From K-Dramas to Real Life: Talk About Korean Heroes!
Hello! Welcome to Daily Hangeul, where we upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever finished watching an amazing historical K-drama (사극, sageuk) and wanted to talk all about the incredible main character with your friends? Or maybe you’ve read a book about a famous Korean figure and felt inspired. Today, we’ll learn how to do just that! We’re going to dive into the vocabulary and expressions you need to discuss historical figures and their amazing lives.
Lately in Korea, movies and dramas about historical heroes like Admiral Yi Sun-sin (이순신) are super popular! It’s a huge trend to learn about their real stories. So, let’s learn how to sound like a history buff and impress your Korean friends!
Key Expressions You Need to Know
Here are some essential words and phrases for talking about the great figures of history.
1. 위인 (wi-in)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: wi-in
- English Meaning: A great person, a historical hero/figure.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the go-to word when you want to talk about someone who made a significant, positive impact on history, like a king, a general, an artist, or an activist. It carries a lot of respect. Think of it as the Korean equivalent of “great figure” or “hero.”
2. 업적 (eop-jeok)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: eop-jeok
- English Meaning: Achievement, accomplishment, contribution.
- Detailed Explanation: This word refers to the great deeds or lasting work a person left behind. When you talk about a 위인, you almost always talk about their 업적. For example, King Sejong the Great’s most famous 업적 is creating the Korean alphabet, Hangeul.
3. -(으)로 알려져 있다 (-(eu)ro al-lyeo-jyeo it-da)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: -(eu)ro al-lyeo-jyeo it-da
- English Meaning: to be known as / to be known for
- Detailed Explanation: This is a super useful grammar pattern! You attach it to a noun to explain what someone or something is famous for. If the noun ends in a vowel, you use -로 알려져 있다. If it ends in a consonant, you use -으로 알려져 있다.
- Example: 세종대왕은 위대한 왕으로 알려져 있어요. (Sejongdaewang-eun widaehan wang-euro al-lyeo-jyeo isseo-yo.) -> King Sejong is known as a great king.
4. 존경스럽다 (jon-gyeong-seu-reop-da)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: jon-gyeong-seu-reop-da
- English Meaning: to be admirable, respectable.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a descriptive verb you use to express your personal feeling of respect and admiration for someone. It’s perfect for when you’re talking about a 위인 whose life story impresses you. It’s a bit more emotional than just saying
