📜 Reading Contracts and Policies | Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)
📜 Reading Contracts and Policies | Advanced Level (TOPIK 5–6)
Can you confidently understand a Korean rental contract or company policy without missing key details?
At the advanced level, reading contracts and policies in Korean requires not only vocabulary mastery but also understanding legal and cultural nuances. This guide introduces key terms, example clauses, and strategies to help TOPIK 5–6 learners analyze real documents effectively.
📑 Table of Contents
Click to expand
💡 Key Features of Korean Contracts and Policies
한국의 계약서와 정책 문서는 법적 구속력이 있으며, 문장 구조가 길고 복잡한 경향이 있습니다.
Korean contracts and policy documents carry legal force and tend to have long, complex sentence structures.
계약서에는 계약 당사자의 권리와 의무, 계약 기간, 위약금, 분쟁 해결 방법 등이 포함됩니다.
They outline the rights and obligations of parties, contract duration, penalties for breach, and dispute resolution methods.
정책 문서는 회사 내부 규정, 고객 서비스 정책, 환불 및 교환 규정 등 조직 운영의 기준을 명시합니다.
Policies describe internal regulations, customer service rules, and refund or exchange terms governing organizational operations.
한국에서 전세, 월세, 휴대폰 약정 등 생활 밀착형 계약은 법률 지식이 부족한 외국인에게 특히 어려울 수 있습니다.
Common life contracts such as lease agreements, phone plans, or subscription services can be especially challenging for foreigners unfamiliar with Korean legal terms.
📖 Essential Legal Vocabulary and Clauses
계약 당사자 (契約 當事者) – Contracting Parties
계약에 참여하는 두 개 이상의 주체를 지칭합니다.
Refers to the two or more entities entering into the contract.
조항 (條項) – Clause / Provision
계약서의 세부 내용을 구체적으로 규정한 항목입니다.
Specific provisions detailing the terms and conditions of the contract.
위약금 (違約金) – Penalty for Breach
계약을 어길 경우 지불해야 하는 금액입니다.
The financial penalty imposed when breaching the contract.
해지 (解止) – Termination
계약 관계를 중도에 종료시키는 행위입니다.
The act of ending a contract before its natural expiration.
분쟁 해결 (紛爭 解決) – Dispute Resolution
계약과 관련한 분쟁을 조정하거나 중재하는 방법을 명시합니다.
Specifies methods for resolving conflicts arising from the contract.
🗣 Practice Dialogue
A: 이 계약서에 ‘위약금’ 조항이 있네요. 무슨 뜻이에요?
I gyeyakseo-e ‘wiyakgeum’ johang-i innayo. Museun tteus-ieyo?
This contract has a “penalty for breach” clause. What does it mean?
B: 계약을 중도 해지할 때 내야 하는 금액이에요. 특히 휴대폰 약정에서 많이 쓰여요.
Gyeyak-eul jungdo haeji-hal ttae naeya haneun geumaeg-ieyo. Teukhi hyudaepon yagjeong-eseo mani sseuyeoyo.
It’s the amount you must pay if you terminate early, often seen in mobile phone contracts.
🧩 Quick Check: What key clauses should you check before signing a lease in Korea?
🌏 Did You Know?
In Korea, “jeonse” (전세) lease agreements are unique to the country. Tenants pay a large lump-sum deposit instead of monthly rent, which landlords invest during the lease term. This system rarely exists outside Korea.
📦 Final Thoughts
Reading Korean contracts and policies is essential for advanced learners aiming to live or work in Korea. Understanding legal vocabulary and cultural context helps avoid misunderstandings and empowers you to navigate real-life situations confidently.
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!
👤 About the Author
I’m an office worker with 20 years of experience who enjoys studying languages. On italki, I help learners practice real-life Korean—beyond textbooks—through debates, role-plays, and feedback.
📖 Related Lessons (Advanced Series)
Click to view all 10 lessons
- 📜 Reading Contracts and Policies (You’re here)
- 📘 Using 4-Character Idioms (사자성어)
- 💼 Business Korean Email Format
- 💡 Korean Proverbs and Their Everyday Use
- 📖 Understanding Newspaper Editorials
- 🗂 Writing Formal Reports
- 📊 Reading Academic Articles
- ⚖ Discussing Social Issues Formally
- 📰 Analyzing News Debates
- ✍️ Advanced Essay Writing (TOPIK 6)
👉 Work through these 10 lessons step by step for professional and academic Korean mastery.
