Korean for Business Professionals

Q: What's the most important business Korean phrase?

감사합니다 (kamsahamnida, "Thank you" in formal speech) and 죄송합니다 (jesonghamnida, "I'm sorry" in formal speech) are essential in every business interaction. Koreans place enormous value on gratitude and humility in professional settings. These two phrases, said sincerely and frequently, will serve you well in any Korean business context.

South Korea is the world's 10th-largest economy. Samsung, Hyundai, LG, and Kia operate in every corner of the globe. Korean startups are reshaping fintech, beauty tech, and entertainment. For professionals who speak Korean, the career opportunities are substantial — and growing.

But business Korean isn't just everyday Korean with a suit on. It uses more formal speech levels, specialized vocabulary, and cultural protocols that don't appear in textbooks or K-dramas. A polite annyeonghaseyo won't cut it in a board meeting. You need annyeonghasimnikka — and you need to know when to use it.

This guide covers the essential phrases, cultural norms, and professional vocabulary for navigating Korean business settings. Whether you're preparing for a job interview at a Korean company, attending a conference, or building relationships with Korean partners, these phrases will give you a professional edge. For the complete Korean learning roadmap, start with our complete guide to learning Korean. For the broader context of Korean politeness, our guide to Korean honorifics explains the speech level system in detail.

Korean Business Culture Basics

Before you memorize phrases, understand the cultural framework that shapes every Korean business interaction.

Hierarchy and Respect

Korean workplaces are hierarchical. Your job title, age, and tenure determine your position relative to colleagues. This hierarchy isn't just social — it's structural. Decisions flow from the top. Junior staff don't contradict senior staff in meetings. And language reflects this at every level.

In practice, this means:

Always use formal speech (합쇼체, ending in -ㅂ/습니다) in meetings and with superiors
Address colleagues by their title: 김부장님 (Kim bujang-nim, "Manager Kim"), 이사님 (isa-nim, "Director")
Never use casual speech (banmal) with anyone senior, even after years of working together — unless they explicitly invite you to

Business Card Exchange (명함, myeongham)

The business card exchange is a ritual, not a formality. Here's how to do it correctly:

Stand when exchanging cards with someone senior
Present your card with both hands, Korean side facing the recipient
Receive the other person's card with both hands
Read the card carefully before putting it away — don't stuff it in your pocket immediately
Place the card on the table in front of you during the meeting (as a reference and a sign of respect)
Never write on someone's business card in front of them

A simple phrase during the exchange: 명함을 주셔서 감사합니다 (myeongham-eul jusyeoseo kamsahamnida, "Thank you for giving me your card").

Drinking Culture (회식, hoesik)

After-work dinners (hoesik) are an important part of Korean business bonding. They're technically optional but practically expected. At a hoesik:

Wait for the most senior person to pour your drink — never pour your own
When someone senior offers a drink, receive the glass with both hands
Turn your head slightly away when drinking in front of seniors
Pour drinks for others before your own glass is empty

Key phrase: 잘 마시겠습니다 (jal masigetseumnida, "I will drink well" — a polite acceptance).

Students engaged in study sessions in diverse classroom setting

Essential Meeting Phrases

Here are 15 phrases you'll use regularly in Korean business meetings. All are in formal speech (합쇼체).

Self-Introduction

안녕하십니까. [이름]입니다. (Annyeonghasimnikka. [I-rim]imnida.) — "Good day. I am [Name]."
[회사]에서 왔습니다. ([Hoesa]-eseo wasseumnida.) — "I came from [Company]."
[직책]을 맡고 있습니다. ([Jikchaek]-eul matgo itseumnida.) — "I hold the position of [Title]."
오늘 뵙게 되어 영광입니다. (Oneul naetge doeeo yeonggwang-imnida.) — "It's an honor to meet you today."

During the Meeting

네, 맞습니다. (Ne, majseumnida.) — "Yes, that's correct."
죄송합니다만, 다시 말씀해 주시겠습니까? (Jesonghamnida-man, dasi malsseumhae jusigetseumnikka?) — "I'm sorry, could you say that again?"
좋은 의견입니다. (Joeun uigyeon-imnida.) — "That's a good opinion/suggestion."
검토해 보겠습니다. (Geomtohae bogetseumnida.) — "I will review it."
다른 의견이 있으십니까? (Dareun uigyeon-i isseuseumnikka?) — "Does anyone have a different opinion?"

Agreeing and Disagreeing Politely

동의합니다. (Donguihamnida.) — "I agree."
이해했습니다만, 조금 다르게 생각하고 있습니다. (Ihaehaetseumnida-man, jogeum dareuge saenggak-hago itseumnida.) — "I understand, but I think slightly differently."
고려해 볼 필요가 있다고 생각합니다. (Goryeohae bol piryoga itda-go saenggakhamnida.) — "I think we need to consider it."

Closing

오늘 감사합니다. (Oneul kamsahamnida.) — "Thank you for today."
좋은 하루 보내십시오. (Joeun haru bonaesipsio.) — "Have a good day." (formal)
다음에 또 뵙겠습니다. (Eume tto naetgetseumnida.) — "I look forward to meeting again."

Email & Written Korean

Business emails in Korean follow a formal structure. Here are the key phrases:

Opening

[이름] [직책]님께, ([I-rim] [Jikchaek]-nim-kke,) — "Dear [Title] [Name],"
안녕하십니까, [이름]입니다. (Annyeonghasimnikka, [I-rim]imnida.) — "Good day, this is [Name]."
먼저 자기소개드립니다. (Meonjeo jagi-sogaedurimnida.) — "Let me introduce myself first."

Body Phrases

다음과 같이 연락드립니다. (Da-eum-ga gachi yeollak-deurimnida.) — "I am contacting you regarding the following."
첨부 파일을 확인해 주시기 바랍니다. (Cheombu pail-eul hwaginhae jusigi barabnida.) — "Please check the attached file."
검토 후 회신 부탁드립니다. (Geomto hu hoesin butak-deurimnida.) — "Please review and reply."

Closing

감사합니다. (Kamsahamnida.) — "Thank you." (always formal in emails)
[이름] 드림 ([I-rim] deurim) — "[Name] respectfully" (email sign-off)

Key principle: Written business Korean is always in formal speech (합쇼체). Never use casual or even polite-informal endings in a business email. The written word carries more weight in Korean culture than in English — a formal email shows professionalism and respect.

Networking & Small Talk

Professional networking in Korean requires a balance of formality and warmth. Here are phrases for making connections:

Professional Self-Introduction

[회사]에서 [업무]를 담당하고 있습니다. ([Hoesa]-eseo [eommu]-reul damdang-hago itseumnida.) — "I am in charge of [work] at [Company]."
[학교]에서 한국어를 공부했습니다. ([Hakgyo]-eseo hangugeo-reul gongbuhaetseumnida.) — "I studied Korean at [School]."

Asking About Others

어떤 일을 하고 계십니까? (Eotteon ireul hago gyesimnikka?) — "What kind of work do you do?" (honorific)
회사 생활은 어떠십니까? (Hoesa saenghwal-eun eotteosimnikka?) — "How is work life?"
오늘 행사에 오셔서 감사합니다. (Oneul haengsa-e osyeoseo kamsahamnida.) — "Thank you for coming to today's event."

Safe Conversation Topics

Good topics: food (음식), travel (여행), Korean culture (한국 문화), sports (스포츠), and asking about the other person's expertise.

Topics to avoid initially: politics, North Korea, salary, and overly personal questions. Let the other person guide the depth of conversation.

Happy student sitting at desk with open book ready to learn

Numbers, Dates & Money in Business Korean

Business contexts use Sino-Korean numbers exclusively — for prices, dates, percentages, and phone numbers. If you know native Korean numbers, set them aside for business settings.

Sino-Korean Numbers

Number	Korean	Reading
1	일	il
2	이	i
3	삼	sam
4	사	sa
5	오	o
10	십	sip
100	백	baek
1,000	천	cheon
10,000	만	man

Business Context Examples

가격: 백만 원 (baeng-man won) — "One million won"
날짜: 이천이십육년 삼월 십오일 (icheon-isip-yuk-nyeon sam-wol sip-o-il) — "March 15, 2026"
퍼센트: 십오 퍼센트 (sip-o peosenteu) — "15 percent"
전화번호: 공일공-삼사오육-칠팔구십 (gong-il-gong-sam-sa-o-yuk-chil-pal-gu-sip) — "010-3456-7890"

Taking Your Business Korean Further

Mastering business Korean is a long-term investment. Here's how to keep building:

Aim for TOPIK Level 4+. Most Korean companies expect at least intermediate proficiency for Korean-speaking roles. Our TOPIK study guide maps out the path from beginner to the level you need for professional Korean.

Study the honorific system deeply. Business Korean lives and dies by honorifics. The difference between a successful negotiation and an awkward silence often comes down to whether you used the right speech level. Our honorifics guide covers the system in detail.

Practice with real scenarios. Role-play business meetings, presentations, and networking events with a Korean language partner. The more you rehearse formal speech in realistic contexts, the more natural it feels when the real moment arrives.

Consider immersion. The fastest way to develop business Korean is to be in Korea. Studying in South Korea exposes you to Korean professional culture firsthand — the formal language, the after-work dinners, the business card rituals. Many Korean language programs offer business Korean courses at intermediate and advanced levels.

For comparison with other Asian business cultures, explore our guides to Japanese business etiquette and business Mandarin — each culture has its own professional norms, and understanding the differences gives you an edge across the region.

Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need fluent Korean to work at a Korean company?

Many Korean companies hire English speakers, especially in tech and international roles. However, Korean fluency significantly expands your opportunities and accelerates workplace integration. Even intermediate Korean (TOPIK Level 3–4) makes a meaningful difference in daily work life. Companies value the effort, and colleagues respond warmly to anyone who tries to communicate in Korean.

Is business Korean very different from everyday Korean?

Yes. Business Korean uses more formal speech levels (합쇼체), honorific vocabulary, and specific jargon that doesn't appear in casual conversation. Phrases like 검토해 보겠습니다 (geomtohae bogetseumnida, "I will review it") or 첨부 파일을 확인해 주시기 바랍니다 (cheombu pail-eul hwaginhae jusigi barabnida, "Please check the attached file") are standard in business but rare in daily life. The cultural protocols — business cards, hierarchy, drinking culture — add another layer.

What's the most important business Korean phrase?

감사합니다 (kamsahamnida, "Thank you" in formal speech) and 죄송합니다 (jesonghamnida, "I'm sorry" in formal speech) are essential in every business interaction. Koreans place enormous value on gratitude and humility in professional settings. These two phrases, said sincerely and frequently, will serve you well in any Korean business context.

Build Your Professional Korean Today

Business Korean isn't just about vocabulary — it's about showing respect, understanding hierarchy, and communicating with professionalism. Start with the phrases above, practice them in context, and build toward the fluency that opens doors in Korea's dynamic economy.

Whether you're preparing for an interview, planning a business trip, or building a long-term career in Korea, the investment pays dividends. Explore Korean language programs and take the next step toward professional fluency. 성공하세요! (seonggonghaseyo! — "Be successful!")