🤖 AI Robots: Friend or Foe? Debating in Korean!

👋 Hello! This is Daily Hangul (DailyHangul.com)!

Hello, K-culture fans! 🌟 Ready to upgrade your Korean skills today?

Today, we are diving into a slightly serious but very hot topic: Science and Technology. Have you seen the Korean sci-fi movie JUNG_E or the drama Are You Human Too?? 🤖

We often talk about AI and robots, but what about “Killer Robots” (Autonomous Weapons)? It sounds scary, but being able to express your opinion on these topics is a huge step forward in your Korean fluency! Let’s learn how to agree, disagree, and express concern in Korean. Let’s go! 🚀

🔑 Key Expressions

Here are 3 essential expressions to help you debate like a pro!

1. 반대해요 (I oppose / I disagree)

• Pronunciation: [Bandae-haeyo]
• Meaning: I oppose it / I disagree.
• Explanation: This is the polite way to say you are against something. If you want to say “I agree,” you can say 찬성해요 [Chanseong-haeyo]. You will hear these often in news or debate scenes in dramas!

2. 위험해요 (It’s dangerous)

• Pronunciation: [Wiheom-haeyo]
• Meaning: It is dangerous.
• Explanation: You use this when something feels unsafe. Whether it’s a fast car or a scary robot, this is the perfect adjective.

3. 책임 (Responsibility)

• Pronunciation: [Chaegim]
• Meaning: Responsibility
• Explanation: In ethical dilemmas, the biggest question is always “Who is responsible?” In Korean, “to take responsibility” is 책임을 지다 [Chaegim-eul jida].

💡 Pronunciation Tip: The Weak ‘ㅎ’

Let’s look at 위험해요 [Wiheom-haeyo].
In Korean, when the consonant ㅎ (h) is between vowels or voiced sounds, it often becomes very weak or silent.
– Written: 위-험-해-요 (Wi-heom-hae-yo)
– Actual Sound: [위어매요] (Wi-eo-mae-yo)
Don’t stress the ‘H’ sound too hard! Speaking softly makes you sound more natural. 🗣️

💬 Real Conversation

Imagine you are talking with your Korean friend, Jisoo, about a news report on AI weapons.

Jisoo: 뉴스 봤어? 킬러 로봇을 개발한대.
(Did you see the news? They say they are developing killer robots.)

You: 정말요? 저는 그거 반대해요.
(Really? I oppose that.)

Jisoo: 왜? 로봇이 싸우면 군인들은 안전하잖아.
(Why? If robots fight, soldiers are safe.)

You: 하지만 기계는 실수를 해요. 너무 위험해요.
(But machines make mistakes. It’s too dangerous.)

Jisoo: 맞지… 그럼 사고가 나면 누가 책임을 져?
(Right… Then if an accident happens, who takes responsibility?)

You: 그게 제일 큰 문제예요.
(That is the biggest problem.)

🇰🇷 Culture Tip

“IT Powerhouse Korea & Ethics”

Korea is known as an IT powerhouse (IT 강국), so people are very interested in new technology like AI and robots. However, Koreans also value community safety and moral responsibility highly.

When discussing sensitive topics in Korea, it is polite to start with ” 제 생각에는…” (In my opinion…) to soften your speech, rather than just stating facts bluntly. It shows respect for the other person’s view! 🙇‍♂️🙇‍♀️

📝 Wrap-up & Quiz

Today we learned how to talk about the ethical dilemma of technology! You can now say “It’s dangerous” and “I disagree.”

Let’s test your knowledge! (Answers are at the bottom)

1. How do you say “It is dangerous” in Korean?
   ( 위 _ _ 요 )

2. True or False: 반대해요 means “I agree.”
   ( O / X )

3. Fill in the blank: “Who takes ____?” (Who is responsible?)
   ( 누가 책 _ 을 져요? )

See you next time! 안녕! 👋

Answers:
1. 위험해요 (Wiheom-haeyo)
2. X (It means “I disagree/oppose”)
3. 책임 (Chaegim)