Beyond ‘The End’: How to Write A+ Conclusions in Korean!

Hello! This is [Daily Hangul], here to upgrade your Korean skills!

Ever stared at a blank page, wondering how to write a powerful final paragraph for your Korean essay or report? You’re not alone! The conclusion is your last chance to impress your professor, but it can be the hardest part to write.

But don’t worry! Today, we’re going to learn how to write killer conclusions that will make your academic writing shine. This is super useful for anyone studying at a Korean university or writing formal documents.

Speaking of studying, have you heard of the term ‘갓생’ (God-saeng)? It’s a huge trend among young Koreans, and it means living a ‘godly,’ productive, and exemplary life. Acing your studies is a huge part of ‘갓생’, and a strong conclusion is your secret weapon for getting that A+!

Let’s learn some key phrases to wrap up your reports like a pro.

Core Expressions for a Powerful Conclusion

Here are three essential phrases that will instantly make your conclusions sound more academic and persuasive.

1. 요약하자면 (Yoyakajamyeon)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: Yo-yak-ha-ja-myeon
• English Meaning: In summary / To summarize…
• Detailed Explanation: This is the classic, formal way to begin your concluding paragraph. It’s a clear signal to your reader that you are about to summarize the main arguments of your paper. It’s formed from the verb 요약하다 (yoyakhada), meaning “to summarize,” and the grammar pattern -(으)자면 (-(eu)jamyeon), which means “if one intends to…”

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  When the consonant ‘ㄱ’ (g/k) comes between two vowels, like in 하자면 (hajamyeon), it often softens. Instead of a hard ‘k’, aim for a softer ‘g’ sound. Try to say the whole phrase smoothly: [요야카자면 | yo-ya-ka-ja-myeon].

2. …다는 점에서 의의가 있다 (…daneun jeomeseo uiuiga itda)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: …da-neun jeom-e-seo ui-ui-ga it-da
• English Meaning: It is significant in that… / It holds significance from the point that…

• Detailed Explanation: This is a fantastic, high-level expression for stating the importance or contribution of your research. 의의 (uiui) means “significance,” and this structure allows you to pinpoint exactly why your work matters. Using this will definitely impress your professor!

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  The word 의의 [uiui] can be a little tricky!

  • The first syllable 의 (ui) is a diphthong, a glide from ‘으’ (eu) to ‘이’ (i).
  • However, when ‘의’ is not the first syllable of a word, it’s usually pronounced simply as 이 (i).
  • So, 의의 is pronounced more like [의이 | ui-i]. It sounds much more natural than trying to say [ui-ui]. Give it a try: [의이가 있다 | ui-i-ga it-da].

3. …-(으)ㄹ 것으로 기대된다 (…-(eu)l geoseuro gidaedoenda)

• Pronunciation [Romanization]: …-(eu)l geo-seu-ro gi-dae-doen-da
• English Meaning: It is expected that… / It is anticipated that…
• Detailed Explanation: This phrase is perfect for looking to the future. Use it to suggest the potential impact of your findings, propose future research, or offer a positive outlook. It uses a passive voice (기대되다, to be expected), which makes your writing sound more objective and academic, rather than just a personal opinion.

• 💡 Pronunciation Tip:
  In 것으로 (geoseuro), the final consonant ‘ㅅ’ (s) in ‘것’ links to the next syllable that starts with ‘ㅇ’ (a silent placeholder). So, instead of geot-euro, the ‘ㅅ’ sound moves over, and it’s pronounced smoothly as [거스로 | geo-seu-ro]. This linking rule (called 연음 | yeoneum) is fundamental in Korean!

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how two university students, Sophie and Minjun, might use these phrases while working on a report about the global popularity of a K-drama like “Queen of Tears.”

• Sophie: 민준아, 내 레포트 결론 부분 좀 봐줄래? 어떻게 마무리해야 할지 모르겠어.
  • Minjun-a, nae repoteu gyeollon bubun jom bwajullae? Eotteoke mamurihaeya halji moreugesseo.
  • (Minjun, can you look at my report’s conclusion? I’m not sure how to wrap it up.)
• Minjun: 음… 먼저 “요약하자면, ‘눈물의 여왕’은 국경을 초월한 사랑이라는 보편적 주제를 다루어 성공했다.” 이렇게 시작해 봐.
  • Eum… meonjeo “Yoyakajamyeon, ‘Nunmurui Yeowang’-eun gukgyeong-eul chowolhan sarang-iraneun bopyeonjeok jujereul darueo seonggonghaetda.” Ireoke sijakae bwa.
  • (Hmm… First, try starting with, “In summary, ‘Queen of Tears’ succeeded by dealing with the universal theme of love that transcends borders.”)
• Sophie: 좋은 생각이다! 그리고 이 드라마의 문화적 중요성을 강조하고 싶은데…
  • Joeun saenggagida! Geurigo i deuramaui munhwajeok jung-yoseong-eul gangjohago sipeunde…
  • (Good idea! And I want to emphasize the cultural significance of this drama…)
• Minjun: 그럼 “전 세계 시청자들에게 한국의 현대적인 감성을 알렸다는 점에서 의의가 있다” 같은 문장을 추가하면 어때?
  • Geureom “jeon segye sicheongjadeul-ege hangugui hyeondaejeogin gamseong-eul allyeotdaneun jeomeseo uiuiga itda” gateun munjang-eul chugahamyeon eottae?
  • (Then how about adding a sentence like, “It is significant in that it introduced modern Korean sensibilities to a global audience”?)
• Sophie: 와, 완벽해! 마지막으로 “앞으로도 한국 드라마의 영향력이 커질 것으로 기대된다“라고 쓰면 되겠다. 고마워!
  • Wa, wanbyeokae! Majimageuro “apeurodo hanguk deuramaui yeonghyangnyeog-i keojil geoseuro gidaedoenda“rago sseumyeon doegetda. Gomawo!
  • (Wow, perfect! For the final sentence, I’ll write, “It is expected that the influence of Korean dramas will continue to grow in the future.” Thanks!)

Culture Tip: Aim for a ‘갓생’ Report!

As we mentioned, 갓생 (God-saeng) is all about living a smart, productive life. In the context of academic work, this means going beyond just translating your ideas. Using formal, structured phrases like the ones we learned today shows your professor that you understand the conventions of Korean academic writing.

A strong Korean conclusion typically does three things:
1. Summarize: Briefly restate your main points (요약하자면).
2. State Significance: Explain why your work is important (…다는 점에서 의의가 있다).
3. Provide Outlook: Suggest future implications or research (…-(으)ㄹ 것으로 기대된다).

Avoid introducing totally new ideas or overly emotional language in your conclusion. A clear, logical, and well-supported closing is the key to that ‘갓생’ A+!

Let’s Practice!

Ready to test your knowledge? Try these short exercises.

1. Fill in the blank:
   • 이 연구는 K-팝 팬덤 문화를 새로운 시각으로 분석했다(__________) 의의가 있다.
   • (This research is significant in that it analyzed K-pop fandom culture from a new perspective.)
2. Sentence Building:
   • Imagine you wrote a report on the benefits of using Korean webtoons for language learning. Write a final sentence using …-(으)ㄹ 것으로 기대된다.

Great job today! Writing a conclusion is no longer a scary task, right? You’ve got this!

Try using one of today’s expressions to write a concluding sentence in the comments below! We can’t wait to see your amazing work.