Negotiate Your Korean Remote Work Contract Like a Pro!

Hello! This is [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills! 🚀

Have you ever dreamed of working from a cozy café in Seoul or a beachside desk on Jeju Island? You’re not alone! Lately in Korea, remote work (원격 근무) and “workations” (워케이션) are becoming huge trends. But how do you actually ask for this flexibility when you get a job offer?

Today, we’re going to learn the essential Korean phrases you need to professionally negotiate a remote work contract. With these expressions, you’ll be able to confidently discuss your needs and land your dream digital nomad life in Korea!

Let’s get started!

Core Expressions You Need to Know

Here are the key phrases that will make you sound like a pro during your negotiation.

1. 원격 근무 (Won-gyeok geun-mu)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: Won-gyeok geun-mu
• English Meaning: Remote work
• Detailed Explanation: This is the most direct and common term for “remote work.” 원격 (won-gyeok) means ‘remote’ or ‘distant’, and 근무 (geun-mu) means ‘work’ or ‘duty’. You can use this term in almost any professional setting. A related term is 재택근무 (jae-taek-geun-mu), which specifically means “working from home.”

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The letter ‘ㄱ’ (g/k) can be tricky! At the beginning of a word like in 근무 (geunmu), it sounds like a soft ‘g’. However, when it’s a final consonant (받침) like in 원격 (won-gyeok), it sounds more like a hard, unreleased ‘k’. Practice saying won-gyeok–geun-mu to get the distinction right!

2. 근무 조건을 조율하고 싶습니다 (Geun-mu jo-kkwon-eul jo-yul-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: Geun-mu jo-kkweon-eul jo-yul-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da
• English Meaning: I would like to adjust the working conditions.

• Detailed Explanation: This is your golden phrase! It’s extremely polite and professional. 근무 조건 (geun-mu jokkeon) means ‘working conditions’. 조율하다 (joyulhada) literally means ‘to tune’ an instrument, but here it means ‘to coordinate’ or ‘to adjust’. Using this phrase shows you want to find a solution that works for both you and the company.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The final part, 싶습니다, is not pronounced sip-seup-ni-da. The ‘ㅂ’ (b/p) sound before ‘ㅅ’ (s) is often dropped, and the ‘ㅂ’ before ‘ㄴ’ changes to an ‘ㅁ’ (m) sound. So, it sounds like [십씀니다 / sipsseumnida]. This is a common sound change called nasalization (비음화), and mastering it will make you sound much more natural.

3. 하이브리드 근무도 가능할까요? (Ha-i-beu-ri-deu geun-mu-do ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?)

• Pronunciation [Romanized]: Ha-i-beu-ri-deu geun-mu-do ga-neung-hal-kka-yo?
• English Meaning: Would hybrid work also be possible?

• Detailed Explanation: Can’t go fully remote? Ask for a hybrid model! Koreans often use the English word “hybrid” written in Hangeul: 하이브리드 (haibeurideu). -도 means ‘also’ or ‘too’, and 가능할까요? (ganeunghalkkayo?) is a polite way to ask “Is it possible?”. This phrase is perfect for suggesting a mix of in-office and remote days.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In the word 근무도 (geunmudo), notice how the ‘o’ vowel in 도 is clear and distinct. In English, we might reduce it, but in Korean, it’s important to pronounce each vowel sound fully. Say it slowly: geun-mu-do.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these phrases work in a real conversation between an HR Manager (A) and a Job Applicant (B).

A (인사팀장): 저희 회사에 지원해 주셔서 감사합니다. B씨의 경력이 아주 인상적이네요.

A (HR Manager): Thank you for applying to our company. Your experience is very impressive, B.

B (지원자): 좋게 봐주셔서 감사합니다. 혹시 근무 조건에 대해 몇 가지 조율하고 싶은데, 괜찮을까요?

B (Applicant): Thank you for the positive feedback. I’d like to adjust a few working conditions, would that be alright?

A (인사팀장): 네, 물론입니다. 편하게 말씀해 주세요.

A (HR Manager): Yes, of course. Please feel free to speak comfortably.

B (지원자): 감사합니다. 저는 원격 근무에 관심이 많은데, 혹시 하이브리드 근무도 가능할까요?

B (Applicant): Thank you. I am very interested in remote work. I was wondering, would hybrid work also be possible?

A (인사팀장): 아, 좋은 질문이네요. 저희도 최근에 제주도에서 한 달간 일하는 ‘워케이션’ 제도를 도입했습니다. 하이브리드 근무는 긍정적으로 검토해 볼 수 있습니다.

A (HR Manager): Ah, that’s a great question. We actually recently introduced a ‘workation’ system where employees can work from Jeju Island for a month. We can positively review a hybrid work arrangement.

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive 🏝️

While the idea of remote work is exciting, it’s important to understand the Korean work culture context.

• The Rise of the “Workation” (워케이션): The conversation about remote work in Korea is often tied to the trendy concept of a “workation” (a mix of ‘work’ and ‘vacation’). Companies, especially in the tech industry, are offering perks like working from Jeju Island or the coastal city of Gangneung for a few weeks to attract top talent. Mentioning this trend shows you’re in the loop!
• Face-to-Face is Still Valued: Many traditional Korean companies still place a high value on 대면 근무 (daemyeon geunmu), or face-to-face work. That’s why approaching the topic with polite, flexible phrases like “근무 조건을 조율하고 싶습니다” is much more effective than making a firm demand. It shows respect for the company’s culture while still opening the door for negotiation.
• Be Specific: When you suggest a hybrid model, be prepared to propose a specific arrangement (e.g., “3 days in the office, 2 days remote”). This shows you’ve thought it through and are serious about finding a practical solution.

Wrap-up & Practice!

Great job today! You’ve learned how to professionally and politely discuss remote and hybrid work options in Korean. Remember these key phrases:
* 원격 근무 (Remote work)
* 근무 조건을 조율하고 싶습니다 (I’d like to adjust the working conditions)
* 하이브리드 근무도 가능할까요? (Is hybrid work possible?)

Now, let’s test your knowledge!

1. Fill in the blank:
You want to ask if salary negotiation is possible. The word for ‘annual salary’ is 연봉 (yeonbong). How would you complete this sentence?

_________ 협상이 가능한지 궁금합니다.

2. Make a sentence:
Using the phrases we learned, how would you politely ask, “Is full-time remote work possible?”

(Hint: Full-time is '전체' or '100%')

Leave your answers in the comments below! We’d love to see you practice these expressions. Good luck with your negotiations! 화이팅