Hello! It’s Maeil Hangeul (매일한글), here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Today, we’re diving into a super relevant and important topic: Sustainable Tourism! Specifically, we’ll learn how to write a glowing, positive review for an eco-friendly hotel or guesthouse you’ve stayed at in Korea.
Lately in Korea, there’s a huge trend called ‘착한 여행’ (chak-han yeo-haeng), which translates to ‘Good Travel.’ People, especially the younger generation, are actively seeking out accommodations and experiences that are kind to the planet. Writing a thoughtful review not only helps the business but also shows you’re in tune with this modern Korean cultural shift. Let’s learn how to do it!
Key Expressions for Your 5-Star Eco-Review
Here are some fantastic phrases that will make your review sound natural and thoughtful.
1. 친환경 (chin-hwan-gyeong)
- Pronunciation: [chin-hwan-gyeong]
- English Meaning: Eco-friendly, environmentally friendly.
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most essential word for our topic! It’s a combination of 친 (chin), meaning ‘friendly’ or ‘pro-‘, and 환경 (hwan-gyeong), meaning ‘environment.’ You can use it before a noun to describe something as eco-friendly. For example,
친환경 호텔(eco-friendly hotel) or친환경 제품(eco-friendly products).
2. -(으)려는 노력이 돋보이다 (-(eu)ryeo-neun no-ryeog-i dot-bo-i-da)
- Pronunciation: [-(eu)ryeo-neun no-ryeo-gi dot-bo-i-da]
- English Meaning: The effort to (do something) stands out / is remarkable.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a brilliant, intermediate-level pattern to praise a specific action. It’s much more descriptive than just saying “it was good.” It shows you noticed and appreciated their specific efforts.
- Example: 플라스틱을 줄이려는 노력이 돋보였어요. (Their effort to reduce plastic was remarkable.)
- Example: 환경을 보호하려는 노력이 돋보이는 곳이에요. (It’s a place where the effort to protect the environment stands out.)
3. -에 감동받다 (-e gam-dong-bat-da)
- Pronunciation: [-e gam-dong-bat-da]
- English Meaning: To be moved by / to be impressed by.
- Detailed Explanation: Use this phrase when you want to express a strong, positive emotional reaction. It’s more powerful than just
좋아요(I like it). It implies that their actions touched your heart. You attach it to the noun that impressed you.- Example: 호텔의 친환경 정책에 감동받았어요. (I was moved by the hotel’s eco-friendly policy.)
- Example: 세심한 배려에 감동받았어요. (I was moved by their thoughtful consideration.)
Example Conversation
Let’s see how these expressions work in a natural conversation between two friends planning a trip.
A: 제주도 여행 어땠어? 숙소는 괜찮았어?
(How was your Jeju Island trip? Was the accommodation okay?)
B: 응, 정말 좋았어! 내가 묵었던 곳이 친환경 게스트하우스였거든.
(Yeah, it was amazing! The place I stayed was an eco-friendly guesthouse.)
A: 오, 진짜? 어떤 점이 특별했는데?
(Oh, really? What was special about it?)
B: 일회용품 대신 다회용기를 제공하더라고. 쓰레기를 줄이려는 노력이 돋보였어.
(They provided reusable containers instead of disposable ones. The effort to reduce waste was remarkable.)
A: 와, 멋지다. 그런 곳을 보면 기분이 좋더라.
(Wow, that’s cool. I feel good when I see places like that.)
B: 맞아. 사장님의 그런 철학에 감동받아서 일부러 후기도 길게 남겼어.
(I know, right? I was so moved by the owner’s philosophy that I intentionally left a long review.)
Culture Tip: The ‘가치 소비’ (Value-Based Consumption) Trend
The ‘Good Travel’ trend is part of a larger movement in Korea called 가치 소비 (ga-chi so-bi).
- 가치 (gachi) means “value,” and 소비 (sobi) means “consumption.” Together, it means spending money not just on the quality or price of a product, but on the values it represents. This includes environmental impact, ethical production, and social responsibility.
-
When you write a review praising a hotel’s eco-friendly efforts, you are participating in and encouraging this culture of
가치 소비. Korean MZ generation (Millennials & Gen Z) actively shares their가치 소비experiences on Instagram and blogs using hashtags like #착한여행 (Good Travel), #친환경숙소 (eco-friendly accommodation), and #가치소비. Mentioning these concepts in your review shows a deep understanding of modern Korean culture!
Wrap-up & Your Turn!
Great job today! We learned some fantastic expressions to write meaningful reviews for sustainable places in Korea:
- 친환경 (Eco-friendly)
- -(으)려는 노력이 돋보이다 (The effort to… stands out)
- -에 감동받다 (To be moved by…)
Now, let’s practice!
Practice Question:
Imagine you stayed at a guesthouse that provided locally-sourced, organic food for breakfast. How would you write a short sentence praising them using one of the expressions we learned today?
Leave your answer in the comments below! We’d love to see you put your new Korean skills to use. Happy learning
