Hello! It’s your favorite Korean language booster, [Everyday Hangul], here to upgrade your real-life Korean skills!
Imagine checking your bank account and seeing a charge you don’t recognize. Panic! It’s a situation we all dread. But don’t worry, because today we’re learning the essential Korean phrases to handle this exact problem. In Korea, where digital banking and super-fast payments are the norm, knowing how to report a suspicious transaction is a crucial skill. Let’s dive in and learn how to protect your money like a pro!
Core Expressions You MUST Know
Here are three key phrases to help you communicate clearly and effectively with bank staff.
1. 의심스러운 거래 내역 (A suspicious transaction)
- Pronunciation: [Uisimseureoun georae naeyeok]
- English Meaning: Suspicious transaction history/details
- Detailed Explanation: This is the perfect phrase to start the conversation. It’s polite and clearly states the problem. Let’s break it down:
- 의심스럽다 (uisimseureopda): to be suspicious/doubtful
- 거래 (georae): transaction, deal
- 내역 (naeyeok): details, history
You can point to your bank statement or phone app and say this phrase.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The pronunciation of ‘의’ can be tricky! When it’s at the beginning of a word like in 의심 (uisim), it’s pronounced like a quick ‘oo-ee’ sound. However, the most important part is the sound change in 거래 (georae). The letter ‘ㄹ’ (r/l) at the beginning of a syllable often sounds more like a soft ‘r’ or even a flapped ‘d’ sound to English speakers. Try to make a light ‘r’ sound, not a strong American ‘R’.
2. 제가 결제한 게 아니에요. (I didn’t make this payment.)
- Pronunciation: [Jega gyeoljehan ge anieyo.]
- English Meaning: I’m not the one who paid for this. / I didn’t make this payment.
- Detailed Explanation: This is your go-to sentence for denying a charge. It’s a clear and polite way to say, “That wasn’t me!”
- 제가 (jega): I (polite form)
- 결제하다 (gyeoljehada): to pay, to make a payment
- ~ㄴ/은 게 아니에요 (~n/eun ge anieyo): is not the thing that… (a common grammatical pattern)
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
In 결제한 게 (gyeoljehan ge), the final ‘ㄴ (n)’ sound in ‘한’ links smoothly to the ‘ㄱ (g)’ in ‘게’. This makes the ‘ㄱ’ sound a little softer than it would be at the beginning of a word. Instead of a hard “han-G-e,” it flows more like “han-ge.” This linking of sounds (called 연음, yeoneum) is key to sounding natural!
3. 카드 분실 신고 좀 하려고요. (I’d like to report a lost card.)
- Pronunciation: [Kadeu bunsil singo jom haryeogoyo.]
- English Meaning: I’d like to report a lost/stolen card.
- Detailed Explanation: Often, a suspicious charge is due to a lost or stolen card. This phrase is essential for taking the next step to secure your account.
- 카드 (kadeu): card
- 분실 (bunsil): loss, disappearance
- 신고 (singo): a report
- ~려고요 (~ryeogoyo): I intend to / I’m planning to… (expresses intention)
Adding 좀 (jom), which means “a little,” softens the request and makes it sound more polite.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
In 분실 (bunsil), the ‘ㄹ’ is a 받침 (batchim, final consonant). When a final ‘ㄹ’ is followed by a consonant, it’s pronounced as a clear ‘L’ sound. So, it’s “bun-sil,” not “bun-si-R.” Practice making a crisp ‘L’ sound with the tip of your tongue touching the back of your front teeth.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these phrases work in a real phone call to a bank’s customer service center.
- A (You): 여보세요? 제 통장에서 의심스러운 거래 내역이 있어서 전화했어요.
- [Yeoboseyo? Je tongjang-eseo uisimseureoun georae naeyeog-i isseoseo jeonhwahaesseoyo.]
- (Hello? I’m calling because there’s a suspicious transaction on my bank account.)
- B (Banker): 네, 고객님. 어떤 거래인지 말씀해 주시겠어요?
- [Ne, gogaengnim. Eotteon georaeinji malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?]
- (Yes, customer. Could you please tell me which transaction it is?)
- A (You): 어젯밤 온라인 쇼핑몰에서 10만 원이 결제됐어요. 제가 결제한 게 아니에요.
- [Eojetbam onlain syopingmol-eseo simman won-i gyeoljedwaesseoyo. Jega gyeoljehan ge anieyo.]
- (Last night, 100,000 won was paid at an online shopping mall. I didn’t make that payment.)
- B (Banker): 알겠습니다. 즉시 조치하겠습니다. 혹시 카드를 잃어버리셨나요?
- [Algesseumnida. Jeuksi jochihagesseumnida. Hoksi kadeu-reul ireo beorisyeonnayo?]
- (I understand. We will take immediate action. Did you happen to lose your card?)
- A (You): 네, 그런 것 같아요. 지금 바로 카드 분실 신고 좀 하려고요.
- [Ne, geureon geot gatayo. Jigeum baro kadeu bunsil singo jom haryeogoyo.]
- (Yes, I think so. I’d like to report my card as lost right now.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
Beware of “Smishing” (스미싱)!
Korea is a hyper-digital society. While this means amazing banking apps and instant transfers, it also opens the door to modern scams. A very common one is “Smishing” (스미싱 – a mix of ‘SMS’ and ‘phishing’).
Scammers will send you a text message that looks like it’s from a bank, a famous online store, or even a delivery company. It might say something like, “A payment of 250,000 won has been approved. If this was not you, please click the link below.”
NEVER CLICK THE LINK! This is how they steal your personal information. Instead, if you get a suspicious text, delete it immediately. Then, use the phrases we learned today to call your bank’s official number and confirm if there was actually any suspicious activity. Knowing these phrases isn’t just for learning Korean—it’s for protecting yourself in Korea!
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Great job today! You’ve learned how to handle a stressful but important situation in Korean. You now know how to identify a 의심스러운 거래 내역, state that 제가 결제한 게 아니에요, and report a lost card with 카드 분실 신고 좀 하려고요.
Now, let’s test your knowledge!
- Fill in the blank:
You lost your wallet. You need to call the bank and say:
“______ 분실 신고 좀 하려고요.” -
O / X Quiz:
Your friend says, “I got a weird text from my bank with a link.” Should you advise them to click the link to check? (O / X)
Leave your answers in the comments below! And feel free to share any experiences you’ve had at a Korean bank. We can all learn from each other
