🗞️ Analyzing Korean News Articles – Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)
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.
📰 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:
결정되었다 (was decided) rather than 대통령이 결정했다 (The president decided).
2. Objective Tone
Korean journalism prioritizes neutrality. Words like 공식적으로 (officially), 확인되다 (to be confirmed), and 발표하다 (to announce) are common.
3. Dense Vocabulary
Expect to see compound nouns like 경제전망 (economic outlook), 정치권 (political sphere), or 최저임금위원회 (Minimum Wage Commission).
📖 Sample News Article & Analysis
[기사 발췌 | Sample News Excerpt]
정부는 내년 최저임금을 10,320원으로 결정했다고 밝혔다. 이번 결정은 노동계와 경영계의 의견 차이를 반영하여, 공익위원들의 조정을 통해 최종 확정되었다.
[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.
📝 Vocabulary
- 최저임금: Minimum wage — the legally mandated lowest hourly wage
- 공익위원: Public interest member — a neutral representative on a government committee
- 조정: Mediation — resolving conflict through negotiation
- 확정되다: To be finalized — commonly used in official documents and media
🔍 Analysis
이 뉴스 기사에서는 공식적이고 형식적인 표현이 사용됩니다. 예를 들어, “정부는 … 밝혔다”는 뉴스체에서 자주 등장하는 표현입니다. 또한 “~을 통해 확정되었다”는 수동형 표현은 중립적인 톤을 전달하기 위해 사용됩니다.
In this article, formal and passive language is used. Phrases like “정부는 … 밝혔다” ("the government announced") appear frequently in news writing. The use of passive voice, such as “확정되었다” (was finalized), maintains a neutral tone, reflecting objective reporting.
📌 Did You Know?
Did you know that South Korea has one of the highest voter turnout rates among OECD countries? 🗳️ In the 2022 presidential election, over 77% of eligible voters participated. Koreans can also vote early through "사전투표 (early voting)"—no reason required. Even overseas citizens can vote at embassies! This reflects Korea’s strong civic participation culture. 🇰🇷
💬 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! 🚀
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! 💪
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