Korean for Your Golden Years: How to Talk Retirement with Friends

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

Have you ever wondered how to talk about the future, not just next week’s plans, but your big life plans after retirement? Today, we’re diving into a topic that’s becoming increasingly important and exciting in Korea: retirement planning and sharing your dreams for your “second life” with friends.

These days in Korea, retirement isn’t seen as an end but as a vibrant new beginning. People talk about their “제2의 인생” (the second chapter of life), filled with new hobbies, travel, and passions. So, let’s learn the essential Korean phrases to join this inspiring conversation and sound like a local!

Key Expressions for Your Golden Years

Here are some essential phrases you can use when chatting with friends about retirement.

1. 노후 준비 (Nohu Junbi)

• Pronunciation: [no-hu jun-bi]
• English Meaning: Preparation for old age / Retirement planning
• Detailed Description: This is the most common and direct term for retirement planning. It covers everything from financial savings and investments to health and lifestyle plans. It’s a slightly formal but very common noun phrase you’ll hear in news reports, bank consultations, and everyday conversations among adults.

2. 제2의 인생 (Je-i-ui Insaeng)

• Pronunciation: [je-i-eui in-saeng]
• English Meaning: The second chapter of life
• Detailed Description: This is a beautiful and optimistic way to refer to life after retirement. It carries a nuance of starting fresh with new opportunities and dreams. Using this phrase shows you understand the modern, positive Korean perspective on aging. It literally means “the 2nd life.”

3. -(으)ㄹ까 생각 중이다 (-(eu)lkka saenggak jung-ida)

• Pronunciation: [-(eu)l-kka saeng-gak jung-i-da]
• English Meaning: I’m thinking of (doing)…
• Detailed Description: This grammar pattern is perfect for expressing tentative plans or ideas. It’s much softer and more natural than saying “I will do…” (-(으)ㄹ 것이다). You attach it to a verb stem. If the stem ends in a vowel, use -ㄹ까 생각 중이다 (e.g., 배우다 -> 배울까 생각 중이다). If it ends in a consonant, use -을까 생각 중이다 (e.g., 만들다 -> 만들까 생각 중이다).

4. 쏠쏠하다 (Ssolssolhada)

• Pronunciation: [ssol-ssol-ha-da]
• English Meaning: To be quite good; not bad at all; to be surprisingly profitable/enjoyable.
• Detailed Description: This is a fantastic descriptive verb (adjective) to express that something is better than expected, especially in terms of profit or fun. You can use it to describe a good part-time job, a high-interest savings account, or a fun hobby. It adds a very native-like flavor to your speech.

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions work in a real conversation between two friends, Minjun and Jiho, who have recently retired.

민준 (Minjun): 지호 씨, 퇴직하고 어떻게 지내요? 노후 준비는 잘 되고 있어요?
(Jiho, how have you been since retiring? Is your retirement planning going well?)

지호 (Jiho): 그냥 소소하게 지내요. 요즘 제2의 인생을 어떻게 보낼지 즐겁게 고민하고 있어요. 제주도에서 한 달 살아볼까 생각 중이에요.
(I’m just living a simple life. These days, I’m happily thinking about how to spend my second chapter of life. I’m thinking of trying to live on Jeju Island for a month.)

민준 (Minjun): 와, 정말 좋은 생각이네요! 저는 아들이 추천해 준 유튜브 채널을 보고 있는데, 은퇴한 분들이 자기 경험을 공유하는 게 아주 유익하더라고요.
(Wow, that’s a great idea! I’ve been watching a YouTube channel my son recommended, and it’s very informative to see other retirees sharing their experiences.)

지호 (Jiho): 맞아요! 제 친구도 취미로 시작한 목공예품을 온라인으로 파는데, 용돈벌이가 꽤 쏠쏠하다고 하더라고요. 우리도 뭔가 새로운 걸 시작해 봅시다!
(Exactly! My friend started selling his woodcrafts online as a hobby, and he said the pocket money he earns is quite good. Let’s start something new, too!)

Culture Tip: The Rise of the “Active Senior” in Korea

The conversation above perfectly reflects a major trend in Korea: the “Active Senior” (액티브 시니어) generation.

Gone are the days when retirement meant quietly staying home. Today’s Korean seniors are redefining what it means to age. They are traveling, learning new skills, starting businesses, and becoming social media stars! You’ll find popular YouTube channels run by grandparents sharing everything from life wisdom to the latest video game walkthroughs.

When you use a term like 제2의 인생 (the second chapter of life), you’re not just using a vocabulary word; you’re tapping into this dynamic cultural shift. It shows you see retirement not as an end, but as a launchpad for new adventures—a perspective that will surely impress your Korean friends!

Let’s Practice!

Time to check what you’ve learned. You can do it!

1. Fill in the blank:
   My friend said the interest from his savings account is (쏠쏠하다 / 제2의 인생).
   (Answer: 쏠쏠하다)

2. Make a sentence:
   Imagine you are retiring next year. What are you thinking of doing? Use the -(으)ㄹ까 생각 중이다 pattern to write your plan in Korean.
   (Example: 저는 기타를 배울까 생각 중이에요. – I’m thinking of learning guitar.)

You’ve learned some fantastic expressions to talk about future plans and retirement like a pro. Now it’s your turn!

Share your plans for your “second life” in the comments below using the phrases we learned today! We’d love to read them. Happy learning