Introduction
Hello! This is [Daily Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to a professional level!
Today, we are diving into a topic that is essential for anyone interested in global business or international relations: The European Union (EU) Single Market.
You might be wondering, “Why do I need to learn economic terms in Korean?” Well, recently in Korea, news about the global supply chain and export regulations is everywhere! With Korean companies (especially in EV batteries and semiconductors) expanding rapidly into Europe, understanding these terms is key to participating in high-level discussions.
If you want to discuss world news or business strategies like a native Korean professional, this post is for you. Let’s get started!
Key Expressions
Here are 3 advanced expressions related to the economy and trade that will make you sound like an expert.
1. 단일 시장 (Single Market)
- Pronunciation: [Dan-il Si-jang]
- English Meaning: Single Market
- Detailed Explanation: This refers to a market where goods, capital, services, and labor can move freely, like the EU. In a business context, you might say, “EU는 거대한 단일 시장입니다” (The EU is a huge single market). It implies a unified economic zone without internal borders.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Watch out for the Liaison (연음) rule!
- When ‘단(dan)’ is followed by ‘일(il)’, the ‘ㄴ(n)’ sound carries over.
- So, instead of saying ‘Dan-il’, it flows naturally as [Da-nil].
- Try saying it smoothly: [Da-nil si-jang].
2. 비관세 장벽 (Non-tariff Barrier)
- Pronunciation: [Bi-gwan-se Jang-byeok]
- English Meaning: Non-tariff Barrier
- Detailed Explanation: This is a C1-level term! While ‘Gwanse’ means tariff (tax), adding ‘Bi (Non-)’ refers to trade barriers that are not taxes, such as quotas, sanctions, or strict environmental regulations. This is a hot topic right now because countries are using these barriers to protect their domestic industries.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Pay attention to the Tensification (경음화) rule in ‘장벽’.
- The ‘ㅇ(ng)’ in ‘장(jang)’ meets the ‘ㅂ(b)’ in ‘벽(byeok)’. While there is no standard rule forcing a change here, in natural speech, ‘벽’ is often pronounced slightly harder, almost like [Jang-ppyeok] for emphasis, though standard pronunciation remains soft.
- Focus on articulating the ‘Bi’ clearly to distinguish it from just ‘Gwanse’.
3. 공급망 재편 (Supply Chain Restructuring)
- Pronunciation: [Gong-geum-mang Jae-pyeon]
- English Meaning: Supply Chain Restructuring
- Detailed Explanation: ‘공급망’ means Supply Chain, and ‘재편’ means reorganization or restructuring. Since the pandemic and recent geopolitical conflicts, this phrase appears daily in Korean economic news. It describes how companies are changing where they buy materials to ensure stability.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- This is a perfect example of Nasalization (비음화)!
- Look at ‘공급(Gong-geub)’. The final consonant is ‘ㅂ(b)’.
- The next word is ‘망(mang)’, which starts with ‘ㅁ(m)’.
- Rule: When a stop sound like ‘ㅂ’ meets a nasal sound like ‘ㅁ’, the ‘ㅂ’ changes to ‘ㅁ’.
- So, write it as ‘공급망’, but pronounce it as [Gong-geum-mang].
- Don’t say ‘Gong-geub-mang’! Say [Gong-geum-mang] for a native flow.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a business meeting context.
(Minji and Mark are discussing a new export strategy for their company.)
Minji: 마크 씨, 이번 유럽 수출 건 보고서 읽어보셨어요?
(Mark, did you read the report on the export to Europe this time?)
Mark: 네, 봤습니다. EU가 단일 시장이라서 진입은 쉽지만, 환경 규제가 까다롭더라고요.
(Yes, I did. Since the EU is a single market, entry is easy, but the environmental regulations are tricky.)
Minji: 맞아요. 요즘은 관세보다 비관세 장벽이 더 큰 문제예요. 특히 탄소 배출 관련 규제요.
(That’s right. These days, non-tariff barriers are a bigger problem than tariffs. Especially regulations regarding carbon emissions.)
Mark: 그래서 본사에서도 공급망 재편을 서두르는 것 같아요. 현지 공장을 늘려야 할까요?
(That seems to be why headquarters is rushing supply chain restructuring. Should we increase local factories?)
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis
📈 Why is everyone talking about “Eco-friendly Regulations”?
In the dialogue, Minji mentioned “carbon emissions.” This is a huge trend in Korea right now!
The EU has introduced strict policies like CBAM (Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism). Korean companies, especially those making steel or batteries for electric vehicles (EVs), are working hard to adapt to these rules.
In Korean business culture, being aware of these “Global Standards” (글로벌 스탠다드) is considered very professional. If you use the word 비관세 장벽 (Non-tariff barrier) when discussing these environmental rules, Koreans will be incredibly impressed by your insight into current economic affairs!
Also, the term ESG Management (ESG 경영) is a buzzword in Korea. It stands for Environmental, Social, and Governance. Knowing that supply chain restructuring is often done for ESG reasons connects the vocabulary you learned today with the biggest trend in the corporate world.
Conclusion & Practice
Today, we explored the complex world of the EU Single Market and learned high-level vocabulary like 단일 시장, 비관세 장벽, and 공급망 재편. These words will help you understand Korean news articles and participate in professional discussions confidently.
📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blank with the correct word from today’s lesson!
“Due to the pandemic, many companies are focusing on ___________ to secure stable raw materials.”
“팬데믹 때문에 많은 기업들이 원자재 확보를 위해 [ ? ? ? ? ? ]을/를 하고 있습니다.”
(Hint: It involves changing the logistics network! Remember the [Gong-geum-mang] pronunciation rule!)
Please leave your answer in the comments below! I’d love to see you practicing. Keep up the great work, and see you in the next post!
