve for 34 months, and 5~9 serve for 36 months. Obviously, those who qualify to do service in these special 대체복무 categories are exceptional, highly-skilled individuals. The most hotly-contested among them is the 예술·체육요원 category which applies to athletes who receive any Olympic medal, athletes who win gold at the Asian Games or other major sport events, artists who win first or second place in specific art contests and artists who receive education in intangible cultural artifacts (traditional Korean music, dance, etc). The reasoning behind giving special treatment to these athletes are artists is simple: they deserve exemption because they have done amazing feats to bring glory to Korea and Korean cultural on an international scale. But why does that reasoning apply to some artists and not others? A Korean idol group ranking first on the Billboard Artist 100 chart also brings glory to Korea on an international scale, and yet those idols don’t receive special treatment in regards to military service. So fans are understandably upset about the nonsensical reasoning behind this particular law. There are seven levels of health one can receive in the initial physical examination. Those ranked 1~3 go to 현역, and 4 to 보충역. High schools dropouts (or those who didn’t attend high school at all) go to 보충역 even if they are ranked 1~3. Those who rank 5 receive “time-of war” status (전시근로역) also known as “second eligible conscription status” (제2국민역), which means that they receive exemption and would only be drafted in the case that an emergency mobilization order is sent out at a time of war. Those in this category only need to undergo civil defense training (민방위 훈련) and not the official military training. Anyone who ranks 6 or lower (ie, is in very poor health) receives exemption and does not need to undergo any training at all. The other special circumstances for receiving an exemption from military service (면제) or eligibility for 전시근로역/보충역 are as follows: 1. 생계유지 곤란사유: Those who have a certain number of dependents they must take care of > 전시근로역 2. 수형사유: Those who are convicts > 전시근로역 3. 고아사유: Those whose parents died before the age of 13 and had no other family to care of them, or otherwise spent 5+ years living in an orphanage facility > 전시근로역 4. 귀화자 사유: Those who became naturalized in another country > 전시근로역 5. 전.공상자 가족: Those who have a parent or sibling who died in battle or suffered an injury in battle ranked 6 or higher in severity > 6 months in 보충역 6. 성전환자: Those who’ve had sex-reassignment surgery > 전시근로역 7. 군사분계선 이북지역 이주 사유: Those who live north of the Military Demarcation Line > 면제 8. 질병/심신장애: Those who have a serious disease and/or a mental or physical disorder > 면제 Draft Evasion (병역비리) Those who refuse to go to the military for moral reasons are called conscientious objectors (양심적 병역 거부자) and are sent to prison for 3+ years, making them eligible for 전시근로역 as convicts. Some argue that people with religious objections to violence should receive exemption from the draft without being sent to prison, but alas, this is a difficult exemption to create because anyone who doesn’t want to go to the military for any reason at all could use it under the guise of fabricated moral outrage. There are also those who go out of their way to evade military service through deceptive means. This ranges from forging documents, pulling out one’s teeth, eating oneself into obesity, faking addictions/mental health problems, purposefully damaging tendons/ligaments/bones etc. I highly recommend this article about how Korean celebrities who had draft evasion scandals suffered a bigger hit on their reputation (and went to prison longer) than those who had scandals related to sexual misconduct, drugs, gambling and drunk driving. Basically, being a draft evader is one of the worst things you can do as a Korean celebrity (or any Korean person). Vocab 징병(제), draft/conscription 병역, military service 징집, conscription into active duty 소집, conscription into non-active duty 군대에 징집되다, to be drafted into the military 현역, active-duty 육군, army 해병, marine corps 해군, navy 공군, air force 입영하다, to enter into service 퇴역하다, to retire from the military 예비군, the reserves 징병검사, draft physical 이등병: private 상등병: corporal 병장: sergeant 병역면제: exemption from military service 병적제적: removal from military register 민방위 훈련: civil defense training 양심적병역거부: contentious objection 병역비리: draft evasion

Earth, Nature, Environment 지도 (map) 숲 forest (= 삼림) 해안 coast (= 연안) 해협 strait (대한해협 Korean strait, the one separating Korea and Japan) 도시 city, town (대도시 metopolitan city, 소도시 small city, 환경도시 green city, 산업도시 industrial city, 교육도시 educational city, 어촌 fishing village) 시골 countryside 수도 capital 마을 village (천통마을 traditional village) 대륙 continent 영토 territory (= 영역) 반도 peninsula 육지 land 경도 longitude 위도 latitude 적도 equator 남극 South Pole 북극 North Pole 자연 (nature) 들판 field 고원 highland, plateau 평원 plain 사막 desert 절벽 cliff 산 mountain (산꼭대기, 정상 peak, 산등성이 ridge) 언덕 hill 샘 spring 폭포 waterfall 수로 wateway 계곡 valley (= 골짜기) 강 river 천 stream 호수 lake 만 gulf, bay (= 내포) 대양 ocean (= 해양) 바다 sea 해변 shore (= 해안) 장면 scene (= 경치) 경관 scenery (= 풍경) 전경 panorama (= 장관) 수평선 the horizon (= 지평선) 화산 volcano 늪 a swamp, a bog (= 습지) 섬 island 동굴 cave 밀림 jungle, dense forest (= 정글) 바다의 움직임 (sea movement) 조수 the tide 썰물 ebb, low tide 만조 high tide 밀물 rising tide 파도 wave 물결 ripple 거품 foam (= 포말)

Common words and expressions in the South Korean press 논란을 빚다 to cause controversy 물의를 일으키다 to stir up controvery/debate/criticism 촉구하다 to call on~, to press sb to do sth 주장하다 to assert, to claim 찬성과 반대가 엇갈리다 for there to be approving and dissenting voices 의견이 엇갈리다 for opinions to be divided ~을/를 밝히다 to reveal that~ ~에 쏠리다 to lean towards~ ~(으)로 이끌다 to lead/guide~ 초점을 맞추다 to bring sth to a focus 강조하다 to stress, emphasize

Common words and expressions in the South Korean press (part 2) ~(주장)에 힘을 싣다 to support (the claim that~) 역풍을 자초하다 to bring backlash upon oneself 해명을 부각하다 to highlight/stress an explanation ~(을/를) 건들다 to touch upon (a subject) 이슈를 확대 재생산하다 for an issue to be reproduced on a mass scale (to spread) ~에 달하다 to reach~ ~(반론/비판/의문/의혹/주장/etc.)이/가 제기되다 (for an objection/criticism/question/suspicion/claim) to be leveled against~ 비판에 직면하다 to be met with criticism 화제를 모으다 to make the headlines, to draw a lot of attention (인터넷)을 달구다 to heat up (the internet)

Common words and expressions in the South Korean press (part 3) 주목을 받다 to draw attention 명칭이 붙다 to be named 논란이 일다 to cause controversy ~에 항의히다 to raise an objection (against) 누리꾼 = 네티즌 = netizen 갑론을박(甲論乙駁)을 벌이다 to start a heated debate 금기시되다 to be considered taboo 반응이 (팽팽이) 맞서다 for reactions to be opposed (tightly)/to be at odds with each other (을/를) 짚어보다 to look into~ 문제를 들어보다 to look into a problem 지지의 뜻을 전하다 to convey one’s support 서명운동을 벌이다 to kick off a signature seeking-campaign ~에 한몫하다 to play a role in~ ~(이/가) 잇따르다 to follow~, to come after~ (전수)조사를 시행하다 to carry out a (complete enumeration) survey 여론(조사)를 수렴하다/실시하다 to conduct a public opinion survey

Korean Vocab — 오염과 환경 보호 (pollution and environmental protection) 대기 오염 air pollution 공장 -> 매연/스모그가 나오다 for exhaust gas/smog(smoke fog) to be released 자동차 -> 배기가스 exhaust gas 난방기구/조리기구 heating/cooking equipment 수질 오염 water pollution 공장 -> 폐수를 내보내다 to dump waste water 가정용 생활하수 household domestic sewage 원유 유출 oil spillage 토양 오염 soil pollution 농업용 화학비료 chemical fertilizer 오물 filth, garbage 산업 -> 폐기물 waste 생태계 ecosystem 생태계가 파괴되다 destruction of the ecosystem 균형을 이루다 to maintain a balance 오존층 ozone layer 오존층 파괴 destruction of the ozone layer 지구 온난화 global warming 기상 재해 natural disasters 기상 이변 unusual/extreme weather 해수면 상승 rising of sea levels 빙하사 녹다 for glaciers to melt 대체 애너지를 개발하다 to develop alternative energy 재생 애너지릉 사용한다 to use renewable energy 애너지를 절약하다/아껴쓰다 to save energy 전기 코드를 뽑아 놓다 to unplug electrical cords 재화용하다 to recycle 친환경 제품을 사용한다 use environmental-friendly products 일회용품/플라스틱의 사용 줄인다 to reduce single-use products/plastic use

Common words and expressions in the South Korean press (part 4) 폭풍이 몰아치다 for a storm to break out (often in a political/social context) ~에 영향을 미치다 to influence, have an effect on~ ~의 __%를 차지하다 to make up __% of~ ~을/를 거쳐 through~ (by means of~)

간 (肝)간 = liver The liver is an important part of Korean culture and is at the center of a lot of traditional fairy tales. For example, according to the myth, the 구미호 (nine-tailed fox) eats livers to survive. It is often associated with either fear/surprise, or energy (기). For that reason, you will often find the word in expressions associated with the emotions of fear or surprise, the concept of chi (vital force, 생명력) or generally the idea of something being unsatisfactory (because the food supposedly gives us the most energy when it reaches the liver). Let’s look at a few expressions using the word 간: 간에 기별도 안가다 (lit. for a message to fail to reach the liver) to barely begin satisfying one’s hunger (= 간에 차지 않다) 간에 붙었다 쓸개에 붙었다 하다 (lit. to stick to the liver then the gallblader) to be fickle, to switch sides easily 간을 녹이다 (lit. to thaw one’s liver) to charm, to fascinate, to bewitch 간이 뒤집히다 (lit. for one’s liver to turn upside down) to keep laughing for no reason 간이 떨어지다 (lit. for one’s liver to drop) to be surprised 간(땡)이 붓다 (lit. for one’s liver to be swollen) to be audacious, impertinent 간(이) 크다 (lit. for one’s liver to be big) to be audacious, impertinent, courageous 간이 작다 (lit. for one’s liver to be small) to be skittish and cowardly 간(을) 졸이다 (lit. to boil down one’s liver) to be extremely worried 간이 철렁하다/덜렁하다/덜컹하다 (lit. to have a weak liver) to be shocked 간이 콩알만해지다 (lit. for one’s liver to be as big as a bean) to be frightened out of one’s wits 간이 쪼그라들다 (lit. to shrink one’s liver) to be frightened out of one’s wits 간이 떨리다 (lit. for one’s liver to shake) to be scared 간이 타다 (lit. to have a burnt liver) to be anxious 간이 서늘해지다 (lit. for the liver to be chilled) to be slightly scared 간을 꺼내어 주다 (lit. to take out and give one’s liver) to be willing to cater to the need of others 간도 쓸개도 없다 (lit. to be without the liver and the gallblader) to give up one’s self-respect and stoop to other people’s level 간을 빼 먹다 (lit. to take out and eat sb else’s liver) to be willing to take something important from someone else in order to seek one’s own interest, all under the guise of kindness 간에 바람이 들다 (lit. for one’s liver to become porous) to become unreliable 간에 불이 붙다 (lit. for one’s liver to catch fire) to be extremely anxious 간이 마르다 (lit. for one’s liver to dry up) to be extremely upset or nervous 간이 벌름거리다 (lit. for one’s liver to flare) for one’s heart to pound out of astonishment or fear 간이 조마조마하다 (lit. for one’s liver to flutter) to feel anxious, agitated or nervous

Korean vocab related to workers/labour 노동 (=근로) labour (노동자, 근로자 worker) 노동시장 the job market 경제활동 상태 state of being economically active =/= 비경제활동 상태 state of being economically inactive 정규직 (직원/근로자/etc.) (=상시근로자) full-time worker 일용직 (직원/근로자/etc.) dayworker (someone who does punctual work) 직종 occupational category 연장 근무 overtime, extended hours 과로사 death by overwork 산업재해 industrial accident 재해보상 accident compensation 노동조합 (=노조) labor/trade union 노동조합주의 unionism 반노조주의 anti-unionism 노조(를) 깨기 (=노조해산) union busting 실업 unemployment 대량 실업 mass unemployment 실업 수당(을 받다) to be on unemployment benefits 빈곤 poverty 급여 명세서 payslip 급여를 지급하다 to pay wages 최저 임금 minimum wage 육아/출산/산후 휴직 childcare/maternity leave 해고 dismissal (일시해고 temporary dismissal) 동일임금 equal pay 남녀동등보수 equal remuneration (between men & women) 총파업 general strike 인력 manpower 노동력 labor force

Korean literature: 채식주의자 by 한강 채식주의자 - YES24 10년전의 이른 봄, 작가는 한 여자가 베란다에서 식물이 되고, 함께 살던 남자는 그녀를 화분에 심는 이야기 『내 여자의 열매』를 집필하였다. 언젠가 그 변주를 쓰고 싶다는 생각에서 출발하게 된 것이 바로 이 연작소설 『채식주의자』이다. 표제작인 『채식주의자』, 2005년 이상문학상 수상작 『몽고반점』, 그리고 『나무 불꽃』으로 구성된 소설이다. 작가가 2002년부터 2005년 여름까지 쓴 이 세편의 중편소설은 따로 있을 때는 일견 저마다의 이야기를 하고 있는 것 같지만, 합해지면 작가가 정말 하고 싶었던 이야기가 담기는 장편소설이 된다. 『내 여자의 열매』 The Fruit of My Woman, book by Han Kang (about a woman who turns into a tree, precursor to The Vegetarian — you can read it here) 집필하다 write 변주 variation 연작소설 series of novels 표제작 title piece 이상문학상 Yi Sang Literary Award 『몽고반점』,『나무 불꽃』 Mongolian Mark, Flaming Trees (chapters 2 & 3 of The Vegetarian) 중편소설 a short novel 저마다 their own 합해지면 (when) put together~ 올해로 등단 13년째를 맞는 작가는 작품 속에 단아하고 시심어린 문체와 밀도있는 구성력이라는 작가 특유의 개성을 고스란히 반영시켜 놓았다. 표제작인 『채식주의자』는 지금까지 소설가 한강이 발표해온 작품에 등장하였던 욕망,식물성,죽음 등 인간 본연의 문제들을 한 편에 집약해 놓은 수작이라고 평가받는다. 등단(‘登壇’하다) to make one’s debut 단아(端雅)하다 elegant, refined 시심(詩心) a poetic soul 문체(文體) writing style 밀도있는 구성력 a dense writing ability 고고스란히 반영시켜 놓았다 to remain reflected (in~) 욕망 craving, desire – 식물성vegetable(ness), something that is made of vegetable matter 본연(本然) innate/natural state 집약하다 to integrate 수작 masterpiece, masterwork 『채식주의자』는 육식을 거부하는 영혜를 바라보는 그의 남편 ‘나’의 이야기이다. ‘영혜’는 작가가 10년전에 발표한 단편 『내 여자의 열매』에서 선보였던 식물적 상상력을 극대화한 인물이다. 희망없는 삶을 체념하며 하루하루 베란다의 ‘나무’로 변해가던 단편 속의 주인공과 어린 시절 각인된 기억 때문에 철저히 육식을 거부한 채로 ‘나무’가 되길 꿈꾸는 영혜는 연결고리를 갖고 있다. 육식 being carnivorous 영혜 sister of the main character (also main point of view of the third and last part of the story) 단편 short story 선보이다 to showcase 극대화하다 to maximize (cf. 될 화(化)) 체념하다 to resign, surrender 각인되다 to be imprinted, to be stamped (on~) 철저히 thoroughly, perfectly 연결고리를 갖다 to have a link 이 외에도 욕망과 예술혼의 승화를 절묘하게 결합시킨 작품으로 평가받으며 이상문학상을 수상하였던 2부 『몽고반점』은 연작소설 『채식주의자』의 전체 줄거리에 연결되면서 소설의 텍스트를 더욱 확장시킨다. 상처입은 영혼의 고통을 식물적인 상상력에 결합시켜 아름다움의 미학에 접근하고 있다. 욕망과 예술혼(藝術魂)의 승화를 절묘하게 결합시킨 작품 a work of art that combines exquisitely sublimation of desire and artistic spirit 확장시키다 to be broadened 상처를 입다 to be injured 미학(美學) aesthetic

Korean Grammar : 아/어 내다 vs 아/어/여 버리다 ~아/어 내다 is added to a conjugated action verb that has been completed. Ex. 대회에 나가서 상을 이겨냈다 I entered the contest and won a prize. (It’s done, I won.) Moreover, it implies something being overcome despite the difficulties. In that sense, it can be translated to “managed to…”. Ex. 대회에 나가서 상을 이겨냈다 I entered the contest and managed to win a prize (despite it being extremely difficult. Implies having struggled and overcome difficulties to win the contest). ~아/어/여 버리다 is also used to talk about an action that has been completed. It implies that the action that has been completed is irreversible and can’t be undone, but it does NOT convey the meaning of struggle or “overcoming” anything. Ex. 이 책을 읽어버렸다 I finished reading this book (and I can’t unread it). 이 책을 읽어냈다 I finished reading this book (and it was extremely difficult to do so).

Grammar patterns: https://learning-korean.com/DL/TOPIK-Ⅱ-Grammar.pdf.pdf

Vocabulary intermediate https://learning-korean.com/DL/topik-2662.pdf

Vocabulary beginner https://learning-korean.com/DL/TOPIK-I-1671.pdf