법률·행정 한국어Legal and Administrative Korean
Chapter Objectives
By the end of this chapter, you will be able to:
- Read and interpret regulatory, procedural, and institutional Korean texts, including notices, application guidelines, and clauses stating rights and obligations.
- Use specialized legal and administrative vocabulary accurately, including terms for rights, duties, procedures, deadlines, penalties, and institutional bodies.
- Explain a procedure or requirement in formal Korean, sequencing steps and conditions clearly for a reader who must comply with them.
- Distinguish rights language from obligation language, and identify which party bears responsibility in a given clause.
- Complete and explain institutional forms, applications, and formal requests using accurate register and required conventions.
- Apply the register, argument, density, and mediation judgment consolidated in Chapter 5 to the legal and administrative domain.
This chapter introduces no new particles, endings, speech levels, honorific systems, counters, or sound changes. It applies systems already active through Chapter 5 to a new domain: legal and administrative Korean.
Opening Scenario
수아는 이번에는 다른 부서의 요청으로, 사내 규정 하나를 검토하고 직원들에게 설명하는 업무를 맡았다. 인사팀장이 이렇게 말한다: "이번에 개정된 재택근무 규정을 검토해서, 직원들이 이해하기 쉽게 설명해 주세요. 신청 절차, 자격 요건, 그리고 규정을 지키지 않았을 때 어떤 조치가 있는지까지 포함해서요. 또한 신청서 양식도 같이 검토해 주시고, 혹시 애매한 조항이 있으면 인사팀에 문의하도록 안내해 주세요." 수아는 규정문의 딱딱한 표현을 정확히 이해하고, 그것을 다시 명확하고 실용적인 안내문으로 바꾸어야 한다.
- You will study specialized vocabulary for rights, obligations, procedures, and institutional bodies.
- You will examine how Korean regulatory and procedural texts are structured.
- You will read a workplace regulation and a related notice, and identify rights, obligations, and procedures within them.
- You will listen to a short administrative announcement and extract its key requirements.
- You will explain a regulation in your own words and complete a related institutional form.
Core Vocabulary: Legal and Administrative Korean
The following productive vocabulary supports reading, explaining, and producing regulatory, procedural, and institutional Korean. Most items are Sino-Korean compounds common to legal, administrative, and workplace documents.
| Korean | Meaning | Category / Note |
|---|---|---|
| 규정 | regulation, rule | noun; formal compound |
| 조항 | clause, provision | noun; used with 제1조 등 (Article 1, etc.) |
| 개정하다 | to revise, amend (a regulation or law) | action verb; 개정 as noun |
| 시행하다 | to implement, put into effect | action verb; 시행 as noun |
| 적용되다 | to be applied, to apply (to a case) | passive-form verb |
| 권리 | right | noun |
| 의무 | obligation, duty | noun |
| 책임 | responsibility | noun |
| 자격 요건 | eligibility requirement | noun phrase |
| 신청하다 | to apply (for something) | action verb; 신청 as noun |
| 신청서 | application form | noun |
| 제출하다 | to submit | action verb; 제출 as noun |
| 승인하다 | to approve | action verb; 승인 as noun |
| 반려하다 | to return (a document) unapproved, reject | action verb; formal/administrative |
| 절차 | procedure | noun |
| 단계 | stage, step | noun; also a counter |
| 기한 | deadline, time limit | noun |
| 기간 | period, duration | noun |
| 위반하다 | to violate | action verb; 위반 as noun |
| 준수하다 | to comply with, observe | action verb; formal register |
| 조치 | measure, action taken (esp. by an institution) | noun |
| 불이익 | disadvantage, penalty (non-monetary) | noun |
| 과태료 | administrative fine | noun |
| 해당하다 | to correspond to, fall under (a category) | action verb |
| 제외하다 | to exclude | action verb; 제외 as noun |
| 예외 | exception | noun |
| 대상자 | eligible party, subject (of a rule) | noun |
| 담당 부서 | responsible department | noun phrase |
| 문의하다 | to inquire | action verb; 문의 as noun |
| 이의를 제기하다 | to raise an objection | verb phrase; formal |
| 심사하다 | to review, examine (a case or application) | action verb; 심사 as noun |
| 근거 | basis, grounds | noun |
| 명시하다 | to specify, state explicitly | action verb; formal |
| 해석하다 | to interpret (a rule or clause) | action verb; 해석 as noun |
| 시행일 | effective date | noun |
| 공고하다 | to publicly announce (officially) | action verb; institutional register |
| 공고문 | public notice | noun |
| 양식 | form, template | noun |
| 서명하다 | to sign | action verb; 서명 as noun |
| 날인하다 | to affix a seal/stamp | action verb; formal/legal document context |
| 첨부하다 | to attach (a document) | action verb; 첨부 as noun |
| 증빙 서류 | supporting documents, evidence documents | noun phrase |
| 유효하다 | to be valid, in effect | descriptive verb |
| 무효로 하다 | to invalidate, nullify | verb phrase |
| 계약 | contract | noun |
| 당사자 | party (to an agreement) | noun |
| 피해자 | affected party, victim | noun |
| 이행하다 | to fulfill, carry out (an obligation) | action verb; formal |
| 불이행 | non-fulfillment | noun |
| 고지하다 | to notify formally | action verb; institutional register |
Expected productive load for this chapter: approximately 45–80 items, of which the table above represents the core set. Regional, casual, or slang forms are not active in this domain and do not appear here.
Receptive and Specialized Vocabulary
The following items may appear in regulatory texts for recognition only. They are not required for independent production in this chapter.
| Korean | Meaning | Status |
|---|---|---|
| 부칙 | supplementary provisions (of a regulation) | receptive — document-structure term |
| 시행령 | enforcement decree | receptive — legal-system term |
| 준용하다 | to apply mutatis mutandis (a legal drafting term) | receptive — highly specialized |
| 이의신청 | formal appeal/objection filing | receptive — institutional-procedure term |
Pronunciation Focus: Reading Formal Compounds Aloud
This chapter introduces no new sounds or sound changes. It reviews how already-active liaison and tensification patterns apply to the dense Sino-Korean compounds common in legal and administrative vocabulary, and it develops pacing appropriate to reading a regulation aloud clearly.
Regulatory text is often organized by numbered articles, such as 제1조 ("Article 1") or 제2항 ("Paragraph 2"). When reading these aloud, pronounce the number using Sino-Korean numerals and pause briefly after the clause number before continuing into the clause itself, so the listener can register the reference point. Dense compounds such as 불이행 or 과태료 should be read as single prosodic units rather than broken artificially into separate words.
Grammar and Patterns: Stating Rights, Obligations, and Procedures
This chapter introduces no new particles, endings, speech levels, or honorific systems. It applies structures already active through Chapter 5 — passive forms, conditionals, formal written endings, and noun-modifying clauses — to the specific communicative demands of legal and administrative Korean.
1. Stating an obligation formally
Obligation in regulatory Korean typically uses the already-active pattern -아/어야 하다, often in its more formal variant -아/어야 한다, combined with plain written style.
- 신청자는 신청서를 기한 내에 제출해야 한다.The applicant must submit the application form within the deadline.obligation, plain written style
- 담당 부서는 신청서를 접수한 날로부터 5일 이내에 심사 결과를 통보해야 한다.The responsible department must notify the review result within five days of receiving the application.obligation, institutional subject
2. Stating a right or entitlement
Rights are typically expressed with -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 or with the noun 권리 directly, marking who holds the right and under what condition.
- 직원은 규정에 따라 재택근무를 신청할 수 있다.Employees may apply for remote work in accordance with the regulation.entitlement, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다
- 신청이 반려된 직원은 그 사유에 대해 이의를 제기할 권리가 있다.An employee whose application has been rejected has the right to raise an objection regarding the reason.explicit right, noun-modifying clause identifying the rights-holder
3. Conditional clauses in regulatory text
Regulatory Korean frequently states a condition before its consequence, using the already-active connector -(으)ㄹ 경우 ("in the case that") alongside -(으)면. 경우 is preferred in formal regulatory writing because it reads as more precise and institutional than the everyday -(으)면 alone.
- 규정을 위반할 경우, 소속 부서장에게 그 사실이 통보된다.In the case that the regulation is violated, the fact is notified to the department head.condition + passive consequence
- 기한 내에 서류를 제출하지 않을 경우, 신청은 자동으로 반려된다.If the documents are not submitted within the deadline, the application is automatically rejected.negative condition + institutional consequence
4. Noun-modifying clauses identifying parties and categories
Legal and administrative Korean relies heavily on noun-modifying clauses, already active since earlier volumes, to define precisely which party or category a clause addresses.
- 본 규정이 적용되는 대상자는 입사 1년 이상의 정규직 직원이다.The eligible parties to whom this regulation applies are regular employees with one year or more of service.noun-modifying clause defining scope
- 신청서를 제출한 직원은 심사 결과를 이메일로 통보받는다.Employees who have submitted an application receive the review result by email.noun-modifying clause identifying who receives an action
Every ending in this section — -아/어야 하다, -(으)ㄹ 수 있다, -(으)ㄹ 경우, passive forms, and noun-modifying clauses — is already active from earlier chapters and volumes. What is new is the density and precision with which these familiar structures identify parties, conditions, and consequences in institutional writing.
Model Dialogue: Explaining a Regulation
수아가 동료 직원에게 개정된 재택근무 규정을 설명하는 장면 (교육용 예시)
분석 — Analysis: Identify where 수아 states an eligibility condition, a deadline as an obligation, a consequence of missing the deadline, and a right available to the employee.
Reading: A Workplace Regulation and Notice
Read the following two short institutional texts, written for this course as general-purpose instructional material.
자료 1 — 사내 규정 발췌 (교육용 예시)
제3조 (신청 자격) 본 규정에 따른 재택근무는 입사 1년 이상의 정규직 직원을 대상자로 한다. 단, 수습 기간 중인 직원은 이 규정의 적용에서 제외된다.
제4조 (신청 절차) 신청자는 소정의 신청서를 작성하여 매월 마지막 주 금요일까지 담당 부서에 제출해야 한다. 담당 부서는 신청서를 접수한 날로부터 5일 이내에 심사 결과를 신청자에게 통보한다.
제5조 (위반 시 조치) 재택근무 중 업무 수행 의무를 이행하지 않는 것이 확인될 경우, 해당 직원의 재택근무 승인은 취소될 수 있다.
자료 2 — 공고문 (교육용 예시)
재택근무 규정 개정 안내
시행일: 다음 달 1일부터
본 규정의 개정 내용에 대해 궁금하신 점이 있으신 직원께서는 인사팀으로 문의하여 주시기 바랍니다. 신청서 양식은 사내 게시판에서 내려받으실 수 있습니다.
분석 과제 — Analysis task:
- Identify the clause in 자료 1 that states an obligation, and name who bears it.
- Identify the clause in 자료 1 that states an exception, and explain who is excluded.
- Identify the clause in 자료 1 that describes a consequence for non-fulfillment of an obligation.
- Using 자료 2, explain in one sentence what an employee should do if they have a question about the revised regulation.
- Write one sentence, following the Building Block pattern above, that summarizes the overall structure of 자료 1 in your own words.
Listening Practice
Ask your instructor, a language partner, or a text-to-speech tool to read the following short administrative announcement aloud. Listen once for the overall requirement, then identify the deadline, the responsible department, and the consequence of non-compliance.
인사팀 담당자가 사내 방송으로 안내하는 장면 (교육용 예시)
듣기 과제 — Listening task: Listen and answer in English.
| 질문 | 답 |
|---|---|
| What is the deadline stated in the announcement? | ______ |
| What happens to an application submitted after the deadline? | ______ |
| Which department should employees contact with questions? | ______ |
Speaking Practice
1단계 — 짝 활동 — Explaining a regulation to a colleague
With a partner, one person plays a new employee asking about a workplace regulation (this chapter's remote work policy or a similar one you invent). The other explains the eligibility requirement, the procedure, the deadline, and what happens if the deadline is missed, using formal but accessible Korean. Reverse roles with a different regulation.
2단계 — 문의 응대 — Responding to an inquiry about rejection
Role-play a phone or in-person inquiry in which an employee's application has been rejected and they want to know their options. The responding speaker should state the employee's right to object and explain the next procedural step.
혼자 하는 연습 — Solo alternative
Record yourself explaining 자료 1's regulation aloud in your own words, as if speaking to a new employee who has not read the original text. Confirm that you accurately convey the eligibility requirement, the procedure, the deadline, and the consequence for non-compliance.
Writing Workshop: Explaining a Regulation and Completing a Form
Use 자료 1 and 자료 2 above, or a comparable workplace regulation of your choosing, to complete the following writing tasks.
소속 부서: ________________
입사일: ________________
신청 사유: ________________
희망 시작일: ________________
서명: ________________
체크리스트 — Checklist:
- The eligible party or condition is stated precisely, using a noun-modifying clause where useful.
- Obligations use -아/어야 하다 and rights use -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 or 권리 accurately.
- The deadline and procedure are stated clearly and in a logical order.
- The consequence of non-compliance is stated, not omitted.
- Register remains formal and consistent throughout.
- Spacing, particles, and Hangeul spelling are accurate, with no romanization.
- No structure appears beyond what is active through Volume V, Chapter 6.
Culture and Communication
South Korean workplace regulations are commonly organized into numbered articles (제1조, 제2조, and so on), a structural convention borrowed from formal legal drafting. Employees are generally expected to be able to locate the specific article relevant to a question rather than relying only on a general summary, so plain-language explanations that still reference the relevant article number are often considered more helpful and more credible.
Government agencies, private companies, and universities in South Korea may each have their own house style for regulatory and procedural documents, with some variation in preferred formal vocabulary and document formatting. The vocabulary and patterns in this chapter reflect common, broadly applicable usage; learners working with a specific institution's documents should confirm that institution's own conventions rather than assuming one pattern is universal.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
Error: Using -아/어야 하다 to describe something that is actually optional, or using -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 to describe something that is actually mandatory, so the reader cannot tell whether an action is required or merely permitted.
Correction: Confirm, from the source regulation, whether a clause describes a duty or an entitlement before choosing the ending, and keep the two forms distinct throughout a document.
Error: Stating a rule without specifying who it applies to, such as writing 신청서를 제출해야 한다 alone when the source regulation restricts the rule to a specific category of employee.
Correction: Use a noun-modifying clause or an explicit subject to name the party or condition precisely, as in 입사 1년 이상의 정규직 직원은 신청서를 제출해야 한다.
Error: Summarizing a regulation's procedure and deadline but omitting what happens if the deadline or requirement is not met, leaving the reader without practical guidance.
Correction: Always state the consequence, using a conditional clause such as -(으)ㄹ 경우, so the explanation remains practically useful.
Chapter Review
Section A — 어휘 (Vocabulary)
1. For ten items in the Core Vocabulary table, write one original sentence in the context of a workplace regulation of your choosing.
Section B — 읽기 (Reading)
1. Complete the five analysis questions from the reading section above.
Section C — 듣기 (Listening)
1. Complete the listening task questions above.
Section D — 쓰기 (Writing)
1. Complete the five-step writing workshop and checklist.
Section E — 말하기 (Speaking)
1. Complete the explaining-a-regulation task and the inquiry role-play, either with a partner or using the solo alternative.
누적 복습 — Cumulative review
This chapter recycles register control, argument structure, density control, and mediation judgment from Chapter 5, together with passive forms, conditionals, and noun-modifying clauses from earlier volumes, applying them to legal and administrative Korean.
Performance Task
수행 과제 — Chapter 6 Performance Task
규정 설명서 작성 — Drafting a Plain-Language Regulation Guide
Select a workplace, school, or institutional regulation, either the remote work regulation used throughout this chapter or a comparable regulation of your own choosing. Produce a complete project with three parts.
- Plain-language guide (Korean): A formal but accessible explanation (100–150 words) of the regulation's eligibility requirement, procedure, deadline, and consequence for non-compliance.
- Rights and obligations list: A short list separating which parts of the regulation are obligations and which are rights, each supported by one sentence from your guide.
- Completed application form: A filled-in sample form appropriate to the regulation, following the model form above.
| Criterion | What is evaluated |
|---|---|
| Vocabulary accuracy | Legal and administrative vocabulary is used accurately and appropriately |
| Rights vs. obligations | Rights and obligations are clearly and correctly distinguished |
| Party and condition precision | The eligible party or condition is stated precisely for each rule |
| Procedure clarity | The procedure and deadline are sequenced logically and clearly |
| Consequence stated | The consequence of non-compliance is present and accurate |
| Register control | Formal register is sustained consistently throughout |
| Form completion | The application form is completed accurately and appropriately |
| Hangeul and spacing accuracy | Accurate spelling and level-appropriate spacing throughout, no romanization |
Answer Key
Reading analysis
- Sample response: Article 4 states that the applicant must submit the application form by the last Friday of each month; the obligation is borne by the applicant (신청자).
- Sample response: Article 3 excludes employees who are still in their probationary period (수습 기간) from the regulation's application.
- Sample response: Article 5 states that if an employee fails to fulfill their work duties while working remotely, their remote work approval may be canceled.
- Sample response: An employee with questions about the revised regulation should contact the HR department (인사팀).
- Sample response: 입사 1년 이상의 정규직 직원은 신청서를 기한 내에 제출해야 하며, 위반 시 승인이 취소될 수 있다.
Listening comprehension
- Sample response: The deadline is the last Friday of the current month.
- Sample response: An application submitted after the deadline has its receipt held until the next review period.
- Sample response: Employees should contact the HR department (인사팀) with questions.
Section D — Sample regulation guide (abridged)
이 규정은 입사 1년 이상의 정규직 직원을 대상으로 합니다. 신청서를 매월 마지막 주 금요일까지 담당 부서에 제출해야 하며, 담당 부서는 5일 이내에 심사 결과를 통보합니다. 기한을 넘기면 신청이 반려될 수 있으니 주의하시기 바랍니다.
Rights: employees may apply for remote work; employees may raise an objection if rejected. Obligations: submitting the application by the deadline; fulfilling work duties while working remotely.
Section E — Sample discussion
Sample response: A clear explanation states the eligible party first, then the procedure and deadline, then the consequence, using -아/어야 하다 for obligations and -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 or 권리 for rights, keeping the two grammatically distinct throughout.
Looking Ahead
지금 할 수 있는 것 — What you can do now
You can read and interpret a workplace or institutional regulation, distinguish rights from obligations, explain a procedure and its consequences in formal but accessible Korean, and complete an institutional application form accurately.