Beyond "Annyeonghaseyo": 21 Must-Know Business Korean Vocabulary Terms for Founders
I still cringe when I think about my first "real" meeting in Seoul. I wasn't a tourist anymore; I was a founder trying to get a partnership deal. I’d binged K-dramas, I knew my "kamsahamnida" from my "joesonghamnida," and I thought I was ready.
Then the meeting started.
Words flew past my head like bullets. "Gyeoljae," "gihoegan," "bogoseo." People weren't just talking; they were referencing a complex, invisible script I'd never read. My "business partner," a man I thought was my equal, kept bowing slightly to a quiet guy in the corner, calling him "Bujang-nim." I smiled, I nodded, and I felt like an absolute idiot. I realized my K-drama Korean was useless here. This was a different language entirely.
If you're an expat, an entrepreneur, or a founder in the white-hot center of the K-startup scene, this story probably feels familiar. You’re smart, you’re ambitious, but you’re linguistically flying blind. You can't lead a team, impress investors, or even understand your own company's workflow if you don't speak the language of work.
This isn't just a list of words. This is your survival guide. This is the essential business Korean vocabulary that took me years of embarrassing mistakes and late-night study sessions to learn. Forget the tourist phrases. This is your toolkit for getting gyeolje (approval), understanding the hoesik (company dinner), and finally, finally knowing who's who in the room.
Let's get you from "confused foreigner" to "respected colleague."
Why This Is More Than Just 'Vocabulary' (It’s About Nunchi)
Here's the first hard lesson: in Korea, words are only half the conversation. The other half is context, hierarchy, and a social sixth-sense called 눈치 (Nunchi).
Nunchi literally means "eye-measure." It’s the art of "reading the room." It's understanding what people mean, not just what they say. It's knowing when to speak, when to stay silent, when to pour a drink, and when to leave the meeting—all without being told. It's the unspoken OS running in the background of every single office interaction.
Why does this matter for vocabulary? Because using the wrong word, or more commonly, the right word without the right title, is a nunchi disaster. It signals that you don't understand the environment. It’s like wearing shorts to a funeral. You might be comfortable, but you’re showing massive disrespect.
Learning the terms below isn't just about translation; it's about learning the map of your office. It's how you show respect, understand power dynamics, and build trust. In a K-startup, your brilliant code or killer marketing plan means nothing if you can't navigate the human element. This vocabulary is the human element.
A Quick Note on Formality: You'll see the suffix -님 (nim) everywhere. Think of it as an "honorific" that translates roughly to "Mr./Ms." but is much more important. You attach it to titles (not names) when addressing superiors. Calling your boss "Jimin" instead of "Timjang-nim" is a cardinal sin. When in doubt, add -nim.
Category 1: The "Who's Who" - Hierarchy & Titles (Terms 1-7)
The Korean office is built on a clear hierarchy. It’s not about being "better," it's about order and responsibility. Knowing titles is non-negotiable.
1. 대표님 (Daepyo-nim) - CEO / Representative Director
- Pronunciation: Deh-pyo-nim
- What it means: "Representative." This is the big boss. The CEO, the President, the Founder. This is the person whose name is on the business registration.
- Real-World Context: This is the only title you'll use for them. Even if your startup has a "flat" culture and your CEO wears hoodies, in any formal setting, they are Daepyo-nim. Using this title shows you respect their position and ultimate responsibility.
2. 부장님 (Bujang-nim) - Department Head / General Manager
- Pronunciation: Boo-jahng-nim
- What it means: "Department Chief." This is your classic, senior-level manager. In a traditional company, this person is a powerful figure who has been with the company for 15+ years.
- Real-World Context: In a startup, this title might be used for C-level execs (like "Head of Marketing"). A Bujang-nim holds significant authority. Their approval (gyeolje) is critical. They are also often the host of the dreaded hoesik.
3. 팀장님 (Timjang-nim) - Team Leader
- Pronunciation: Team-jahng-nim
- What it means: "Team Leader." (Yes, "Tim" is a loanword from English). This is an incredibly common title in modern companies and startups, often replacing the older, more rigid titles.
- Real-World Context: This is likely your direct boss. They are responsible for your day-to-day work, reviews, and shielding you (or not) from the Bujang-nim. This is probably the most important title you, personally, will use every day.
4. 과장님 (Gwajang-nim) - Section Chief / Manager
- Pronunciation: Gwah-jahng-nim
- What it means: "Section Chief." This is a solid middle-management position. Think of them as senior managers who lead a specific part of a team.
- Real-World Context: They have real-world experience and are often in charge of the practical execution of a project. You'll work closely with them.
5. 대리님 (Daeri-nim) - Assistant Manager
- Pronunciation: Deh-ree-nim
- What it means: "Assistant Manager." This isn't an "assistant" in the Western sense. A Daeri is a competent, experienced professional, usually with 3-6 years of experience. They are the workhorses of the team.
- Real-World Context: This is your go-to person for practical questions. They know how the systems really work.
6. 사원 (Sawon) - Staff Member
- Pronunciation: Sah-won
- What it means: "Company Member." This is the base-level, full-time employee. An entry-level position.
- Real-World Context: You generally don't call someone "Sawon-nim." You'd use their full name with -ssi (like "Gildong-ssi") or just their name if you are close. This is the title you'll see on the business cards of new hires.
7. 선배 (Seonbae) / 후배 (Hubae) - Senior / Junior
- Pronunciation: Sun-beh / Hoo-beh
- What it means: This is the cultural hierarchy that runs parallel to the official one. Seonbae is anyone who entered the company (or school, or industry) before you. Hubae is anyone who entered after.
- Real-World Context: This is huge. Your seonbae—even if they have the same job title as you—is your mentor. They are expected to teach you, buy you lunch, and look out for you. You, the hubae, are expected to show deference, listen, and pour drinks. This relationship is a fundamental part of building alliances.
Category 2: Getting Things Done - Process & Paperwork (Terms 8-14)
Work doesn't happen without process. In Korea, the process is formal, documented, and absolutely critical. This is the vocabulary of movement.
8. 결재 (Gyeoljae) - Approval / Sanction
- Pronunciation: Gyul-jeh
- What it is: This is the most important word in this section. It is the formal, hierarchical approval required to do... well, anything. Buy a new laptop? Need gyeolje. Launch a marketing campaign? Need gyeolje.
- Real-World Context: This word is your life. You will spend your days "raising" a document for gyeolje and waiting for your Timjang-nim and Bujang-nim to sign off.
- CRITICAL MISTAKE: Do NOT confuse this with 결제 (gyel-je), which has an identical pronunciation for most non-native speakers. Gyel-je means "payment" (like with a credit card). I once spent 10 minutes telling my boss I needed "payment" for my project plan. He was... confused.
9. 전자 결재 (Jeonja Gyeoljae) - Electronic Approval System
- Pronunciation: Jun-jah Gyul-jeh
- What it is: "Electronic Approval." This is the software (often a clunky, ancient-looking internal website) where all gyeolje happens.
- Real-World Context: This system is the company's central nervous system. All reports, proposals, and requests live here. You must master this system, no matter how counter-intuitive it is.
10. 보고서 (Bogoseo) - Report
- Pronunciation: Bo-go-suh
- What it is: "Report." This could be a weekly report, a project report, a sales report, etc.
- Real-World Context: Korean business culture has a strong emphasis on documentation. You will be asked to "write a bogoseo" for everything. The format is often rigid and expected to be perfect.
11. 기획안 (Gihoegan) - Proposal / Project Plan
- Pronunciation: Gi-hwek-ahn
- What it is: "Proposal" or "plan." This is the document you write before a project starts, outlining the "what, why, how, when, who."
- Real-World Context: A gihoegan is the first step to getting gyeolje. It's your pitch. It needs to be detailed, logical, and persuasive.
12. 마감일 (Magamil) - Deadline
- Pronunciation: Ma-gahm-il
- What it is: "Closing day." The deadline.
- Real-World Context: You'll also hear the Konglish word "데드라인" (de-deu-la-in) used just as often. Both are essential. Missing a magamil is a serious problem.
13. 야근 (Yageun) - Overtime / Night Work
- Pronunciation: Ya-geun
- What it is: "Night work." Working late.
- Real-World Context: Ah, yageun. The infamous part of Korean work culture. While the 52-hour work week is now law (as of 2018), the culture of yageun is still strong. It's often an unspoken expectation during crunch time. As a founder, you'll be doing it, and as a manager, you'll have to navigate the complex expectations around it with your team.
14. 칼퇴 (Kal-toe) - Leaving Work Exactly on Time
- Pronunciation: Kal-tweh
- What it is: "Knife clock-out." It means leaving the second the clock hits 6 PM (or your official end time).
- Real-World Context: This is the opposite of yageun. In a traditional office, doing this requires courage (or a lack of nunchi), especially if your Timjang-nim is still at their desk. In modern startups, kal-toe is more common and celebrated as a sign of efficiency. Knowing this word shows you understand the work-life balance conversation.
For more on the legalities of work culture, including the 52-hour work week, it's worth seeing the official guidelines. While often in Korean, government sites are the ultimate source of truth.
Category 3: In the Meeting Room - Communication & Konglish (Terms 15-18)
Meetings (which can be frequent) have their own lexicon. A lot of it is "Konglish"—a blend of Korean and English that has become the standard. Using these words makes you sound natural.
15. 회의 (Hoe-ui) - Meeting
- Pronunciation: Hweh-ee
- What it is: The formal, "pure" Korean word for meeting.
- Real-World Context: You'll also hear the Konglish "미팅" (mi-ting). They are often used interchangeably, but hoe-ui can sound a bit more formal and "in-house," while mi-ting is often used for external meetings (like with a client). You'll be in a hoe-ui-shil (meeting room) for your hoe-ui.
16. 자료 (Jaryo) - Materials / Data / Documents
- Pronunciation: Jah-ryo
- What it is: This is the "stuff" for the meeting. Your PowerPoint slides, the spreadsheet, the handouts.
- Real-World Context: Your boss will ask, "Jaryo junbi dwaesseoyo?" ("Are the materials ready?"). You will be asked to "share" (gong-yoo) the jaryo before the meeting.
17. 공유 (Gong-yoo) - Share
- Pronunciation: Gong-yoo
- What it is: "Share." This is a verb.
- Real-World Context: "Please share the file" is "파일 공유해 주세요" (Pa-il gong-yoo-hae ju-se-yo). This is used constantly for everything from Google Docs to internal reports.
18. 피드백 (Pideubaek) - Feedback
- Pronunciation: Pi-deu-bek
- What it is: The Konglish word for "Feedback."
- Real-World Context: This is used 100% of the time. "Feedback please" is "Pideubaek ju-se-yo." Giving and receiving feedback is a delicate art in Korea, often done indirectly, but this is the word you'll use for it.
Category 4: The "Real" Office - Culture & Networking (Terms 19-21)
The most important work in a Korean company often happens outside the office. This is where relationships are built, trust is formed, and true nunchi is tested.
19. 회식 (Hoesik) - Company Dinner
- Pronunciation: Hweh-shik
- What it is: "Company dining." This is the infamous, mandatory (or semi-mandatory) team dinner.
- Real-World Context: This is not just "a fun team outing." It's an extension of the office. It's where Bujang-nim gives heartfelt speeches, where seonbae-hubae relationships are solidified over bottles of soju, and where business frustrations are aired. As a foreigner, your attendance is deeply appreciated. Your ability to participate (pour drinks for elders, accept drinks, sing karaoke) is how you build an "in-group" feeling. Startups are more relaxed, but the hoesik is still a powerful tool for team building.
20. 2차 (I-cha) - Second Round
- Pronunciation: Ee-cha
- What it is: "Second round." The hoesik isn't one place. It's a journey. Il-cha (1차) is dinner (usually barbecue). I-cha (2차) is drinks (usually a beer hall). Sam-cha (3차) might be more drinks or karaoke (noraebang).
- Real-World Context: You are generally expected to go to i-cha. Skipping out after il-cha can be seen as antisocial. This is where the real "off the record" conversations happen.
21. 눈치 (Nunchi) - "Eye-Measure" / Reading the Room
- Pronunciation: Noon-chee S
- What it is: We're back where we started. This is the "final boss" of your business Korean vocabulary. It's not a word you say often, but one you do constantly.
- Real-World Context: Having "good nunchi" means you notice your boss's glass is empty and you refill it. You sense the meeting is running long and people are getting tired, so you suggest a break. You realize your joke didn't land and you quickly change the subject. Having "bad nunchi" (or "no nunchi") is the worst insult you can receive. It means you are socially clueless. As a foreigner, you're given a bit of a pass... but learning to develop it is the fastest way to earn true respect.
Understanding the K-Startup ecosystem is a challenge, but it's one of the most dynamic in the world. Institutions are taking notice, and the "K-Unicorn" is a real phenomenon.
Infographic: A Visual Guide to the Korean Office Hierarchy
It's one thing to read the titles, it's another to see them. Since hierarchy is so visual, here is a simplified chart showing a typical corporate structure. Remember, in startups, this can be much flatter, but the mentality of this structure often remains.
Typical Korean Corporate Hierarchy
Your Essential Business Korean Vocabulary Toolkit in Action
Okay, let's put it all together. How do these words function in a real scenario? Here are a couple of mini-scripts.
Scenario 1: Getting a Project Approved
You (to your boss): "Timjang-nim, I've finished the new marketing gihoegan (proposal). I've uploaded the jaryo (materials) to the jeonja gyeoljae (e-approval system). Could you review it and give me your pideubaek (feedback)? The magamil (deadline) for the Bujang-nim's final gyeolje (approval) is this Friday."
Why this works: You've used all the key terms correctly. You showed you understand the process (proposal -> materials -> feedback -> e-approval -> deadline -> final approval) and the hierarchy (your Team Leader gives feedback, the Department Head gives final approval).
Scenario 2: At a Hoesik (Company Dinner)
Your Seonbae (Senior): "Hey, our Timjang-nim's glass is empty."
You: (You use your nunchi). You immediately grab the soju bottle (with two hands!) and pour a drink for your Team Leader (making sure your other hand is supporting your pouring arm). You say "Cheers!" (Geonbae!).
Why this works: You didn't even use much vocabulary. You acted. Your senior gave you a hint, and you used nunchi to understand the unspoken rule: never let a superior's glass be empty. You just earned more respect than a perfect PowerPoint presentation ever could.
For founders and expats, the challenge is very real. You're not just building a product; you're building a bridge between two very different business cultures. The tools and resources available are growing, but nothing beats on-the-ground knowledge.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
1. What's the biggest mistake foreigners make with business Korean?
The single biggest mistake is ignoring the hierarchy. This usually manifests as calling people by their first name instead of their title (like "Mr. Kim" instead of "Bujang-nim"). It's seen as disrespectful and signals that you don't understand the basics of the culture. Always, always default to using the title + nim. See the hierarchy section.
2. Is "Konglish" (Korean-English) acceptable in the office?
Yes, 100%. In many cases, it's the preferred terminology. Words like "pideubaek" (feedback), "mi-ting" (meeting), and "de-deu-la-in" (deadline) are standard business vernacular. Using them makes you sound more, not less, fluent in the office environment. Don't try to find the "pure" Korean word when the Konglish one is what everyone uses.
3. How important is nunchi really? Can't I just be direct?
You can be direct, but it can be jarring and may not get you the results you want. Nunchi is everything. It's the "soft" skill that governs all "hard" skills. Being direct can be seen as aggressive or rude (lacking nunchi). It's better to learn to read the room and frame your directness in a respectful way. For example, instead of "That's a bad idea," you might say, "Timjang-nim, could we consider another perspective on this?" Read more on Nunchi here.
4. Do I really have to call everyone "-nim"?
Anyone with a title who is at your level or above, yes. Daepyo-nim, Bujang-nim, Timjang-nim, Gwajang-nim, Daeri-nim, Seonbae-nim (yes, even seonbae often gets a -nim in a formal context). The only time you don't is for those junior to you (hubae) or at the same entry-level (sawon), where you might use their name + -ssi.
5. What is the difference between gyeolje (결재) and gyelje (결제)?
This is the classic, killer mistake. They sound almost identical.
- 결재 (Gyeoljae): Approval, sanction. This is what your boss does to your report.
- 결제 (Gyelje): Payment. This is what you do with your credit card at lunch.
6. How long does it take to learn this essential business Korean vocabulary?
The words themselves? You can memorize this list in a week. Learning to use them with the correct nuance and nunchi? That's a lifelong process. But, honestly, just trying and using these 21 terms correctly will put you in the top 10% of foreigners in a Korean office. People will be incredibly appreciative of your effort.
7. What is hoesik culture like in a modern K-startup?
It's definitely changing. It's less about forced heavy drinking and more about genuine team-building. Many startups now opt for lunch hoesik, or activities like going to a baseball game or even an escape room. However, the core concept of building bonds outside of work hours remains. Don't skip them—it's your best chance to build relationships. Read about Hoesik here.
8. Can I get by with just English in a Seoul startup?
In some (like in the Pangyo techno-valley or specific "global" startups), yes... to a point. You can do your job. But you will never truly integrate. You'll miss the side conversations, the "real" feedback given at a hoesik, and the cultural context of why a decision was made. You'll always be a bit of an outsider. Learning even just this basic business Korean vocabulary is the bridge from "outsider" to "colleague."
Conclusion: Stop Surviving, Start Thriving
Let's be real: being an expat founder is hard. It's lonely. You're fighting to build a company while navigating a culture you don't fully understand. That feeling I had in my first meeting—of being small, confused, and silent—is something I never want you to feel.
This list of 21 words isn't a magic wand. But it's a start. It's the key to unlocking the first door. When you call your team leader "Timjang-nim" instead of "Mr. Park," you're not just using a word; you're sending a message: "I see you. I respect this. I'm trying."
Trust me, that message is heard loud and clear.
The Korean business world is fast, tough, and incredibly rewarding. Your technical skills got you in the door. This vocabulary—this understanding of nunchi, hierarchy, and process—is what will let you walk through it and build something that lasts.
You've got this. Now go get that gyeolje.
Your turn. What’s the one Korean business word or situation that completely stumped you? Share your own "baptism by fire" story in the comments below!
Business Korean Vocabulary, K-startup, Korean office culture, expat in Korea, Korean business terms
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