Left Out at Work? How to Speak Up Professionally in Korean
Hello! Welcome back to [매일한글], your go-to for upgrading your Korean skills!
Have you ever been in a situation at your Korean workplace where a crucial decision was made about your project… without you? It can be frustrating and confusing. How do you voice your opinion without seeming confrontational or disrespectful?
Today, we’re tackling this exact scenario. In today’s Korean companies, especially those with a more modern and “horizontal” culture, clear communication is highly valued. However, navigating the subtleties of workplace hierarchy is still a vital skill. This lesson will equip you with sophisticated, professional phrases to ensure your voice is heard, respectfully and effectively. Let’s dive in!
Core Expressions for Voicing Your Opinion
Here are four powerful expressions that will help you handle this tricky situation like a pro.
1. ~(으)ㄴ/는 것으로 알고 있는데, 혹시 제가 놓친 부분이 있을까요?
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: ~(eu)n/neun geos-euro algo issneunde, hoksi jega nohchin bubun-i isseulkkayo?
- English Meaning: “I was under the impression that…, but did I perhaps miss something?”
- Detailed Explanation: This is a brilliant, non-confrontational way to open the conversation. Instead of accusing someone of leaving you out (“Why didn’t you tell me?”), you frame it as a possible misunderstanding on your part. It’s an incredibly polite and strategic phrase that invites the other person to explain the situation, preserving workplace harmony. The use of
혹시(by any chance) and~(으)ㄹ까요?(I wonder if…) further softens the tone. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Let’s look at ‘놓친’ [nohchin]. The letter is written as ‘놓다’ (to miss, to let go), but the ‘ㅎ (h)’ sound is often silent when followed by certain consonants and vowels. Here, ‘놓다’ + ‘치다’ combines, and the ‘ㅎ’ sound is very weak or disappears, making it sound like [노친/nochin]. This is a common phonetic rule that makes your Korean sound much more natural.
2. 제 의견도 참고해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Je uigyeon-do chamgohae jusimyeon gamsahagessseumnida.
- English Meaning: “I would appreciate it if you would also consider my opinion.”
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Detailed Explanation: This is a formal and forward-looking request. It’s assertive yet respectful. You are not dwelling on the past mistake but clearly stating your desire to be included in the future. The pattern
~해 주시면 감사하겠습니다(I would be grateful if you would do~) is a cornerstone of polite Korean business communication. It’s perfect for making requests to superiors or colleagues. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
In ‘감사하겠습니다’ [gam-sa-ha-get-sseum-ni-da], notice the겠sound. It’s pronounced with a tensed [get] sound, not a soft [ges]. This tensing of consonants (된소리되기) is very common in Korean and adds a crispness to your pronunciation.
3. 이 사안에 대해서는 저도 드릴 말씀이 있습니다.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: I saan-e daehaeseoneun jeodo deuril malsseum-i issseumnida.
- English Meaning: “I also have something to say regarding this matter.”
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Detailed Explanation: This phrase is more direct but remains highly respectful.
드릴 말씀is the humble form of할 말(something to say). By using드리다(to give, humble form), you are elevating the listener (your superior or senior colleague) while respectfully asserting that you have a valuable contribution to make. It’s a confident way to signal that your input is important and you need a moment of their time. -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Pay attention to ‘말씀이’ [mal-sseu-mi]. This is a perfect example of liaison (연음). The final consonant of a syllable, in this case, theㅁ (m)in말씀, moves over to the next syllable if it starts with a vowel. So, instead of a choppy “mal-sseum / i,” it flows smoothly as [mal-sseu-mi].
4. 해당 프로젝트의 담당자로서, 제 의견을 공유 드리고 싶습니다.
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Haedang peurojekteu-ui damdangjaroseo, je uigyeon-eul gong-yu deurigo sipseumnida.
- English Meaning: “As the person in charge of this project, I would like to share my opinion.”
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Detailed Explanation: This expression is powerful because it logically grounds your request. By stating your role (
담당자– person in charge), you are reminding them of your direct involvement and responsibility, making it clear why your input is not just helpful but essential. It’s a factual and professional way to justify your need to be included.공유 드리고 싶습니다is a soft and polite alternative to “I want to share.” -
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
In ‘담당자로서’ [dam-dang-ja-ro-sseo], theㅆin로서is a tensed consonant. Make sure to pronounce it with more force than a singleㅅ. It should sound like [sseo], not [seo]. This correctly marks its grammatical function as a particle indicating status or capacity.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation. Alex is a project manager who finds out a key decision was made without him. He approaches his team leader, Sunmi.
- A (Alex): 팀장님, 잠시 시간 괜찮으실까요? 오늘 아침에 공유된 ‘알파 프로젝트’ 기획안 수정 건에 대해 여쭤볼 것이 있습니다.
(Team Leader-nim, do you have a moment? I have a question about the revised ‘Alpha Project’ proposal that was shared this morning.) -
B (Sunmi): 네, 알렉스 씨. 무슨 일이죠?
(Of course, Alex. What is it?) -
A (Alex): 해당 결정은 관련 팀원들과 모두 논의한 후에 진행되는 것으로 알고 있는데, 혹시 제가 놓친 부분이 있을까요? 제가 담당하고 있는 파트에 대한 중요한 변경사항이 포함되어 있어서요.
(I was under the impression that this decision would be made after discussing it with all related team members. Did I perhaps miss something? It includes a significant change to the part I’m responsible for.) -
B (Sunmi): 아, 그 부분은 급하게 진행되면서 알렉스 씨에게 공유가 늦어졌네요. 미안해요.
(Ah, that part was processed in a hurry, so sharing it with you was delayed. I’m sorry.) -
A (Alex): 괜찮습니다. 다만 제가 해당 프로젝트의 담당자로서, 제 의견을 공유 드리고 싶습니다. 다음부터는 논의 과정에 저도 포함해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
(It’s alright. However, as the person in charge of this project, I would like to share my opinion. I would appreciate it if you would include me in the discussion process from next time.) -
B (Sunmi): 물론이죠. 알렉스 씨 의견이 중요하죠. 지금이라도 이야기해 줄 수 있을까요?
(Of course. Your opinion is important, Alex. Could you tell me about it now?)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In the modern Korean workplace, there’s a fascinating blend of the traditional top-down hierarchy (수직적 문화) and a push towards a more Western-style horizontal culture (수평적 문화).
The expressions you learned today are perfect for this transitional environment. They demonstrate a high level of 눈치 (Nunchi)—the subtle art of situational awareness. You are not challenging authority directly, which respects the traditional hierarchy. At the same time, you are clearly and professionally advocating for your role and the value of your contribution, which aligns with the modern emphasis on efficiency and open communication.
In many IT companies or startups, you might use these phrases on a work messenger like Slack or Kakao Work. They are just as effective in writing and show that you have a sophisticated command of professional Korean etiquette. Using them will surely make you look like an insightful and capable colleague!
Wrap-up & Let’s Practice!
Today we learned four excellent ways to express your opinion when you’ve been left out of a decision at work. The key is to be polite, professional, and non-confrontational.
Now it’s your turn to practice!
1. Fill in the blanks:
You are in charge of a marketing campaign, and you want to say, “As the person in charge of this campaign, I would like to share my opinion.”
- 제가 이 캠페인의 ( ________ )로서, 제 의견을 ( ____________ ) 싶습니다.
2. Scenario Challenge:
You thought a decision would be made next week, but it was made today without your input. How would you politely ask your manager if you missed something? (Write the full Korean sentence!)
Share your answers in the comments below! We’d love to see you put these powerful phrases into action. Good luck
