“파이어족”처럼 똑똑하게! 한국식 재무 목표 세우기

Hello! It’s [매일한글] here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Are you thinking about your financial future? Do you want to talk about saving money, investing, and planning for your goals in Korean? Today, we’re diving into the essential language for setting personal financial goals, both short-term and long-term.

Lately in Korea, there’s a huge surge of interest in financial independence, especially among the younger generation. You may have heard of the ‘파이어족’ (FIRE Tribe), people aiming for Financial Independence, Retire Early. To join their ranks, the very first step is setting clear financial goals. Let’s learn how to discuss this sophisticated topic like a native!

Core Expressions for Financial Planning

Here are some key phrases that will make you sound like a financial pro in Korean.

1. 재무 목표를 수립하다 (Jaemu mokpyoreul suripada)

• English Meaning: To establish financial goals.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a formal and professional-sounding phrase. While you can use the simpler ‘세우다’ (to set up), ‘수립하다’ implies a more systematic, well-thought-out planning process. You’d use this in serious conversations, presentations, or when writing about your financial plans. It shows you’re not just dreaming, but strategically planning.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final consonant ‘ㅂ’ in ‘수립’ meets ‘ㅎ’ in ‘하다’. In Korean, when a stop consonant (like ㄱ, ㄷ, ㅂ) is followed by ‘ㅎ’, they merge into a single aspirated sound. So, 수립 (surip) + 하다 (hada) is pronounced as [수리파다, suripada]. Practice this to sound incredibly fluent!

2. 종잣돈을 마련하다 (Jongjatdoneul maryeonhada)

• English Meaning: To secure/prepare seed money.
• Detailed Explanation: ‘종잣돈’ literally translates to “seed money.” It’s a crucial concept in Korean financial culture, referring to the initial lump sum of capital you save for a larger purpose—like investing, buying a house, or starting a business. ‘마련하다’ means to prepare or arrange for something, often through dedicated effort. This phrase perfectly captures the first major step in any serious financial journey.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In ‘종잣돈’, you see a ‘ㅅ’ between two nouns (종자 and 돈). This is a special ‘ㅅ’ called ‘사이시옷’ (sai siot). Its function is to make the following consonant tense. So, ‘돈’ (don) is pronounced as [똔, tton]. The whole phrase sounds like [종자똔, jongjatton]. This is a high-level pronunciation point that will definitely impress native speakers!

3. 자산을 불리다 (Jasaneul bullida)

• English Meaning: To grow/increase one’s assets.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a very natural and common way to talk about actively increasing your wealth. ‘불리다’ literally means ‘to make something swell’ or ‘increase in volume.’ It carries a more dynamic and active nuance than simply ‘돈을 벌다’ (to earn money). It implies making your money work for you through investments, not just earning a salary.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Pay attention to the double ‘ㄹㄹ’ sound in 불리다 [bullida]. When a syllable ending in ‘ㄹ’ is followed by a syllable starting with ‘ㄹ’, the sound becomes a clear, liquid ‘L’ sound, similar to the ‘l’ in the English word “million.”

4. 포트폴리오를 다각화하다 (Poteupollioreul dagakwahada)

• English Meaning: To diversify a portfolio.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a more technical term perfect for C1 learners who want to discuss investment strategies. ‘포트폴리오’ is a loanword from English, and ‘다각화하다’ means ‘to diversify’ or ‘to multilateralize.’ Using this phrase shows you have a sophisticated understanding of investment principles and can discuss them in detail.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Similar to our first tip, the ‘ㄱ’ in ‘다각’ meets the ‘ㅎ’ in ‘화’. They merge to create an aspirated ‘ㅋ’ (k) sound. Therefore, 다각 (dagak) + 화 (hwa) is pronounced as [다가콰, dagakwa]. The full phrase sounds like [포트폴리오를 다가콰하다, Poteupollioreul dagakwahada].

Sample Conversation

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation between two colleagues.

A: 요즘 ‘파이어족’에 관심이 생겨서 저도 장기적인 재무 목표를 수립해 보려고요.

[Yojeum ‘paieojog-e’ gwansim-i saenggyeoseo jeodo jang-gijeog-in jaemu mokpyoreul suripae boryeogoyo.]
Lately, I’ve become interested in the ‘FIRE Tribe,’ so I’m trying to establish some long-term financial goals for myself.

B: 좋은 생각이네요! 목표를 이루려면 우선 종잣돈을 마련하는 게 중요하죠.

[Joeun saeng-gag-ineyo! Mokpyoreul iruryeomyeon useon jongjatdoneul maryeonhaneun ge jung-yohajyo.]
That’s a great idea! To achieve your goals, securing seed money first is important.

A: 맞아요. 그 돈으로 자산을 불려야죠. 그래서 단기적으로는 3년 안에 1억 원을 모으는 게 목표예요.

[Majayo. Geu doneuro jasaneul bullyeoyajyo. Geuraeseo dan-gijeog-euroneun samnyeon an-e ir-eog-won-eul mo-euneun ge mokpyoyeyo.]
Exactly. I need to grow my assets with that money. So, my short-term goal is to save 100 million won within three years.

B: 구체적인 계획이 있군요. 저는 주식이랑 부동산에 투자해서 포트폴리오를 다각화하고 있어요. 안정성이 중요하니까요.

[Guchejeog-in gyehoeg-i itgun-yo. Jeoneun jusig-irang budongsan-e tujahaeseo poteupollioreul dagakwahago isseoyo. Anjeongseong-i jung-yohanikkayo.]
You have a concrete plan. I’m diversifying my portfolio by investing in stocks and real estate. After all, stability is important.

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

The ‘파이어족’ (FIRE Tribe) is more than just a buzzword in Korea; it reflects a significant cultural shift. For many young Koreans, the traditional path of lifelong employment at a single company is no longer the ultimate goal. Instead, they prioritize personal freedom and experiences, which are enabled by financial independence.

On social media platforms like Instagram and YouTube, you’ll find countless ‘파이어족’ influencers sharing their ‘짠테크’ (jjantech – a mix of ‘짜다’ (salty/stingy) and ‘재테크’ (financial management)) tips and investment journeys. When you use phrases like ‘종잣돈 마련’ or ‘자산을 불리다’ in a conversation, you’re not just speaking Korean; you’re showing that you understand this key aspect of modern Korean society and the aspirations of its younger generation.

Let’s Wrap Up & Practice!

Today, we’ve learned some powerful, high-level expressions to discuss your financial plans like a pro, from 재무 목표를 수립하다 to 포트폴리오를 다각화하다. Now it’s your turn to use them!

Practice Questions:

1. Fill in the blank:
   • 1억 원의 _________을/를 마련해서 투자를 시작하고 싶어요.
     (I want to secure 100 million won of _________ to start investing.)
2. Sentence Building:
   • Using the phrase ‘자산을 불리다’, write a short sentence about your own financial goal.

What are your financial goals? Try using one of today’s expressions and leave a comment below! We’d love to see you put your new skills into practice.