Smart Work: Delegate Like a Korean Pro

Introduction

Hello! This is [Daily Korean], here to upgrade your Korean business skills to the next level!

Today, we are diving into Advanced Business Communication, specifically focusing on how to effectively delegate tasks and manage progress.

In the past, Korean office culture was known for being strictly top-down. However, “Smart Work” is the hottest trend in Korea right now! Companies are moving towards horizontal organizational cultures where clarity and efficiency matter more than hierarchy. It’s no longer just about ordering someone to do something; it’s about assigning R&R (Roles and Responsibilities) clearly and respecting your colleagues’ autonomy.

Let’s learn how to delegate tasks like a sophisticated, modern Korean leader!

Key Expressions

Here are 3 advanced expressions to help you assign tasks and check progress professionally.

1. 이 건은 [Name] 님께 일임하겠습니다.

• Pronunciation: [I geoneun [Name] nimkke irimagessseumnida]
• English Meaning: I will entrust this matter entirely to you / I’m giving you full authority over this case.
• Detail: This is a C1-level expression. Unlike “해 주세요” (Please do it), ‘일임하다 (to entrust/mandate)’ implies that you trust the person’s ability and are giving them the authority to make decisions regarding the task. It is highly respectful and motivating.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Linking (Liaison): When pronouncing ‘일임(irim)’, the ‘ㄹ(l)’ in the batchim moves over to the empty ‘ㅇ’ spot. So it sounds like [이림].
  • Nasalization: In ‘하겠습니다’, the ‘ㅂ’ implies a [p] sound, but because it is followed by ‘ㄴ’, it changes to an [m] sound for smoother flow. So, it is pronounced [hagesseumnida], not [hagesseubnida].

2. 진행 상황 공유 부탁드립니다.

• Pronunciation: [Jinhaeng sanghwang gong-yu butak-ddeurimnida]
• English Meaning: Please share the progress status.
• Detail: In modern Korean offices, we often use the word ‘공유 (sharing)’ instead of “보고 (reporting).” “Report” sounds hierarchical, while “share” fits the “Smart Work” trend of open communication.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • Tensification: In ‘부탁(butak)’, the ‘ㄱ(k)’ sound meets the ‘ㄷ(d)’ in ‘드립니다’. This causes the ‘ㄷ’ to harden into a ‘ㄸ(dd)’ sound. So, say it as [butak-ddeurimnida]. It sounds much more natural and decisive!

3. 특이 사항 있으면 바로 업데이트해 주세요.

• Pronunciation: [Teugi sahang isseumyeon baro eopdeiteu-hae juseyo]
• English Meaning: Please update me immediately if there are any unusual issues/exceptions.
• Detail: ‘특이 사항 (unusual points/exceptions)’ is a crucial business term. It refers to anything that deviates from the plan. Also, note the use of the loanword ‘업데이트 (update)’. Korean business language frequently uses English loanwords to sound modern and efficient.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • H-Dropping: In ‘사항 (sahang)’, the ‘ㅎ(h)’ is often pronounced very softly or dropped entirely in fast speech, sounding like [sa-ang].
  • Linking: In ‘있으면 (isseumyeon)’, the ‘ㅆ’ sound carries over to the next vowel. Pronounce it as [i-sseu-myeon].

Example Dialogue

Here is how a Team Leader (A) and a Manager (B) might talk in a modern Korean company using collaboration tools.

A (Team Leader): 김 대리님, 이번 3분기 마케팅 분석 보고서는 김 대리님께 일임하겠습니다.
(Assistant Manager Kim, I will entrust the Q3 marketing analysis report entirely to you.)

B (Manager): 알겠습니다, 팀장님. 믿고 맡겨 주셔서 감사합니다. 기한은 언제까지인가요?
(Understood, Team Leader. Thank you for trusting me. When is the deadline?)

A: 다음 주 수요일까지 노션(Notion) 페이지에 올려주세요. 그리고 중간에 진행 상황 공유 부탁드립니다.
(Please upload it to the Notion page by next Wednesday. And please share the progress status in the meantime.)

B: 네, 알겠습니다. 슬랙(Slack)으로 중간보고 드리겠습니다.
(Yes, understood. I will give you an interim report via Slack.)

A: 좋아요. 혹시 특이 사항 있으면 바로 업데이트해 주세요.
(Good. If there are any unusual issues, please update me immediately.)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis: “Smart Work” & R&R

Did you notice the mention of Notion and Slack in the dialogue?

1. The Rise of Collaboration Tools:
Recently, Korean companies are obsessed with “Smart Work” (스마트 워크). Instead of formal, printed reports (“paperwork”), teams prefer real-time updates via tools like Slack, Notion, or Teams. Using expressions like “공유해 주세요” (Please share) fits this digital-first culture perfectly.

2. R&R (Roles and Responsibilities):
In the past, ambiguous instructions were common. Now, the younger generation (Gen MZ) prefers clear R&R. When you use the word “일임하다” (entrust), you are clearly defining their Role and Responsibility, which is considered a very sophisticated leadership style. It signals that you are not a “Kkondae” (꼰대 – old-fashioned condescending person) but a rational leader!

Conclusion & Practice

Today, we learned how to delegate tasks elegantly using high-level vocabulary like 일임하다 and 특이 사항. These expressions will make you sound like a capable professional in any Korean business setting.

📝 Mini Quiz: Fill in the blanks!

1. “I will entrust this project to you.”
   = 이 프로젝트는 당신에게 ( O O )하겠습니다.
2. “Please share the progress.”
   = 진행 상황 ( O O ) 부탁드립니다.

(Answers: 1. 일임, 2. 공유)

Leave a comment below using one of today’s expressions!
See you in the next post for more professional Korean tips! 👋