Hello! This is Daily Hangeul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Ever wondered how to tell your colleagues or clients in Korean that you’re on a well-deserved break? Today, we’re going to learn how to set up a simple and professional “Out of Office” auto-reply email. This is super useful whether you’re working in a Korean company, studying abroad, or just want to sound like a pro.
Lately in Korea, “work-life balance” (워라밸 – worabel) is a huge topic. More and more people are making sure to take proper vacations and disconnect. So, let’s learn how to politely let everyone know you’re enjoying your time off, the Korean way!
Core Expressions You Need to Know
Here are three essential phrases for your Korean “Out of Office” message.
1. 부재중 (bujaejung)
- Pronunciation [bu-jae-jung]
- English Meaning: Absent / Out of Office
- Detailed Explanation: This is the key term for any “out of office” situation. It’s a formal word made from three parts: 부 (bu) meaning ‘not’, 재 (jae) meaning ‘to exist’ or ‘be present’, and 중 (jung) meaning ‘in the middle of’. So, it literally means “in the middle of being not present.” It’s the perfect formal word for an email subject line or body.
-
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Each syllable in 부-재-중 is pronounced clearly and evenly. There are no tricky sound changes here, so you can say it just as it’s written!
2. 휴가 중입니다 (Hyuga jung-imnida)
- Pronunciation [hyu-ga jung-im-ni-da]
- English Meaning: I am on vacation.
-
Detailed Explanation: This is a polite and complete sentence to explain why you are out of office. 휴가 (hyuga) means ‘vacation’. We already learned 중 (jung) means ‘in the middle of’. The ending -입니다 (imnida) is the formal way to say “am/is/are.” It’s the most standard and polite way to state your status in a work email.
-
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
Pay close attention to 입니다 (imnida). Even though it’s written with a ‘ㅂ’ (b) sound, when it comes before a ‘ㄴ’ (n) sound, it changes to a soft ‘ㅁ’ (m) sound. This is a very common Korean pronunciation rule called ‘nasalization’. So, instead of saying “ip-ni-da,” you should say [im-ni-da] to sound like a native speaker. It makes the pronunciation much smoother!
3. 담당자 (damdangja)
- Pronunciation [dam-dang-ja]
- English Meaning: The person in charge / The contact person
-
Detailed Explanation: This word is your best friend when you’re away! It tells people who to contact for urgent matters. 담당 (damdang) means ‘in charge’ and 자 (ja) means ‘person’. You can use this to redirect inquiries smoothly. Example: “김민준 담당자” (Contact person, Kim Minjun).
-
💡 Pronunciation Tip:
The ‘ㄷ’ (d) sound in Korean is somewhere between an English ‘d’ and ‘t’. Try to make the sound without a strong puff of air. Pronounce it clearly: dam-dang-ja.
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a real conversation. Imagine two colleagues, Minjun and Sora, are chatting before a holiday.
A (Sora): 민준 씨, 제주도 휴가 기대돼요!
Minjun-ssi, Jejudo hyuga gidaedwaeyo!
(Minjun, I’m so excited for my vacation to Jeju Island!)
B (Minjun): 와, 좋겠어요! 이메일 자동 회신 설정했어요?
Wa, jokkesseoyo! Email jadong hoesin seoljeonghaesseoyo?
(Wow, that sounds great! Did you set up your email auto-reply?)
A (Sora): 네! “저는 지금 휴가 중입니다. 급한 일은 박서준 담당자에게 연락주세요.” 라고 썼어요.
Ne! “Jeoneun jigeum hyuga jung-imnida. Geupan ireun Park Seojun damdangja-ege yeollakjuseyo.” rago sseosseoyo.
(Yes! I wrote, “I am currently on vacation. For urgent matters, please contact the person in charge, Park Seojun.”)
B (Minjun): 완벽해요! 잘 다녀오세요!
Wanbyeokaeyo! Jal danyeooseyo!
(Perfect! Have a great trip!)
Culture Tip: Understanding “Worabel” (워라밸)
As we mentioned, 워라밸 (Worabel) is a huge cultural keyword in modern Korea, especially among the MZ generation (Millennials + Gen Z). It’s a Konglish (Korean-style English) abbreviation of “Work-Life Balance.”
In the past, Korean work culture was known for long hours. But now, there’s a strong movement towards protecting personal time, enjoying hobbies, and taking proper vacations. Setting a clear 부재중 (bujaejung) message is seen as a professional and responsible part of this new culture. It shows that you respect your own time and are also helping your team by directing urgent work to the correct 담당자 (damdangja). So when you use these phrases, you’re not just speaking Korean—you’re participating in a modern Korean cultural trend!
Let’s Wrap It Up & Practice!
Great job today! You’ve learned the essential vocabulary to create a polite and professional Korean “Out of Office” email. You now know:
- 부재중 (bujaejung): Out of Office
- 휴가 중입니다 (hyuga jung-imnida): I am on vacation.
- 담당자 (damdangja): Person in charge
Ready for a quick quiz? Try filling in the blanks below to complete a simple auto-reply message.
안녕하세요. 저는 9월 5일까지 [ A. _________ ]입니다. 급한 용무는 이지은 [ B. _________ ]에게 연락 주세요. 감사합니다.
(Hello. I am [ A. on vacation ] until September 5th. For urgent matters, please contact the [ B. person in charge ], Lee Jieun. Thank you.)
What words go into blanks A and B? Leave your answers in the comments below! Try making your own “out of office” sentence, too
