Plog Like a K-Pop Star in Korean!
Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangul (Daily Korean), your favorite spot to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever wanted to do something meaningful while living in or visiting Korea? How about making new friends and helping the local community? Today, we’re going to learn how to do just that by signing up for a volunteer activity!
And this isn’t just any volunteer activity. Lately in Korea, there’s a huge trend called “plogging” (플로깅), which means picking up litter while jogging. It’s become super cool, especially since K-Pop idols and popular actors have been seen doing it on their days off. So, let’s learn the essential Korean phrases you need to join this awesome movement and clean up a local park, Korean style!
Key Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the essential phrases to help you sign up and sound like a natural.
1. 자원봉사를 신청하고 싶어요 (Jawonbongsareul sincheonghago sipeoyo)
- Pronunciation: [Ja-won-bong-sa-reul shin-cheong-ha-go shi-peo-yo]
- English Meaning: I would like to sign up for volunteering.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the golden phrase! Let’s break it down:
- 자원봉사 (jawonbongsa): Volunteer work
- 신청하다 (sincheonghada): To apply or sign up
- -고 싶어요 (-go sipeoyo): A polite grammar pattern meaning “I want to…”
This is a polite and direct way to state your intention at a community center or when calling an organization.
2. 참여할 수 있을까요? (Chamyeohal su isseulkkayo?)
- Pronunciation: [Cham-yeo-hal su i-sseul-kka-yo?]
- English Meaning: Can I participate? / Would it be possible to join?
- Detailed Explanation: This is a slightly softer and more polite way to ask if you can join than a more direct question.
- 참여하다 (chamyeohada): To participate or take part in.
- -(으)ㄹ 수 있을까요? (-(eu)l su isseulkkayo?): A grammar pattern used to politely ask about possibility. It sounds very considerate and is perfect for this situation.
3. 일손을 보태다 (Ilsoneul botaeda)
- Pronunciation: [Il-so-neul bo-tae-da]
- English Meaning: To lend a helping hand.
- Detailed Explanation: Want to sound more like a native speaker? Use this beautiful idiom!
- 일손 (ilson): Literally means “work hand.”
- 보태다 (botaeda): To add or supplement.
So, you are literally “adding a work hand.” It’s a humble and warm way to offer your help. You can say, “일손을 보태고 싶어요” (I want to lend a helping hand).
4. 보람을 느끼다 (Borameul neukkida)
- Pronunciation: [Bo-ra-meul neu-kki-da]
- English Meaning: To feel a sense of satisfaction/fulfillment.
- Detailed Explanation: This expression perfectly captures the warm, fuzzy feeling you get after doing something good. 보람 (boram) is that special sense of pride and fulfillment from a worthwhile effort. You use this after the activity. For example: “공원을 청소하니까 정말 보람을 느껴요.” (Cleaning the park makes me feel so fulfilled.)
Sample Conversation
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation. Imagine you (Alex) are calling a local community center.
- Alex (A): 여보세요. 혹시 주말에 하는 공원 청소 자원봉사를 신청하고 싶어요.
(Hello. I’d like to sign up for the park clean-up volunteering that’s happening on the weekend.) - Staff (B): 네, 안녕하세요! 이번 주 토요일 오전에 ‘줍깅’ 행사가 있습니다.
(Yes, hello! We have a ‘Jupging’ (plogging) event this Saturday morning.) - Alex (A): 아, 정말요? 저도 참여할 수 있을까요?
(Oh, really? Would it be possible for me to participate?) - Staff (B): 그럼요! 누구나 환영입니다. 오셔서 일손을 보태 주시면 정말 큰 힘이 될 거예요.
(Of course! Everyone is welcome. It would be a great help if you come and lend a hand.) - Alex (A): 감사합니다! 좋은 일에 동참하게 되어 기뻐요. 끝나고 나면 정말 보람을 느낄 것 같아요.
(Thank you! I’m happy to join a good cause. I think I’ll feel a great sense of fulfillment afterwards.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive: The ‘Jupging’ Craze
As we mentioned, “plogging” is a huge trend in Korea, but Koreans have their own cool word for it: 줍깅 (Jupging).
It’s a combination of the Korean verb 줍다 (jupda – to pick up) and the English word “jogging.” This trend has exploded on social media, with people posting “proof shots” (인증샷 – injeungsyat) of their plogging adventures with hashtags like #줍깅 and #쓰담달리기 (ssudam-dalligi – another word for it, meaning “stroke/clean & run”).
Why is it so popular? Because it’s seen as an activity that is good for you and good for the planet. When K-Pop idols or actors post about it, it reinforces the idea that environmentalism is cool and trendy. So, if you mention you’re going to do 줍깅
, you won’t just be practicing Korean—you’ll be participating in modern Korean culture! It’s a fantastic way to connect with people who share positive values.
Let’s Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned some incredibly useful and positive Korean expressions. Now it’s time to put them to the test.
- Fill in the blank: You see a poster for a beach clean-up. You want to tell your friend, “Let’s go lend a helping hand!” How would you say it?
우리 같이 가서 ___________!
(Hint: Use the native-sounding idiom we learned!) -
Make a sentence: Think about a time you worked hard on something and felt proud. Using the expression 보람을 느끼다, describe that moment in Korean.
You’re all set to make a positive impact! Now, go out there and practice.
Leave a comment below using one of today’s expressions! We’d love to hear from you!