📜 Master Korean Legal Korean with Real Lease Examples – Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)

Explore complex legal vocabulary in Korean, including real-world contract examples and high-level expressions useful for foreigners living in Korea.

🟦 Introduction
📜 Common Legal Terms in Korean
📘 Real Estate Contract Sample (전세/월세)
📚 Grammar and Usage
💬 Example Sentences
🧠 Did You Know?
💡 Final Thoughts

🟦 Introduction

In this advanced lesson, we dive into Korean legal language—something every long-term resident or student in Korea should know. Whether you're reading contracts or watching legal dramas, understanding these terms helps navigate Korean society with confidence.

📜 Common Legal Terms in Korean

계약서 (Gyeyakseo) – Contract
전세 (Jeonse) – Lump-sum lease
월세 (Wolse) – Monthly rent
임대인 (Imdaein) – Lessor (property owner)
임차인 (Imchain) – Lessee (tenant)
계약금 (Gyeyakgeum) – Deposit
해지 (Haeji) – Termination
보증금 (Bojeunggeum) – Security deposit
연체료 (Yeonchaeryo) – Late fee
권리금 (Gwolligeum) – Key money (used in commercial leases)

📘 Real Estate Contract Sample (전세/월세)

Here is a simplified example of a 전세/월세 계약서 (lease contract) excerpt for foreign residents:

제1조 (임대 목적물)
본 계약은 서울특별시 마포구 ○○로 123, ○○아파트 101호를 임대한다.

제2조 (임대 조건)
① 임대 기간은 2025년 3월 1일부터 2026년 2월 28일까지 1년간으로 한다.
② 보증금은 일천만원(₩10,000,000)으로 하며, 월세는 매월 이십만원(₩200,000)으로 한다.

제3조 (해지 조건)
계약 기간 중 어느 한쪽이 계약을 해지할 경우, 최소 1개월 전 서면 통보가 있어야 한다.

English Translation:

Clause 1 (Leased Property)
This lease is for Apartment 101, 123 ○○ Street, Mapo-gu, Seoul.

Clause 2 (Lease Terms)
1. The lease period is from March 1, 2025, to February 28, 2026.
2. The deposit is ₩10,000,000 and the monthly rent is ₩200,000.

Clause 3 (Termination)
If either party terminates the contract during the period, a written notice

must be given at least one month in advance.

📚 Grammar and Usage

Legal Korean tends to use passive or formal expressions, nominal forms, and legal conjunctions. For example:

계약을 체결하다 – to sign a contract
서면으로 통보하다 – to notify in writing
유효기간이 만료되다 – validity period expires

These expressions are essential for understanding real documents and for formal legal communication.

💬 Example Sentences

계약서에 서명하셨습니까? (Gyeyakseoe seomyeonghasyeotsseumnikka?) – Did you sign the contract?
전세 계약은 보증금이 크지만 월세가 없습니다. (Jeonse gyeyageun bojeunggeumi keujiman wolsega eopseumnida) – Jeonse requires a large deposit but no monthly rent.
임대인이 계약을 해지하려면 서면 통보가 필요합니다. (Imdaeini gyeyageul haejiharyeomyeon seomyeon tongboga piryohamnida) – The lessor must notify in writing to terminate the lease.

🧠 Did You Know?

South Korea is one of the few countries with a unique rental system called 전세 (jeonse), where tenants pay a large lump sum to live rent-free during the lease. According to 2024 government data, nearly 45% of Seoul leases were jeonse-based, though the ratio is declining due to housing price increases. This system is unfamiliar to many foreigners and highlights Korea’s distinctive financial culture.

💡 Final Thoughts

Learning legal Korean is an important step for advanced learners, especially those living or working in Korea. From contracts to legal discussions, mastering these terms will boost your confidence in real-world settings.

I hope that while reading various posts on my blog, you’ll learn Korean and grow to love Korea. As a Korean, I sincerely wish for that. Please come back anytime to discover new expressions and cultural insights!

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