Signing in Korea: Dojang or Signature? ✍️

Introduction

Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], ready to upgrade your Korean skills to the next level! 👋

Today, we are going to talk about a very important moment in adult life: Signing Contracts and Documents.

Have you heard about the recent trend in Korea? While digital contracts are becoming common for convenience, the traditional ‘Dojang’ (personal seal) is still essential for important matters like housing contracts (Jeonse/Wolse) or official banking. Knowing when to “sign” and when to “stamp” can be confusing!

Don’t worry! Today, we will learn the essential expressions you need to confidently handle paperwork in Korea. Let’s dive in!

Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions you will hear and use when finalizing a contract in Korea.

1. 여기에 서명해 주세요.

• Pronunciation: [Yeogie seomyeong-hae juseyo]
• English: Please sign here.
• Details: This is a formal request. ‘서명 (seomyeong)’ means ‘signature’. In casual conversation, Koreans often use the English word ‘Sign’ (사인), but in written contracts or formal situations, ‘서명’ is preferred.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • When you say 서명해 [seomyeong-hae], the ‘ㅎ(h)’ sound often becomes weak or disappears in fast speech, making it sound like [서명애 (seomyeong-ae)]. This makes your speech flow much more naturally!

2. 도장을 찍다.

• Pronunciation: [Dojang-eul jjikda]
• English: To stamp a seal.
• Details: ‘도장 (Dojang)’ is a personal wood or stone stamp used as a signature. ‘찍다 (jjikda)’ literally means ‘to press’ or ‘to take (a photo)’, but here it means ‘to stamp’.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Pay attention to 찍다. It is written as ‘jjik-da’, but it is pronounced as [jjik-tta].
  • Why? The final consonant ‘ㄱ(k)’ in the first block meets the ‘ㄷ(d)’ in the next block. This causes the ‘ㄷ’ to harden into a tense sound ‘ㄸ(tt)’. This rule is called ‘Tensification’. So, say it strongly: [Jjik-tta]!

3. 계약서를 확인하다.

• Pronunciation: [Geyakseo-reul hwaginhada]
• English: To check/confirm the contract.
• Details: ‘계약서 (Geyakseo)’ means ‘contract paper’. Before you sign anything, you must say “check” (확인하다). This is a crucial phrase for B1 learners to ensure they understand the terms.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • 계약 [ge-yak]: The vowel ‘ㅖ(ye)’ can be tricky. In standard Korean, ‘계’ is pronounced [gye], but in daily speech, it is often allowed to be pronounced as [게 (ge)]. So, [ge-yak] is perfectly acceptable and easier to say!

Real-Life Dialogue

Let’s see how these words are used in a real situation.
Situation: Min-su is signing a house rental contract with a Real Estate Agent.

Agent: 계약서 내용은 다 확인하셨나요?
(Did you check all the contents of the contract?)

Min-su: 네, 다 읽어봤어요. 이제 무엇을 하면 되나요?
(Yes, I read it all. What should I do now?)

Agent: 하단에 여기에 서명해 주세요. 그리고 옆에는 도장을 찍어 주시면 됩니다.
(Please sign here at the bottom. And please stamp your seal next to it.)

Min-su: 요즘은 전자 계약도 많다고 들었는데, 역시 중요한 계약이라 도장이 필요하군요!
(I heard digital contracts are common these days, but I guess a seal is still needed for important contracts!)

Agent: 맞아요. 서류는 확실한 게 좋으니까요.
(That’s right. It’s better to be certain with documents.)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis: The “Inkam” Culture

In the dialogue, Min-su mentioned Digital Contracts vs. Dojang. Here is what you need to know to sound like a local!

1. The Power of the ‘Inkam’ (인감):
   While you can use a signature for credit cards or simple forms, for major life events (like buying a house or car), Koreans use a registered seal called ‘Inkam Dojang’. It has the same legal power as your ID card!
2. The MZ Generation Trend:
   Recently, young Koreans (Gen Z) are making “Custom Dojangs” with cute fonts or icons instead of traditional Chinese characters. It’s becoming a popular souvenir for foreigners too!
3. Digital Shift:
   Government offices are trying to move toward digital signatures to reduce paperwork. However, the cultural trust in the physical action of “Stamping a Seal” (도장을 찍다) remains very strong in Korea. If you want to live in Korea long-term, having your own Dojang is a great idea!

Wrap-up & Practice

Today we learned how to finalize a contract in Korean. Whether you use a pen or a stamp, making sure you 확인하다 (check) the document is the most important step!

📝 Mini Quiz:
Select the correct word to fill in the blank.

“Important documents require a seal. Please ______ your seal here.”
(중요한 서류는 도장이 필요해요. 여기에 도장을 _______ 주세요.)

A. 서명해 (sign)
B. 찍어 (stamp)

Answer: (Check the comment section for the answer!)

Did you enjoy today’s lesson? Leave a comment below using the expression “확인했어요” (I checked it)! See you next time!