Don’t Just Sign! How to Read Your Korean Job Offer Like a Pro
Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangeul, the blog that will upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you just landed your dream job in Korea? Congratulations! But before you pop the champagne, there’s one crucial step left: reviewing your final job offer letter, or 최종 고용계약서 (choejong goyong-gyeyakseo). This document is full of important details about your new role.
Lately in Korea, the job market is becoming more global, and companies are eager to hire international talent like you. That’s fantastic news! But it also means you need to be able to read your contract carefully to make sure everything is fair and clear. Today, we’ll learn the key Korean terms you absolutely must know before signing on the dotted line. Let’s get started!
Core Expressions You Must Know
Here are the essential terms you’ll find in almost every Korean employment contract.
1. 연봉 (Yeonbong)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Yeonbong
- English Meaning: Annual Salary
- Detailed Explanation: This is the big one! 연봉 refers to your total yearly salary before any taxes or deductions. It’s different from 월급 (wolgeup), which is your monthly salary. When negotiating, the conversation will almost always revolve around the 연봉. Make sure the number on the contract matches what you discussed.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The final ‘ㅇ’ (ieung) in both 연 (yeon) and 봉 (bong) is a ‘ng’ sound, like the ‘ng’ in “singing.” It’s a soft, nasal sound made at the back of your throat. Avoid pronouncing it as ‘n’ or ‘g’.
2. 수습 기간 (Suseup gigan)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Suseup gigan
- English Meaning: Probationary Period
- Detailed Explanation: This is your trial period, which is typically three months long in Korea. It’s a very important clause to check because some companies might pay a reduced salary (for example, 90% of your agreed 연봉) during the 수습 기간. Always confirm the salary conditions for this period!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The pronunciation here is quite straightforward. The ‘ㅅ’ (siot) in 수 (su) is a clean ‘s’ sound. Be careful not to pronounce it like ‘sh’. It’s a simple, crisp [su], not [shu].
3. 복리후생 (Bongnihusaeng)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Bongnihusaeng
- English Meaning: Employee Benefits / Welfare
- Detailed Explanation: This term covers all the extra perks beyond your salary. It can include things like the mandatory four major public insurances (4대 보험), meal allowances (식대), transportation support (교통비), vacation days (휴가), and even support for personal development. A strong 복리후생 package can be as important as a high salary!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The ‘ㅎ’ (hieut) in 후 (hu) is an aspirated sound. You should feel a distinct puff of air when you say it, almost like a sigh. Practice by saying “who” in English—it’s very similar!
4. 계약 기간 (Gyeyak gigan)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gyeyak gigan
- English Meaning: Contract Period
- Detailed Explanation: This clause defines the length of your employment. It will specify if you are a 정규직 (jeonggyujik), a permanent employee with no end date, or a 계약직 (gyeyakjik), a contract employee with a set end date. This is critical for your job security, so double-check it!
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The first letter ‘ㄱ’ (giyeok) in 계약 (gyeyak) is pronounced as a soft ‘g’. However, when it appears in the middle of a word like in 기간 (gigan), it sounds closer to a ‘k’. This is a common feature of Korean pronunciation. So, it’s [gyeyak] but [gigan].
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a conversation between a new employee, Alex (B), and an HR manager (A).
A: 알렉스 씨, 최종 고용계약서입니다. 꼼꼼히 확인해 보세요.
(Allekseu ssi, choejong goyong-gyeyakseo-imnida. Kkomkkomhi hwaginhae boseyo.)
Alex, here is the final employment contract. Please review it carefully.B: 네, 감사합니다. 음… 연봉이랑 수습 기간에 대해 질문이 있습니다.
(Ne, gamsahamnida. Eum… yeonbong-irang suseup gigan-e daehae jilmuni itseumnida.)
Yes, thank you. Hmm… I have a question about the annual salary and the probationary period.A: 어떤 점이 궁금하신가요?
(Eotteon jeomi gunggeumhasingayo?)
What are you curious about?B: 수습 기간 3개월 동안 급여는 계약된 연봉의 100%가 맞는지, 그리고 복리후생에 식대 지원이 포함되어 있는지도 확인하고 싶습니다.
(Suseup gigan sam-gaewol dongan geubyeo-neun gyeyakdoen yeonbong-ui baek-peosenteu-ga matneunji, geurigo bongnihusaeng-e sikdae jiwoni pohamdoe-eo inneunjido hwaginhago sipseumnida.)
I’d like to confirm if the salary during the 3-month probationary period is 100% of the contracted annual salary, and also if the benefits package includes a meal allowance.
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korea today, especially among the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z), the concept of “워라밸” (worabel) is incredibly important. It’s a Korean-style portmanteau of “Work-Life Balance.”
While a high 연봉 (yeonbong) is still a major factor, more and more people are looking for a job that offers a great 워라밸. This means they pay close attention to the 복리후생 (bongnihusaeng) section of their contract. They look for benefits like flexible working hours (유연근무제), generous vacation policies, or support for hobbies and self-improvement.
So, when you’re negotiating, don’t just focus on the salary! Asking smart questions about the company culture and benefits shows that you understand this modern Korean work trend. It proves you’re not just looking for a job, but for a place where you can thrive.
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Great job today! You’ve learned four essential terms for understanding your Korean employment contract: 연봉 (annual salary), 수습 기간 (probationary period), 복리후생 (benefits), and 계약 기간 (contract period). Now you can review your offer letter with confidence!
Let’s check your understanding with a quick quiz.
📝 Practice Quiz:
Your offer letter includes this sentence: “수습 기간 중 급여는 계약 연봉의 90%를 지급함.”
What does this mean?
a) You get a 90% bonus during your probation.
b) You will receive 90% of your agreed annual salary during the probationary period.
c) Your probationary period is 90 days long.
(Answer: b)
Now it’s your turn! When you look for a job, what is the most important 복리후생 (benefit) for you? Leave a comment below using the Korean words you learned today
