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Title: War & Ethics: Advanced Korean Debate
Introduction:
Hello! This is [Daily Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills to a professional level!
Today, we are diving into a rather serious but intellectually stimulating topic: Major Theories in Ethics, specifically focusing on Just War Theory (Jus ad Bellum & Jus in Bello).
You might be thinking, “Is this too difficult?” But actually, if you turn on a Korean news channel or watch popular debate programs like 100-Minute Debate (100분 토론), these are the exact words experts use to discuss global conflicts. Recently, with various international conflicts making headlines, Korean netizens and intellectuals are actively debating the “justification of power” and “humanitarian rules.” Mastering these expressions will allow you to participate in high-level discussions about current affairs and showcase your C1-level proficiency.
Let’s learn how to express sophisticated thoughts on war and peace in Korean!
Core Expressions (Key Vocabulary & Grammar)
Here are 4 key expressions to help you discuss the ethics of war.
1. 전쟁의 정당성 (Justification of War)
- Pronunciation: [Jeonjaeng-ui jeongdangsseong]
- English Meaning: Justification of war / Legitimacy of war
- Detail: This refers to Jus ad Bellum (the right to go to war). It is used when discussing whether a country had a valid reason (like self-defense) to start a conflict. It is a formal term used in academic or political contexts.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘성’ becomes [sseong]: Even though it is written as ‘jeong-dang-seong’, it is pronounced as [정당썽]. This is a phenomenon called Tensification (Doensori), where certain sounds harden in Sino-Korean words to emphasize the meaning.
2. 최후의 수단 (Last Resort)
- Pronunciation: [Choehu-ui sudan] OR [Choehu-e sudan]
- English Meaning: Last resort
- Detail: A core condition of Just War Theory. It implies that all diplomatic and peaceful efforts must be exhausted before military action is taken. You can use this in business or daily life too, when you have no other choice.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- ‘의’ pronounced as [e]: The possessive particle ‘의’ (ui) is officially pronounced [ui], but in spoken Korean, it is very often pronounced as [e]. So, saying [최후에 수단] sounds much more natural and fluent!
3. 민간인 피해 (Civilian Casualties/Damage)
- Pronunciation: [Minganin pihae]
- English Meaning: Civilian casualties / Harm to civilians
- Detail: This relates to Jus in Bello (conduct during war). In news reports, you will hear this phrase constantly. It emphasizes that war should not target non-combatants.
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Liaison (Linking): When ‘민간인’ is spoken fast, the ‘ㄴ’ (n) in ‘간’ moves over to ‘인’. It sounds like [민가닌]. Smoothly linking these sounds is the key to sounding like a native speaker.
4. 침략 (Invasion / Aggression)
- Pronunciation: [Chimnyak]
- English Meaning: Invasion / Aggression
- Detail: This is the act of attacking another country without just cause. It is the opposite of ‘Self-Defense’ (정당방위).
- 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
- Nasalization: This is a tricky one! Written as ‘Chim-ryak’, but pronounced [Chim-nyak].
- Why? When the final consonant ‘ㅁ’ (m) meets the initial consonant ‘ㄹ’ (r/l), the ‘ㄹ’ changes to an ‘ㄴ’ (n) sound for easier pronunciation.
- Example: 심리학 (Psychology) is pronounced [simnihak], not [simrihak].
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a conversation between two colleagues discussing a recent news segment.
Min-ji: 어제 뉴스 봤어요? 그 나라의 침략 행위 때문에 국제 사회가 난리가 났더라고요.
(Did you see the news yesterday? The international community is in an uproar because of that country’s act of invasion.)
Mark: 네, 봤어요. 아무리 생각해도 전쟁의 정당성을 찾기 어려운 것 같아요.
(Yes, I saw it. No matter how much I think about it, it seems hard to find any justification for the war.)
Min-ji: 맞아요. 무력 사용은 정말 최후의 수단이어야 하는데 말이죠.
(Exactly. The use of force should really be a last resort.)
Mark: 무엇보다 민간인 피해가 계속 늘어나고 있어서 그게 제일 걱정이에요.
(Above all, civilian casualties keep increasing, and that’s what worries me the most.)
Culture Tip & Trend Analysis
🇰🇷 The Importance of “Myeongbun” (명분 – Moral Justification)
In Korean culture and history, the concept of ‘Myeongbun’ (명분) is incredibly important. It translates roughly to “moral justification” or “pretext.”
Historically, even kings could not act without a proper Myeongbun. In modern Korea, this cultural trait remains. When discussing politics, social issues, or even business decisions, Koreans often ask, “명분이 무엇입니까?” (What is the justification?).
Therefore, when you discuss war ethics using words like 전쟁의 정당성 (Justification of war), you are tapping into this deep-rooted cultural value. Korean listeners will appreciate that you aren’t just talking about “winning or losing,” but discussing the moral basis of the action.
Trend Alert: Recently, Korean dramas dealing with geopolitical conflicts (like Designated Survivor: 60 Days) have made these terms very familiar to the general public. Using them makes you sound intellectually engaged with current trends!
Conclusion & Practice
Today, we explored high-level vocabulary related to War Ethics. We learned how to discuss the justification of war, the protection of civilians, and the pronunciation rules that make these difficult words flow smoothly.
📝 Mini Quiz:
Fill in the blanks with the expressions we learned today!
- Diplomatic efforts failed, so military action was chosen as the __________ (last resort).
(외교적 노력이 실패해서 군사 행동이 ______(으)로 선택되었습니다.) -
International law strictly forbids targeting civilians to prevent __________ (civilian casualties).
(국제법은 ______을/를 막기 위해 민간인 공격을 엄격히 금지합니다.)
(Answers: 1. 최후의 수단, 2. 민간인 피해)
Did you get them right? These expressions will help you understand Korean news and participate in deep conversations. If you have any questions about these terms, please leave a comment below!
See you next time on Daily Hangeul!
