Is My Identity Stolen?! Key Korean Phrases for Cybersecurity

Hello! Welcome to [Maeil Hangeul], your daily boost for leveling up your Korean skills!

Have you ever received a suspicious text message asking for your personal details? It’s a scary thought! Today, we’re diving into a very important topic: how to talk about identity theft and cybersecurity in Korean.

Lately in Korea, the thriller movie “Unlocked” (스마트폰을 떨어뜨렸을 뿐인데) has been a huge topic of conversation. It’s about a woman whose entire life is hacked after she loses her smartphone. This isn’t just a movie plot; it’s a real-life concern in the hyper-connected society of Korea. So, let’s learn the essential phrases to protect yourself and talk about these situations like a native!

Key Expressions You Must Know

Here are some crucial words and phrases to help you navigate the world of cybersecurity in Korean.

1. 개인정보 유출 (Personal Information Leak)

• Pronunciation: [gae-in-jeong-bo yu-chul]
• English Meaning: Personal information leak/breach
• Detailed Explanation: This is a compound noun you’ll see a lot in Korean news.
  • 개인정보 (gaein-jeongbo) means “personal information.”
  • 유출 (yuchul) means “leak” or “spill.”
  • You can use it like this: “최근에 큰 웹사이트에서 개인정보 유출 사고가 있었어요.” (Recently, there was a major personal information leak from a big website.)

2. 명의 도용 (Identity Theft)

• Pronunciation: [myeong-ui do-yong]
• English Meaning: Identity theft / Fraudulent use of a name
• Detailed Explanation: This refers specifically to the crime of someone else using your name and identity, often for financial fraud.
  • 명의 (myeong-ui) is a formal word for “name” in a legal or official context.
  • 도용 (do-yong) means “unauthorized use” or “theft.”
  • It’s a serious term. You’d say, “명의 도용이 의심돼요.” (I suspect identity theft.)

3. -(으)ㄴ/는 것 같다 (It seems/looks like…)

• Pronunciation: [(eu)n/neun geot gat-da]
• English Meaning: It seems like… / I think that…
• Detailed Explanation: This grammar pattern is your best friend when you’re suspicious but not 100% sure. It softens your statement and makes you sound more natural. You attach it to the stem of a verb or adjective.
  • Past tense verb/Adjective: -(으)ㄴ 것 같다 (e.g., 누군가 내 아이디를 쓴 것 같아요. – It seems someone used my ID.)
  • Present tense verb: -는 것 같다 (e.g., 문자가 좀 이상한 것 같아요. – The text message seems a bit strange.)

4. 신고하다 (To Report)

• Pronunciation: [sin-go-ha-da]
• English Meaning: To report (to an official authority)
• Detailed Explanation: This verb is used when you report a crime or an incident to the police, a bank, or another official institution. It’s a formal and necessary action verb in these situations.
  • Example: “카드를 분실하면 바로 카드사에 신고해야 해요.” (If you lose your card, you must report it to the card company immediately.)

Example Dialogue

Let’s see how these expressions are used in a real conversation.

A: 민준아, 나 좀 이상한 문자를 받았어. “해외에서 50만 원 결제 완료. 본인이 아닐 시 문의”라고 쓰여 있어.
(Minjun, I got a weird text. It says,