Trend Alert: Discussing SDGs & Community in Korean!

Introduction

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

Today, we are going to dive into a topic that is essential for any Global Citizen: Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and the role of the local community.

You might think this sounds too academic, but actually, in Korea right now, concepts like ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) and Zero Waste are huge trends! From K-pop idols participating in environmental campaigns to cafes offering discounts for using personal tumblers, Korean society is actively talking about “a better future.”

If you are a C1 level learner, being able to discuss these social topics is crucial for professional work or academic discussions in Korea. Let’s learn how to express your sophisticated thoughts in Korean!

Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to help you sound like a knowledgeable global citizen.

1. 지속가능한 발전 (Sustainable development)

• Pronunciation: [Jisok-ganeunghan baljeon]
• English Meaning: Sustainable development
• Detail: This is the direct translation of SDGs. It is a formal term often used in news, reports, or serious discussions about the future. You can use it as “지속가능한 미래” (sustainable future) as well.
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘지속가능한’ is pronounced [지소까능한].
  • Why? This is due to the Tensing (경음화) rule. When the final consonant ‘ㄱ(k)’ is followed by ‘ㄱ’, ‘ㄷ’, ‘ㅂ’, ‘ㅅ’, ‘ㅈ’, the second sound becomes tensed (double consonant sound). Here, although ‘ㄱ’ meets ‘ㄱ’ inside the compound word logic, it naturally flows to emphasize the ‘可 (ga)’ slightly stronger in speech flow, but more importantly, linking (연음) happens first: ‘지속’ + ‘가능’. In fast speech, it flows smoothly.
  • Correction: Actually, the most prominent rule here is simple Linking. ‘지속’ ends in ‘ㄱ’, followed by ‘가’. It sounds like [지소까능한] or [지소카능한] depending on emphasis, but standardly [지소까능한] due to the compound word nature reinforcing the sound.

2. 선한 영향력 (Positive influence / Good influence)

• Pronunciation: [Seonhan yeong-hyang-nyeok]
• English Meaning: Positive influence / Good influence
• Detail: This is a super trendy phrase in Korea right now! It refers to using one’s power or popularity to help others or the environment. If a celebrity donates or a YouTuber promotes eco-friendly products, we say “They are spreading 선한 영향력.”
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘영향력’ is pronounced [영향녁].
  • This is the Nasalization (비음화) rule specifically involving ‘ㄹ’. When the liquid sound ‘ㄹ(l/r)’ follows the velar nasal ‘ㅇ(ng)’, the ‘ㄹ’ changes to the nasal sound ‘ㄴ(n)’.
  • So, it is not [yeong-hyang-ryeok] but [yeong-hyang-nyeok]. Try to say it through your nose!

3. -에 기여하다 (To contribute to…)

• Pronunciation: [-e giyeohada]
• English Meaning: To contribute to [noun]
• Detail: This is a high-level verb essential for job interviews or presentations. It implies making a significant addition or helping cause a result.
  • Example: 지역 사회 발전에 기여하다 (To contribute to the development of the local community).
• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  • ‘기여하다’ is pronounced [기여하다] clearly, but in fast speech, the ‘ㅎ’ sound often becomes weak.
  • However, be careful with the particle ‘-에’. Since ‘기여하다’ is an intransitive verb structure here (contributing to somewhere), you must use -에 (for inanimate targets/places).

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a conversation about a recent trend.
(Context: Min-ji and Daniel are talking about a “Plogging” event—jogging while picking up litter—which is popular in Korea.)

Min-ji: 다니엘 씨, 이번 주말에 한강에서 열리는 ‘플로깅(Plogging)’ 행사에 같이 갈래요?
(Daniel, would you like to go to the ‘Plogging’ event at the Han River this weekend?)

Daniel: 아, 쓰레기를 주우면서 달리는 거요? 좋아요! 환경 보호를 실천할 수 있는 좋은 기회네요.
(Ah, running while picking up trash? Sounds good! It’s a great opportunity to put environmental protection into action.)

Min-ji: 맞아요. 요즘은 이렇게 개인의 작은 행동이 모여서 지속가능한 발전을 만든다고 생각해요.
(That’s right. I think these small individual actions come together to create sustainable development these days.)

Daniel: 동감해요. 우리도 참여해서 친구들에게 선한 영향력을 보여줍시다! 그리고 지역 사회에 기여하는 인증샷도 찍고요.
(I agree. Let’s participate and show our friends some positive influence! And let’s take a proof shot of us contributing to the local community.)

Culture Tip & Trend Analysis

🌏 “Yonggi-nae” (용기내) Challenge & Value Consumption

In the dialogue, Daniel mentioned “positive influence.” In Korea, the MZ generation (Millennials and Gen Z) heavily focuses on “Value Consumption” (가치 소비). They prefer to buy from companies that respect the environment and society.

One massive trend related to this is the “Yonggi-nae” (용기내) Challenge.
* Double Meaning: “Yonggi” (용기) means both “Courage” and “Container.”
* The Trend: It means “Have the courage to bring your own container” to pack food instead of using disposable plastic.

If you bring your own container to a restaurant or cafe in Korea and say, “I want to practice being a global citizen,” the owner might give you extra service (service food) because they appreciate your 선한 영향력 (positive influence)!

Conclusion & Practice

Today, we learned how to discuss Global Citizenship and SDGs using professional Korean expressions. Being able to explain how you contribute to society is a key skill for advanced learners!

📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blank with the correct expression we learned today.

“BTS has spread _________ around the world by speaking at the UN about future generations.”
(“BTS는 UN에서 미래 세대에 대해 연설하며 전 세계에 [ __________ ]을/를 전파했습니다.”)

1. 지속가능한 발전
2. 선한 영향력
3. 기여하다

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

Don’t be afraid to use these “big words.” They will make you sound very sophisticated and culturally aware.

Leave a comment below using “기여하다” (to contribute)!
Example: 저는 한국어 공부를 열심히 해서 한글 알리기에 기여하고 싶어요.

See you in the next lesson!