When ‘재고 부족’ Hits: Pro-Level Korean for SCM Professionals

When ‘재고 부족’ Hits: Pro-Level Korean for SCM Professionals

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to the executive level!

Today, we’re diving into a high-stakes business scenario that’s more common than you think: managing stock shortages in Global Supply Chain Management (SCM). If you work in logistics, purchasing, or sales with Korean partners, being able to navigate this situation with professional and nuanced language is a game-changer.

Lately in Korea (요즘 한국에서는…), the explosive global demand for everything from the latest K-pop group’s merchandise to viral K-beauty serums has put immense pressure on supply chains. Delays and stockouts are frequent. Knowing how to report these issues clearly and politely isn’t just a language skill—it’s a critical business competency. Let’s get you prepared!

Core Expressions for a Stock Crisis

Here are four essential phrases you need to master to sound like a seasoned SCM professional in Korea.

1. 재고가 소진되었습니다 (Jaego-ga sojin-doeeot-seumnida)

• Romanization: Jae-go-ga so-jin-doe-eot-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: The stock has been depleted / completely sold out.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a highly professional and formal alternative to the simpler “재고가 없어요” (There’s no stock). The word 소진(銷盡) means ‘to exhaust’ or ‘to use up completely.’ Using this term in a business report or a meeting immediately signals a high level of formality and precision. It implies the stock ran out due to demand, not because it was never there.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The key is the pronunciation of ‘되었습니다’. While written as doeeot, it smoothly contracts in speech to sound like [돼쓥니다, dwaesseumnida] or [되엳씀니다, doeyeotsseumnida]. The 어(eo) is often reduced. Practice blending ‘되’ and ‘었’ together for a more natural flow.

2. 입고가 지연되고 있습니다 (Ipgo-ga jiyeon-doego it-seumnida)

• Romanization: Ip-go-ga ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: Restocking is being delayed.
• Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect phrase to explain why there is a shortage. 입고(入庫) literally means ‘entering the warehouse,’ i.e., restocking. 지연되다 means ‘to be delayed.’ This phrase clearly communicates that new stock is on its way, but is facing a hold-up. It’s a standard and essential phrase in logistics.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  Pay attention to the consonant in ‘입고’. Due to a rule called tensification (경음화), when a soft consonant like ‘ㄱ(g)’ follows a final stop consonant like ‘ㅂ(p)’, it becomes a hard, tense sound. So, ‘입고’ is not pronounced ‘ip-go’ but rather [입꼬, ip-kko]. Nailing this will make your Korean sound much more authentic.

3. 납기를 맞추기 어렵습니다 (Napgi-reul matchugi eoryeop-seumnida)

• Romanization: Nap-gi-reul mat-chu-gi eo-ryeop-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: It will be difficult to meet the delivery deadline.
• Detailed Explanation: This is a crucial phrase for managing expectations. 납기(納期) is a Sino-Korean term for ‘delivery deadline,’ and 맞추다 means ‘to meet’ or ‘to fit.’ Notice the polite and indirect phrasing. Instead of saying “We can’t meet the deadline (납기를 못 맞춥니다),” which sounds blunt, this expression softens the bad news, a common practice in Korean business communication.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final part, ‘어렵습니다’, is a great example of nasalization (비음화). The consonant ‘ㅂ(b/p)’ in ‘습’ comes before ‘ㄴ(n)’. In this position, the ‘ㅂ’ sound transforms into an ‘ㅁ(m)’ sound for easier pronunciation. Therefore, it is not pronounced [eoryeop-seup-nida], but [어렵씀니다, eo-ryeop-sseum-ni-da].

4. 긴급 발주를 넣은 상태입니다 (Gingeup balju-reul neoeun sangtae-imnida)

• Romanization: Gin-geup bal-ju-reul neo-eun sang-tae-im-ni-da
• English Meaning: We have already placed an urgent order.
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase demonstrates that you are being proactive. 긴급(緊急) means ‘urgent/emergency,’ and 발주(發注) means ‘to place an order (with a supplier).’ The grammar -은/는 상태입니다 means ‘to be in a state of having done something,’ which conveys that the action is already complete. It’s a great way to reassure your team or clients that you are actively working on a solution.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In ‘넣은’, the ‘ㅎ(h)’ sound at the end of ‘넣’ is silent when followed by a vowel. The ‘ㅇ’ in ‘은’ is just a placeholder, so the ‘ㄴ(n)’ sound from ‘은’ effectively attaches to ‘너’. It sounds like [너은, neo-eun]. Don’t try to pronounce the ‘h’.

Example Dialogue: The K-Pop Album Crisis

Let’s see these expressions in action. Park, a Sales Manager, is talking to Kim, an SCM Manager.

• 박 팀장 (Sales): 김 부장님, 신규 아이돌 앨범 초도 물량에 대한 문의가 폭주하고 있습니다. 현재 재고 상황이 어떤가요?
  (Mr. Kim, we’re being flooded with inquiries about the initial stock for the new idol album. What’s the current inventory status?)

• 김 부장 (SCM): 박 팀장님, 죄송하지만 예약 판매 물량이 예상보다 많아서, 재고가 모두 소진되었습니다.
  (Mr. Park, I apologize, but pre-order volume was higher than expected, and the stock has been completely depleted.)

• 박 팀장 (Sales): 큰일이네요! 그럼 2차 물량 입고가 지연되고 있나요? 원래 약속된 납기를 맞추기 어렵습니까?
  (This is serious! So, is the second shipment being delayed? Will it be difficult to meet the originally promised delivery date?)

• 김 부장 (SCM): 네, 현지 인쇄소 문제로 지연이 불가피합니다. 하지만 저희가 즉시 대응해서 해외 공장에 긴급 발주를 넣은 상태입니다. 최대한 일정을 당겨보겠습니다.
  (Yes, a delay is unavoidable due to an issue at the local printing facility. However, we responded immediately and have already placed an urgent order with our overseas factory. We will do our best to move up the schedule.)

Culture Tip: The ‘Palli-Palli’ Paradox in Korean Business

Korea’s famous ‘빨리빨리’ (palli-palli, or ‘hurry, hurry’) culture places a huge premium on speed and efficiency. In SCM, this means there is immense pressure to prevent delays.

However, when unavoidable global disruptions occur—like the ones currently affecting K-Pop merchandise manufacturing—it creates a cultural paradox. How do you deliver bad news in a culture that values speed above all?

The key is polite proactivity.
1. Soften the Message: Never say “안 돼요” (It’s impossible). Instead, use nuanced phrases like “어렵습니다” (It’s difficult) or “힘들 것 같습니다” (It seems challenging). This shows respect and acknowledges the difficulty of the situation without being confrontational.
2. Show, Don’t Just Tell: Immediately follow up bad news with your solution. Explaining that you have already placed an “긴급 발주” shows that you are not passive. You are respecting the ‘palli-palli’ mindset by taking the fastest possible corrective action.
3. Ask for Understanding: The concept of “양해를 구하다” (to ask for understanding) is vital. It’s a formal way of acknowledging the inconvenience and appealing to the other party’s sense of reason and partnership.

Mastering this combination of polite phrasing and proactive communication will make you look like a seasoned expert in the Korean business world.

Wrap-up & Practice!

Today, we learned four crucial C1-level expressions for managing stock shortages like a pro:
* 재고가 소진되었습니다 (Stock is depleted)
* 입고가 지연되고 있습니다 (Restocking is delayed)
* 납기를 맞추기 어렵습니다 (It’s difficult to meet the deadline)
* 긴급 발주를 넣은 상태입니다 (We’ve placed an urgent order)

Now, it’s your turn to practice!

Scenario: Your company’s viral skincare product is out of stock. Fill in the blanks to draft a professional email update to the sales team.

“영업팀께,

현재 인기 상품인 ‘미라클 세럼’의 (1)_____가 모두 _____되었습니다. 원자재 수급 문제로 (2)_____가 _____되고 있어, 약속된 (3)_____를 _____ 어렵습니다. 즉시 해외 공급처에 (4)_____를 _____ 상태이니, 참고 부탁드립니다.”

(Scroll down for the answer)

Try creating your own sentence using one of today’s expressions in the comments below! We’d love to see your work and offer feedback. Good luck!

(Answer: 1. 재고, 소진 / 2. 입고, 지연 / 3. 납기, 맞추기 / 4. 긴급 발주, 넣은)