📧 How to Write a Korean Email or Formal Letter
Need to send a polite email to your Korean professor, coworker, or landlord? 🧐
Korean formal emails and letters have a unique structure and tone. In this post, you'll learn how to write a professional and respectful message in Korean, whether it’s a short request or a detailed inquiry.
✉️ Korean Email Structure Overview
A formal Korean email or letter usually follows this order:
- Subject line
- Greeting (인사말)
- Self-introduction (if needed)
- Main content (요청, 질문, 설명 등)
- Closing statement (마무리 인사)
- Signature (이름, 소속 등)
1. Modern Email Greetings (인사말)
- 안녕하세요. OO팀 홍길동입니다.
An-nyeong-ha-se-yo. OO-tim Hong Gil-dong-im-ni-da.
Hello, this is Hong Gil-dong from the OO team. - 바쁘신 와중에 메일 드리게 되어 죄송합니다.
Ba-ppeu-sin wa-jung-e mail deu-ri-ge doe-eo joe-song-ham-ni-da
Sorry to bother you during your busy schedule. - 확인 부탁드립니다.
Hwa-gin bu-tak-deu-rip-ni-da
Please take a look. (commonly used after the opening)
2. Making a Polite Request (요청)
- 자료를 공유해 주시면 감사하겠습니다.
Ja-ryo-reul gong-yu-hae ju-si-myeon gam-sa-ha-get-seum-ni-da
I would appreciate it if you could share the materials. - 일정 확인 후 회신 부탁드립니다.
Il-jeong hwa-gin hu hoe-sin bu-tak-deu-rip-ni-da
Please reply after checking your schedule.
3. Common Closings (마무리 인사)
- 읽어 주셔서 감사합니다.
Il-geo ju-syeo-seo gam-sa-ham-ni-da
Thank you for reading. - 좋은 하루 보내시길 바랍니다.
Jo-eun ha-ru bo-nae-si-gil ba-ram-ni-da
I hope you have a great day. - 답변 기다리겠습니다.
Dap-byeon gi-da-ri-ge-sseum-ni-da
I look forward to your reply.
4. Signature
- 홍길동 드림
Hong Gil-dong deu-rim
Respectfully, Hong Gil-dong (formal and humble closing) - 홍길동 (OO팀)
Hong Gil-dong (OO-tim)
Modern style with team name in parentheses
💡 Did You Know?
In Korean culture, placeholder names like 홍길동, 철수, and 영희 are commonly used in textbooks and examples—similar to how English uses "John Doe" or "Jane Smith." The name 홍길동 originates from the 17th-century novel 『홍길동전』, where he was portrayed as a heroic figure advocating for justice. Interestingly, after the release of Squid Game on Netflix, international viewers began recognizing the name '철수' due to its use in the "Red Light, Green Light" game, highlighting how Korean naming patterns also reflect pop culture.
💬 Practice with Me on italki!
Want to practice writing formal Korean messages with feedback?
You can book a personalized lesson with me on italki.
We’ll cover email writing, honorifics, and how to sound confident yet polite in different situations! 😊
💌 Final Thoughts
Keep learning, and soon you'll be writing like a native office worker! 😊
