Everyday life

The unit is the won (₩). Notes and coins both use it.

• 대한민국의 화폐 단위는 무엇입니까?What is the currency unit of the Republic of Korea?
• 한국 돈의 기본 단위는 무엇입니까?What is the basic unit of Korean money?

Four notes: 1,000 / 5,000 / 10,000 / 50,000 won. The 50,000 won note is the largest.

Six coins in all. In daily life mostly the 100 won and 500 won coins are used.

Yi Hwang (pen name Toegye) was a great Confucian scholar of the Joseon period.

Yi I (pen name Yulgok) was a Joseon scholar and the son of Shin Saimdang, who is on the 50,000 won note.

King Sejong, who created Hangeul, is on the 10,000 won note.

• 대한민국 1만원권 지폐 앞면의 인물은 누구입니까?Whose portrait is on the front of the 10,000-won bill?
• 만원짜리 지폐에 그려진 역사 인물은 누구입니까?Which historical figure is drawn on the 10,000-won bill?

Shin Saimdang was a Joseon artist and the mother of Yi I. She is the only woman on a Korean note.

• 대한민국 5만원권 지폐 앞면의 인물은 누구입니까?Whose portrait is on the front of the 50,000-won bill?
• 오만원짜리 지폐에 그려진 인물은 누구입니까?Which figure is drawn on the 50,000-won bill?

The national flower is on the smallest coin. The 1 won coin is almost never used today.

The Geobukseon (turtle ship) is the armoured warship Admiral Yi Sun-sin used against the Japanese invasion.

The Dabotap is a stone pagoda at Bulguksa temple in Gyeongju, a national treasure.

• 대한민국 10원 동전에 그려진 문화재는 무엇입니까?What cultural heritage is drawn on the 10-won coin?
• 십원짜리 동전 앞면에 있는 석탑은 무엇입니까?What stone pagoda is on the front of the 10-won coin?

An ear of rice is drawn on it — rice is the staple food of Korea.

Admiral Yi Sun-sin defended the country at sea during the Japanese invasion of 1592.

The 500 won coin has a crane on it and is the largest coin in size and value.

A cheque is issued by a bank and used in place of carrying a large amount of cash.

The Bank of Korea issues the won and sets monetary policy.

• 원화를 발행하고 통화정책을 담당하는 중앙은행은 무엇입니까?Which central bank issues the won and runs monetary policy?

The scholar Yi I, pen name Yulgok, is on the 5,000-won note.

• 오천원짜리 지폐의 역사 인물은 누구입니까?Which historical figure is on the 5,000-won bill?

The scholar Yi Hwang, pen name Toegye, is on the 1,000-won note.

• 천원짜리 지폐의 역사 인물은 누구입니까?Which historical figure is on the 1,000-won bill?

Admiral Yi Sun-sin is on the 100-won coin.

• 백원짜리 동전에 있는 역사 인물은 누구입니까?Which historical figure is on the 100-won coin?

The 500-won coin carries a flying crane.

• 오백원짜리 동전의 동물 그림은 무엇입니까?What animal picture is on the 500-won coin?

Four coins circulate: 10, 50, 100, and 500 won.

Taxes fund roads, schools, welfare, and other public services.

Employees usually have income tax withheld from monthly pay.

112 is the police emergency number, available 24 hours.

• 경찰의 긴급 신고 전화번호는 무엇입니까?What is the police emergency phone number?

119 connects to fire and ambulance services.

• 소방·구급 긴급전화 번호는 무엇입니까?What is the emergency number for fire and ambulance services?

110 is the government call center for general civil-affairs questions.

• 국민콜 정부민원안내 번호는 몇 번입니까?What is the number of the government civil-service call center (Gungmin Call)?

1366 is the Women's Emergency Hotline, open 24 hours, 365 days.

• 여성긴급전화의 대표번호는 무엇입니까?What is the main number of the Women's Emergency Hotline?

1388 is the Youth Hotline for counseling and crisis help.

• 청소년전화의 대표번호는 몇 번입니까?What is the main number of the Youth Hotline?

117 is the school-violence report and counseling center.

• 학교폭력 피해를 신고할 수 있는 번호는 몇 번입니까?What number can you call to report school-violence damage?

129 is the Health & Welfare Call Center.

• 보건복지상담센터 대표번호는 몇 번입니까?What is the main number of the Health & Welfare Call Center?

1350 is the Ministry of Employment and Labor customer center.

• 고용노동부 고객상담센터 번호는 몇 번입니까?What is the number of the Ministry of Employment and Labor customer center?

Danuri (1577-1366) supports multicultural families in 13 languages.

• 결혼이민자 등이 이용하는 다누리콜센터 대표번호는 무엇입니까?What is the main number of the Danuri Call Center used by marriage immigrants?

You pay premiums while working and receive a pension in old age.

• 근로기간 보험료를 내고 노후에 연금을 받는 제도는 무엇입니까?What system lets you pay premiums during your working years and receive a pension in old age?

With health insurance, you pay only part of the medical bill.

• 대한민국의 대표적인 공적 의료보험은 무엇입니까?What is Korea's main public medical insurance?

Employment insurance pays unemployment benefits and supports job training.

• 직장을 잃었을 때 일정 요건에 따라 실업급여를 받을 수 있게 하는 보험은 무엇입니까?What insurance lets you receive unemployment benefits under certain conditions when you lose your job?

Work injuries are compensated regardless of nationality.

• 산재를 입은 근로자를 보호하는 보험은 무엇입니까?What insurance protects workers who suffer industrial accidents?

These four are Korea's core social safety net for workers.

• 근로자가 흔히 가입하는 네 가지 공적 보험을 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we call the four public insurances that workers commonly join?

The NHIS manages enrollment and premiums for health insurance.

• 건강보험료와 건강보험 자격을 관리하는 기관은 어디입니까?Which agency manages health-insurance premiums and eligibility?

The NPS collects contributions and pays pensions.

• 노령연금 등 국민연금 업무를 담당하는 기관은 어디입니까?Which agency handles National Pension work such as old-age pensions?

COMWEL handles industrial-accident claims and workers' welfare.

• 업무상 재해 보상과 산재보험을 담당하는 기관은 어디입니까?Which agency handles compensation for work-related accidents and industrial accident insurance?

Your neighborhood jumin center handles certificates and reports.

• 동네에서 기본 행정 민원을 처리하는 행정복지센터를 흔히 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we commonly call the neighborhood administrative welfare center that handles basic civil affairs?

At gov.kr you can print many certificates without visiting an office.

• 주민등록등본 등 민원서비스를 인터넷으로 이용하는 정부 사이트는 무엇입니까?What government website lets you use civil services such as resident-register copies over the internet?

File it within 14 days of moving, at the jumin center or online.

• 거주지를 옮겼을 때 주소 변경을 신고하는 절차는 무엇입니까?What is the procedure for reporting an address change when you relocate?

Dual-income families are now very common in Korea.

File civil complaints and proposals online at epeople.go.kr.

The deungbon lists everyone registered at your address.

The post office also offers banking and insurance services.

Major dailies also publish the same news online.

A marriage takes legal effect when it is registered.

• 결혼 사실을 가족관계등록부에 올리는 신고는 무엇입니까?What report puts the fact of marriage on the family relations register?

Register the birth within one month, in principle.

• 신생아를 가족관계등록부에 올리기 위해 하는 신고는 무엇입니까?What report puts a newborn on the family relations register?

Report within one month from learning of the death, in principle.

• 가족이 세상을 떠난 뒤 관청에 하는 신고는 무엇입니까?What report do you make to the office after a family member passes away?

In jeonse you get the whole deposit back when the contract ends.

• 한국의 주거 형태 중 보증금 중심의 임대차를 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we call the deposit-centered lease among Korean housing types?

Wolse combines a smaller deposit with monthly rent.

• 매달 임대료를 지급하는 주택 계약을 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we call a housing contract that pays rent every month?

Always verify the deposit amount in the written contract.

• 전세나 월세 계약 때 담보 성격으로 맡기는 돈은 무엇입니까?What money is left as a form of security when signing a jeonse or wolse contract?

Buy the official bags at supermarkets and convenience stores.

• 쓰레기 양에 따라 비용을 부담하도록 만든 지정 봉투를 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we call the designated bag that makes you pay according to the amount of waste?

Recyclables go out sorted by material, on set days.

• 재활용품을 재질별로 구분해 버리는 행동을 무엇이라고 합니까?What do we call separating recyclables by material when throwing them away?

The Labor Standards Act applies to foreign workers as well.

• 근로자를 보호하기 위한 대표적인 노동법은 무엇입니까?What is the representative labor law that protects workers?

The statutory limit is 40 hours a week, 8 hours a day.

• 휴게시간을 제외한 기본 주당 근로시간은 얼마입니까?Excluding break time, what is the basic weekly working time?

A beolgeum is a criminal penalty, unlike the administrative gwataeryo.

Visas and stay periods are governed by the Immigration Act.

It shows parents, spouse, and children as officially registered.

Elementary school (6 years) plus middle school (3 years) is compulsory.

• 초등학교와 중학교를 합한 의무교육 기간은 얼마입니까?How long is compulsory education, combining elementary and middle school?

Elementary school runs from grade 1 to grade 6.

• 초등학교는 보통 몇 학년까지 있습니까?Up to what grade does elementary school usually go?

Middle school covers grades 1 to 3 (three years).

• 중학교는 보통 몇 년 동안 다닙니까?For how many years do students usually attend middle school?
• 대한민국 일반 고등학교의 기본 교육과정은 몇 년입니까?How many years is the basic course of a general high school in Korea?
• 고등학교는 보통 몇 년 과정입니까?How many years is a high school program, usually?

The Suneung is held once a year, in November.

• 고등학생들이 흔히 '수능'이라고 부르는 시험의 정식 명칭은 무엇입니까?What is the official name of the exam that high schoolers commonly call 'Suneung'?

Hongik Ingan, from the Dangun story, is the guiding ideal of education.

It means living so as to benefit all people widely.

Cards are accepted almost everywhere in Korea, even for small amounts.

Bank accounts must be opened in your own verified name.

Take the prescription to a pharmacy to get your medicine.

It protects deposits and guarantees minimum lease terms.

Get a fixed date at the jumin center to protect your deposit priority.

The person who borrows the house is the imchain.

The person who lends the house is the imdaein.

Put the deposit, rent, and term in writing and keep a copy.

Wages and hours must be written down; keep your copy.

The minimum wage is set nationally every year.

Unpaid wages can be reported to the labor office.

Report unpaid wages to the local employment and labor office.

After one year or more of service, severance pay is required.

Industrial accidents are compensated through industrial-accident insurance.

Both spouses appear at the family court to confirm the agreement.

When no agreement is reached, a court judges the divorce.

1372 is the consumer counseling hotline.

Taking things without consent is the crime of theft.

Voice phishing is a common type of fraud — be careful.

Guard your ID card and personal numbers carefully.

Debts can be inherited too, so you may renounce inheritance.

A will made in the legal form takes effect after death.

The down payment proves the contract and is usually about 10%.

Hand lost items to the police station or patrol post.

Call 132 for legal aid counseling.

Write the amount, date, and repayment terms, and both sign.

Always check the register before signing a housing contract.

Talk it out or use the management office and mediation — do not retaliate.

Nowadays many people check transactions in banking apps instead.

Drive slowly — penalties are heavier in school zones.

In school zones, keep it under 30 km/h.

All seats require seat belts, front and back.

Drunk driving is a crime with severe punishment — never do it.

Red means stop; green means go.

Cross only at the crosswalk, on the green light.

Move aside so emergency vehicles can pass first.

For accidents call 112; for injuries also call 119.

Driving without mandatory insurance is punished.

Learn where the extinguishers are in your building.

Smoke rises, so crawl low with your mouth covered.

Do not touch switches — sparks can ignite the gas.

Protect your head first, then evacuate to open ground when shaking stops.

Avoid basements and riversides; move up, not down.

Check disaster alerts and shelters at safekorea.go.kr.

The local health center offers testing and vaccinations at low cost.

Food waste goes in its own bag or bin, not with general trash.

Report at the jumin center or online and attach the sticker before disposal.

Smoking in a no-smoking zone brings a fine.

A gwataeryo is an administrative fine, distinct from criminal punishment.

Firefighters handle fires, rescue, and emergency transport.

KTX stands for Korea Train eXpress.

Buses, subways, and taxis all take the transportation card.

Transfer discounts apply when you tap the card between bus and subway.

Call 112 whenever you need the police.