From Numbers to Narrative: Summarize Data Like a Pro in Korean!
Hello! It’s [Maeil Hangeul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!
Have you ever needed to write a report or email for work in Korean? It can be a little intimidating, right? Especially when you have to present data or survey results clearly and professionally.
Well, you’re in luck! Lately in Korea, making decisions based on data is a huge trend in every industry, from K-pop agencies analyzing global fan preferences to tech companies developing new apps. Today, we’ll learn the essential phrases you need to summarize survey results like a true professional. Let’s turn that confusing data into a compelling story!
Core Expressions for Your Report
Here are the key phrases that will make your reports sound polished and professional.
1. ~에 따르면 (e ttareumyeon)
- Pronunciation: [e-tta-reu-myeon]
- English Meaning: According to…
- Detailed Explanation: This is the most standard and professional way to cite your source, whether it’s a survey, a news article, or a research paper. You simply attach it to the noun that is your source. It’s a must-know phrase for any formal or business writing.
설문조사 결과(survey result) +에 따르면-> 설문조사 결과에 따르면 (According to the survey results)뉴스(news) +에 따르면-> 뉴스에 따르면 (According to the news)
2. 가장 높은/낮은 응답을 보이다 (gajang nopeun/najeun eungdabeul boida)
- Pronunciation: [ga-jang nop-eun/na-jeun eung-dab-eul bo-i-da]
- English Meaning: To show the highest/lowest response.
- Detailed Explanation: This is a perfect set phrase for highlighting the most significant finding in your data. 가장 (gajang) means “most,” and 보이다 (boida) means “to show” or “to appear.” You can use this to point out the #1 choice or the least popular option.
3. 그 뒤를 이었다 (geu dwireul ieotda)
- Pronunciation: [geu dwi-reul i-eot-da]
- English Meaning: …was followed by…
- Detailed Explanation: After you’ve mentioned the top result, how do you talk about second and third place? This phrase is your answer! Literally, it means “followed its back.” It’s a smooth and natural way to list items in descending order of popularity or frequency.
4. 주목할 만한 점은 (jumokhal manhan jeomeun)
- Pronunciation: [ju-mok-hal man-han jeom-eun]
- English Meaning: A noteworthy point is… / What’s remarkable is…
- Detailed Explanation: Sometimes, the most interesting data isn’t the #1 result, but an unexpected trend. Use this phrase to draw attention to a surprising or important detail that your audience shouldn’t miss. It shows you have strong analytical skills!
Example Dialogue: At the Office
Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real work conversation. Two colleagues, Min-jun (a senior manager) and Ji-hye (a junior staff member), are discussing a recent survey on what international fans want from the next album of the K-pop group “ASTRO-NINE.”
A: 민준 (Min-jun)
지혜 씨, 아이돌 그룹 ‘아스트로나인’의 해외 팬 대상 앨범 컨셉 설문조사 결과 나왔나요?
(Ji-hye, are the results from the album concept survey for ASTRO-NINE’s international fans in yet?)
B: 지혜 (Ji-hye)
네, 팀장님. 방금 요약본 정리했습니다. 설문조사 결과에 따르면, ‘몽환적인 판타지 컨셉’이 45%로 가장 높은 응답을 보였습니다.
(Yes, Team Leader. I just finished the summary. According to the survey results, ‘dreamy fantasy concept’ showed the highest response with 45%.)
A: 민준 (Min-jun)
예상대로네요. 2위는 뭐였죠?
(That’s as expected. What was number two?)
B: 지혜 (Ji-hye)
‘강렬한 사이버펑크 컨셉’이 30%로 그 뒤를 이었습니다. 그런데 주목할 만한 점은, 3위를 차지한 ‘레트로 청춘 컨셉’이 10대 팬들에게서 압도적인 지지를 받았다는 것입니다.
(‘Intense cyberpunk concept’ followed that with 30%. However, a noteworthy point is that the third-place ‘retro youth concept’ received overwhelming support from teenage fans.)
A: 민준 (Min-jun)
오, 그건 흥미롭네요. 다음 마케팅 전략에 참고해야겠어요. 수고했어요.
(Oh, that’s interesting. We should consider that for our next marketing strategy. Good work.)
Culture Tip & Trend Deep Dive
In Korean work culture (회사 문화, hoesa munhwa), reports and presentations value clarity and efficiency. This is often called 보고 문화 (bogo munhwa), or “reporting culture.”
Your boss doesn’t want to read through pages of raw data; they want the key takeaways, fast. Using phrases like ~에 따르면 and 가장 높은 응답을 보였다 helps you get straight to the point. Adding 주목할 만한 점은 shows that you’re not just listing facts, but providing valuable insights—a skill highly prized in Korean companies. Mastering these phrases will make you look not just fluent, but also professionally competent!
Wrap-up & Practice Time!
Great job today! You’ve learned four key expressions to professionally summarize data in Korean.
- ~에 따르면: According to…
- 가장 높은 응답을 보였다: Showed the highest response.
- 그 뒤를 이었다: Was followed by…
- 주목할 만한 점은: A noteworthy point is…
Now, let’s put it into practice!
Quick Quiz: You conducted a survey on the most popular Korean drama genre among your friends. “Rom-com” was #1, and “Thriller” was #2. How would you write the second sentence?
- 로맨틱 코미디가 가장 높은 응답을 보였습니다. (Rom-com showed the highest response.)
- 스릴러가 ______________________. (Thriller…)
Fill in the blank and share your answer in the comments! Or, even better, try making your own full summary sentence using today’s expressions. I can’t wait to see what you come up with
