Hello! Welcome to Maeil Hangul, here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s essential for understanding global news and business: international trade! Specifically, we’ll learn how to talk about a major trade bloc like the European Union (EU) in Korean. Lately in Korea, there’s a lot of talk about global partnerships and economic agreements, so knowing these terms will make you sound like a pro when reading the news or discussing current events.
Key Expressions for Trade Talk
Let’s learn the essential vocabulary you need to discuss international trade like a native.
1. 유럽 연합 (European Union)
* Pronunciation [Romanization]: Yureop Yeonhap
* English Meaning: European Union
* Detailed Explanation: This is the official Korean name for the EU. ‘유럽’ (Yureop) means Europe, and ‘연합’ (Yeonhap) means union or alliance. You will see this term frequently in Korean news articles about international politics and economics.
* 💡 Pronunciation Tip: In ‘유럽’ (Yureop), the final ‘ㅂ’ (b) sound is a soft ‘p’ sound. For ‘연합’ (Yeonhap), the ‘ㅎ’ (h) is very light, almost silent, after the ‘ㄴ’ (n) sound, making it sound more like [Yeonap].
2. 무역 협정 (Trade Agreement)
* Pronunciation [Romanization]: Muyeok Hyeopjeong
* English Meaning: Trade Agreement
* Detailed Explanation: This refers to any formal agreement between countries regarding trade. A very common related term is 자유무역협정 (Jayu Muyeok Hyeopjeong), which means Free Trade Agreement (FTA).
* 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The word ‘협정’ (Hyeopjeong) is pronounced more like [Hyeopjjeong]. The initial ‘ㅈ’ (j) sound becomes a tense, or double, ‘ㅉ’ (jj) sound after a consonant like ‘ㅂ’ (p). This is a common sound change called ‘된소리되기’ (doensori-doegi) or ‘tensing’.
3. 단일 시장 (Single Market)
* Pronunciation [Romanization]: Danil Sijang
* English Meaning: Single Market
* Detailed Explanation: This is a key concept when discussing the EU. It refers to a market where goods, services, capital, and people can move freely without tariffs or barriers. ‘단일’ (Danil) means single or unified, and ‘시장’ (Sijang) means market.
* 💡 Pronunciation Tip: In ‘단일’ (Danil), the ‘ㄴ’ (n) sound at the end of the first syllable links smoothly to the vowel ‘ㅣ’ (i) in the next, making it sound like [da-nil]. Don’t pause between the syllables!
4. 관세 동맹 (Customs Union)
* Pronunciation [Romanization]: Gwanse Dongmaeng
* English Meaning: Customs Union
* Detailed Explanation: This describes a group of countries that have agreed to eliminate tariffs among themselves and apply a common external tariff to imports from non-member countries. ‘관세’ (Gwanse) means tariff, and ‘동맹’ (Dongmaeng) means alliance.
* 💡 Pronunciation Tip: The vowel ‘ㅐ’ in ‘맹’ (maeng) is pronounced like the ‘a’ in ‘apple’. Make sure to distinguish it from ‘ㅔ’ (e).
Example Dialogue
Let’s see how these words are used in a real conversation!
A: 한국이랑 유럽 연합 사이에 새로운 무역 협정이 체결된 거 들었어요?
(Hangug-irang Yureop Yeonhap sa-i-e saeroun muyeok hyeopjeong-i chegyeol-doen geo deur-eoss-eoyo?)
A: Did you hear that a new trade agreement was signed between Korea and the European Union?
B: 네, 들었어요. 유럽 연합은 거대한 단일 시장이라서 양국 경제에 큰 도움이 될 거예요.
(Ne, deur-eoss-eoyo. Yureop Yeonhap-eun geodaehan danil sijang-iraseo yangguk gyeongje-e keun doum-i doel geo-yeyo.)
B: Yes, I heard. The EU is a huge single market, so it will be a great help to both countries’ economies.
A: 맞아요. 그리고 관세 동맹이라서 무역 절차가 더 간단해지겠네요.
(Maj-ayo. Geurigo gwanse dongmaeng-iraseo muyeok jeolcha-ga deo gandan-haejigenneyo.)
A: That’s right. And since it’s a customs union, the trade procedures will become simpler.
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
As a major global trading partner, Korea’s economy is deeply connected to international agreements. You’ll constantly see the term ‘한-EU FTA’ (Han-EU FTA) in the news. ‘한’ (Han) is short for ‘한국’ (Hanguk), meaning Korea. So, it literally means the ‘Korea-EU FTA’. Understanding these acronyms and the underlying concepts like ‘단일 시장’ will give you a much deeper insight into Korean news and business culture. When you see these terms, you’ll know that the discussion is about strengthening economic ties and creating opportunities for Korean companies abroad.
Let’s Practice!
Time to check your understanding!
- Fill in the blank: An agreement between countries about trade is called a ______ ______.
- How do you say ‘European Union’ in Korean?
Great job today! You’ve learned some advanced vocabulary that will definitely make you sound more fluent. Why not try making your own sentence with one of today’s expressions? Leave it in the comments below!
