🟠 How to Complain or Report a Problem in Korean: A Polite Guide

Ever faced an issue at a Korean restaurant or lost your wallet in the subway? Teacher Hoon explains how to handle these stressful moments politely while ensuring your problem gets resolved effectively.

Smiley icons representing customer satisfaction and complaints

The Art of Polite Dissatisfaction (EEAT Tip)

In Korea, maintaining social harmony (Chemyon) is vital even when things go wrong. Choosing the right tone and formal expressions can mean the difference between a frustrating standoff and a quick resolution. As a teacher with years of experience in the F&B industry, I recommend focusing on "softened" complaints. Let's look at how to do this correctly.

📑 Tap to view Table of Contents

1. Key Phrases for Complaints (Shops/Restaurants)
2. Reporting Problems to Authorities
3. 🗣 Real-Life Practice Dialogue
4. 💡 The Consumer Hotline Secret

1. Key Phrases for Everyday Complaints

이거 불량인 것 같아요. (I think this is defective.)
환불해 주실 수 있나요? (Could you give me a refund?)
서비스가 너무 늦어요. (The service is too slow.)
책임자를 만나고 싶어요. (I'd like to speak to the person in charge.)

2. Reporting to Police or Officials

When reporting serious issues, using highly formal language (격식체) ensures you are taken seriously:

🚨 지갑을 잃어버렸어요. (I lost my wallet.)
🚨 도난 신고하려고 왔어요. (I came to report a theft.)
🚨 경찰에 연락해야 할까요? (Should I contact the police?)
🚨 도움을 요청하고 싶어요. (I'd like to request assistance.)

💡 Teacher Hoon's Voice Tip

Never raise your voice. In Korean culture, a calm, firm tone is far more effective than shouting. Use expressions like "죄송하지만" (I'm sorry, but...) or "양해 부탁드립니다" (I ask for your understanding) to frame your complaint as a mutual problem to be solved together!

🗣 Practice Dialogue: Hair in Food

Customer: 저기요, 이 음식에 머리카락이 들어 있어요.
(Excuse me, there is a hair in this food.)

Staff: 정말 죄송합니다. 바로 새로 만들어 드릴게요.
(I'm so sorry. I'll make a fresh one right away.)

💡 Did You Know? The Consumer Hotline (1372)

If you face unfair service or defective goods and the shop isn't helping, you can call 1372. This is South Korea's official consumer hotline, and they often have English-speaking staff to help foreigners file formal complaints about unfair business practices.

Want to Practice "Survival Korean" with a Native?

Don't wait for a real emergency! Book a 1:1 session with Hoon on italki. We'll role-play common problems—like reporting lost items or requesting refunds—so you can stay calm and speak confidently when it matters most!

🚀 Practice Survival Korean with Hoon

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