πŸ—ž️ Analyzing Korean News Articles – Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)

ν•œκ΅­μ˜ κ°€μ„μ˜ ν˜Έμˆ˜μ™€ μ‚°μ˜ λͺ¨μŠ΅



Are you ready to dive into real Korean news articles? 🧐 If you're preparing for TOPIK 5–6 or want to understand Korean society deeply, reading and analyzing news is essential. In this post, we’ll break down a sample article, explain complex vocabulary, and show you how Korean news writing differs from casual language.


πŸ“° Why Analyzing News Matters

Korean news articles use formal structures, passive voice, and subject-specific terminology. Mastering this style helps you read official statements, understand political discourse, and write academic Korean. Let's begin with key features of Korean news writing.


1. Passive Constructions

News reports often avoid personal subjects. Instead of saying "The president decided," you might read:

κ²°μ •λ˜μ—ˆλ‹€ (was decided) rather than λŒ€ν†΅λ Ήμ΄ κ²°μ •ν–ˆλ‹€ (The president decided).


2. Objective Tone

Korean journalism prioritizes neutrality. Words like κ³΅μ‹μ μœΌλ‘œ (officially), ν™•μΈλ˜λ‹€ (to be confirmed), and λ°œν‘œν•˜λ‹€ (to announce) are common.


3. Dense Vocabulary

Expect to see compound nouns like κ²½μ œμ „λ§ (economic outlook), μ •μΉ˜κΆŒ (political sphere), or μ΅œμ €μž„κΈˆμœ„μ›νšŒ (Minimum Wage Commission).


πŸ“– Sample News Article & Analysis


[기사 발췌 | Sample News Excerpt]

μ •λΆ€λŠ” λ‚΄λ…„ μ΅œμ €μž„κΈˆμ„ 10,320μ›μœΌλ‘œ κ²°μ •ν–ˆλ‹€κ³  λ°ν˜”λ‹€. 이번 결정은 노동계와 κ²½μ˜κ³„μ˜ 의견 차이λ₯Ό λ°˜μ˜ν•˜μ—¬, κ³΅μ΅μœ„μ›λ“€μ˜ 쑰정을 톡해 μ΅œμ’… ν™•μ •λ˜μ—ˆλ‹€.


[English Translation]

The government announced that next year’s minimum wage has been set at 10,320 won. This decision was finalized through mediation by public interest members, reflecting the disagreement between labor and management.


πŸ“ Vocabulary

  • μ΅œμ €μž„κΈˆ: Minimum wage — the legally mandated lowest hourly wage
  • κ³΅μ΅μœ„μ›: Public interest member — a neutral representative on a government committee
  • μ‘°μ •: Mediation — resolving conflict through negotiation
  • ν™•μ •λ˜λ‹€: To be finalized — commonly used in official documents and media

πŸ” Analysis

이 λ‰΄μŠ€ κΈ°μ‚¬μ—μ„œλŠ” 곡식적이고 ν˜•μ‹μ μΈ ν‘œν˜„μ΄ μ‚¬μš©λ©λ‹ˆλ‹€. 예λ₯Ό λ“€μ–΄, “μ •λΆ€λŠ” … λ°ν˜”λ‹€”λŠ” λ‰΄μŠ€μ²΄μ—μ„œ 자주 λ“±μž₯ν•˜λŠ” ν‘œν˜„μž…λ‹ˆλ‹€. λ˜ν•œ “~을 톡해 ν™•μ •λ˜μ—ˆλ‹€”λŠ” μˆ˜λ™ν˜• ν‘œν˜„μ€ 쀑립적인 톀을 μ „λ‹¬ν•˜κΈ° μœ„ν•΄ μ‚¬μš©λ©λ‹ˆλ‹€.


In this article, formal and passive language is used. Phrases like “μ •λΆ€λŠ” … λ°ν˜”λ‹€” ("the government announced") appear frequently in news writing. The use of passive voice, such as “ν™•μ •λ˜μ—ˆλ‹€” (was finalized), maintains a neutral tone, reflecting objective reporting.


πŸ“Œ Did You Know?

Did you know that South Korea has one of the highest voter turnout rates among OECD countries? πŸ—³️ In the 2022 presidential election, over 77% of eligible voters participated. Koreans can also vote early through "μ‚¬μ „νˆ¬ν‘œ (early voting)"—no reason required. Even overseas citizens can vote at embassies! This reflects Korea’s strong civic participation culture. πŸ‡°πŸ‡·


πŸ’¬ Practice Korean with Me on italki!

Want to improve your Korean reading and writing? Join my classes on italki, where we explore real articles, discuss Korean society, and master TOPIK prep. Choose from news analysis, debate topics, and business writing sessions. Let's level up your Korean together! πŸš€


πŸ’Œ Final Thoughts:
Reading Korean news can feel overwhelming at first, but with the right tools and breakdowns, it becomes manageable and even enjoyable. Keep practicing and you'll soon be reading confidently at a native level! πŸ’ͺ


πŸ“₯ Stay Connected!

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