Talk Money in Korean Interviews!

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Today, we’re going to tackle a topic that can make anyone nervous: talking about money in a job interview! But don’t worry, after this lesson, you’ll be able to state your desired salary politely and confidently. Recently in Korea, as more global talents join the workforce, being clear about your expectations is becoming more important. Let’s learn how to do it like a pro!

Key Expressions You Need to Know

Here are three essential phrases for your next Korean job interview.

1. 연봉 (yeon-bong)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: yeon-bong
* English Meaning: Annual Salary
* Detailed Explanation: This is the most common word for “annual salary” in a professional context in Korea. When companies or interviewers talk about your pay, they will almost always use this word. It literally means “year’s salary.”

2. 희망 연봉 (hui-mang yeon-bong)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: hui-mang yeon-bong
* English Meaning: Desired Annual Salary
* Detailed Explanation: 희망 (huimang) means “hope” or “wish.” So, 희망 연봉 is the salary you hope to receive. This is the exact phrase an interviewer might use when asking about your expectations (e.g., “희망 연봉이 어떻게 되세요?”).

3. ~원 정도 생각하고 있습니다 (~won jeong-do saeng-gak-ha-go it-seum-ni-da)
* Pronunciation [Romanized]: ~won jeong-do saeng-gak-ha-go it-seum-ni-da
* English Meaning: I am thinking of around ~ won.
* Detailed Explanation: This is a fantastic, polite, and slightly flexible way to state your desired salary.
* ~원 (~won): The amount of money in Korean Won.
* 정도 (jeongdo): Means “about” or “around.” This makes your request sound less like a rigid demand.
* 생각하고 있습니다 (saenggak-hago itseumnida): The polite form of “I am thinking.” It’s softer than saying “I want.”

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real interview setting. Imagine you are applying for a marketing position.

• A: 면접관 (Myeon-jeob-gwan – Interviewer):
  김민준 씨, 희망 연봉은 어떻게 되시나요?
  (Mr. Minjun Kim, what are your salary expectations?)

• B: 지원자 (Ji-won-ja – Applicant):
  네, 저는 5,000만 원 정도 생각하고 있습니다.
  (Yes, I am thinking of around 50 million won.)

• A: 면접관 (Myeon-jeob-gwan – Interviewer):
  알겠습니다. 참고하겠습니다.
  (I understand. We will take that into consideration.)

Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive

In Korea, discussing salary used to be a bit sensitive. A very common and safe answer, especially for fresh graduates, was “회사 내규에 따르겠습니다” (hoe-sa nae-gyu-e tta-reu-get-seum-ni-da), which means “I will follow the company’s policy.”

However, the trend is changing! Especially in tech companies, startups, and international corporations, interviewers now expect you to have a clear number in mind. Researching the average salary for your role and experience level in Korea before the interview is a must. Using the phrase ~정도 생각하고 있습니다 shows that you’ve done your homework but are also open to negotiation. It strikes the perfect balance between being prepared and being flexible—a quality highly valued in the modern Korean workplace!

Wrap-up & Practice Time!

Great job! Today we learned how to talk about your desired salary in a Korean job interview. You now know 연봉 (annual salary), 희망 연봉 (desired salary), and the polite phrase ~원 정도 생각하고 있습니다 (I am thinking of around ~ won).

Now, let’s practice!

Quiz: You want to tell the interviewer that you are thinking of a salary of around 45 million won. How would you say it? Fill in the blank!

저는 [ ] 원 정도 생각하고 있습니다.

Leave your answer in the comments below using the expressions we learned today! Good luck with your job search! 화이팅! (Hwaiting! – You can do it!)