Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], your daily stop for upgrading your Korean skills!
Today, we’re tackling a very important and modern topic: how to talk about privacy and the protection of personal information (개인정보 보호). This is super useful whether you’re reading the news, discussing social issues with Korean friends, or just want to understand the digital world better.
Especially nowadays in Korea, a hyper-digital society, conversations about data leaks, AI tracking, and online privacy are happening everywhere. So, let’s learn how to express your opinion on this serious issue like a pro!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are the key phrases to get you started in any conversation about privacy.
1. 개인정보 유출 (Gaeinjeongbo yuchul)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gae-in-jeong-bo yu-chul
- English Meaning: Personal information leak / data breach
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most common and direct term you’ll see in news headlines and hear in discussions about data security. 개인정보 (gaeinjeongbo) means ‘personal information’, and 유출 (yuchul) means ‘leak’ or ‘spill’. It refers to any situation where private data is exposed without permission.
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💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The character ‘ㅊ’ (ch) in 유출 (yuchul) is an “aspirated” sound. This means you should release a strong puff of air as you say it, similar to the ‘ch’ in “chart”. It’s stronger than the ‘ㅈ’ (j) sound. Practice making a clear, airy ‘ch’ sound!
2. …는/은 심각한 문제예요 (…neun/eun simgakhan munjeyeyo)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: …neun/eun sim-ga-kan mun-je-ye-yo
- English Meaning: …is a serious problem.
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Detailed Explanation: This is a fantastic pattern for expressing your opinion. You can place any noun before it to state that you think it’s a serious issue. Use -은 (eun) after a noun ending in a consonant and -는 (neun) after a noun ending in a vowel. 심각하다 (simgakada) means ‘to be serious’, and 문제 (munje) is ‘problem’.
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💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Listen closely to 문제예요 [munjeyeyo]. This is a great example of 연음 (yeoneum), or ‘linking’. The vowel ‘ㅖ’ (ye) in ‘예요’ doesn’t have its own consonant, so the final consonant ‘ㅔ’ (e) from ‘문제’ just smoothly flows into it. You don’t pause between “munje” and “yeyo”. It becomes one smooth sound: [mun-je-ye-yo].
3. 동의 없이 (Dong-ui eopsi)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Dong-ui eop-si
- English Meaning: Without consent / without permission
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Detailed Explanation: This phrase is crucial in privacy discussions. 동의 (dong-ui) means ‘consent’ or ‘agreement’, and 없이 (eopsi) means ‘without’. You can use this to describe an action that was taken without someone’s permission, like “They used my photo without consent” (제 사진을 동의 없이 썼어요).
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💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The final consonant in 없이 is ‘ㅄ’, but you only pronounce the ‘ㅂ’ part as a [p] sound. However, because it’s followed by ‘이’, the ‘ㅅ’ sound gets carried over and becomes a strong, tensed sound, like ‘ss’. So, the actual pronunciation is [업씨, eop-ssi]. This is a common rule for complex final consonants followed by a vowel.
4. 조심해야 돼요 (Josimhaeya dwaeyo)
- Pronunciation [Romanization]: Jo-sim-hae-ya dwae-yo
- English Meaning: We/You have to be careful.
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Detailed Explanation: This phrase uses the grammar pattern -아야/어야 되다/하다 (aya/eoya doeda/hada), which means ‘must’ or ‘have to’. 조심하다 (josimhada) means ‘to be careful’. It’s a perfect way to give advice or state a general necessity when talking about protecting your information.
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💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The middle part, 해야 (haeya), is a contraction of 하여야 (hayŏya). In everyday speech, Koreans almost always shorten it to 해야 (haeya). It makes the sentence flow much more naturally.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation. Imagine two friends, A and B, talking about a recent news story.
A: Did you see the news? The data from that new delivery app was hacked.
혹시 뉴스 봤어? 그 새로운 배달 앱 데이터가 해킹당했대.
B: Really? 개인정보 유출 is such a 심각한 문제예요.
진짜? 개인정보 유출은 정말 심각한 문제예요.
A: I heard they were collecting user location data 동의 없이.
사용자 위치 정보를 동의 없이 수집하고 있었다고 들었어.
B: Wow, that’s scary. We really 조심해야 돼요 when we download new apps.
와, 무섭다. 새로운 앱 다운받을 때 진짜 조심해야 돼요.
🔒 Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In South Korea, a world leader in technology and internet speed, the concept of privacy is a constant balancing act.
- The “All-Powerful” ID Number: Almost every Korean citizen has a 주민등록번호 (jumin-deungnok-beonho), or Resident Registration Number. Historically, this number was used for everything from opening a bank account to signing up for a website. Because of this, a single data breach can be incredibly damaging, making Koreans especially sensitive to 개인정보 유출.
- K-Pop & “Sasaeng” Culture: If you follow K-pop, you know how fiercely fans and agencies protect idols’ privacy. The debate around “sasaeng fans” (obsessive fans who invade an idol’s privacy) is a major social issue, often bringing phrases like 동의 없이 and 사생활 침해 (sasaenghwal chimhae – invasion of privacy) into the spotlight.
- Z-Generation Awareness: Korean Gen Z is highly aware of their digital footprint. Many use “부계 (bugye),” or secondary accounts on social media, to separate their public and private lives, showing a proactive approach to managing their 개인정보.
✍️ Time to Practice!
Let’s check what you’ve learned. Fill in the blank with the correct phrase from today’s lesson.
Question: A company collected my email address and sent me ads __________. It’s a __________.
(회사가 제 이메일 주소를 __________ 광고를 보냈어요. 이건 __________.)
Hint: (without consent / serious problem)
Great job today! Protecting our information is important, and now you can talk about it in Korean.
Try making your own sentence using one of today’s expressions in the comments below! We’d love to see it.
