Level 3 · Confident Speaker
Navigate Korean business meetings and presentations with confidence. Learn essential vocabulary for agendas, proposals, reporting results, and the grammar patterns that make your formal speech sound professional.
14 words · tap 🔊 to hear native-speaker pronunciation
Meetings (회의) are the heartbeat of Korean corporate life. From morning briefings to project reviews, knowing how to participate — or lead — a meeting in Korean is a critical professional skill.
Korean meetings have their own rhythm: they follow hierarchy in seating and speaking order, rely heavily on formal language, and often conclude with consensus rather than a vote. Presentations (발표) follow similarly structured conventions, with specific phrases for introducing data, stating conclusions, and inviting feedback.
In this unit, you'll learn 14 essential meeting and presentation vocabulary words — from 안건 (agenda) to 피드백 (feedback) — plus two grammar patterns that are staples of formal Korean presentations: -(으)ㄹ 것으로 보입니다 (it appears that) and -에 따르면 (according to). Ready to take your seat at the Korean conference table? 회의를 시작하겠습니다!
meeting / conference
오후 2시에 회의가 있습니다.There is a meeting at 2 PM.
💡 Memory tip: 회 (gathering) + 의 (discuss/deliberate) — a gathering for discussion. The cornerstone of Korean corporate life!
Pronunciation: 회의 is pronounced [회의] or [회이]. The second ㅢ often reduces to [이] in natural speech.
agenda / matter for discussion
오늘의 안건은 세 가지입니다.There are three items on today's agenda.
💡 Memory tip: 안 (proposal/plan) + 건 (matter/case) — a matter that's been proposed. The items on the meeting agenda!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [안건]. The ㄴ batchim in 안 flows into the ㄱ of 건. Clear pronunciation.
presentation / announcement
다음 주에 프로젝트 발표가 있습니다.There is a project presentation next week.
💡 Memory tip: 발 (emit/send out) + 표 (express/show) — sending out and expressing ideas. Presenting your work to the world!
Pronunciation: 발표 is pronounced [발표]. The ㄹ batchim in 발 connects to the ㅍ of 표. Clean pronunciation.
materials / data / documents
회의 자료를 미리 보내 주세요.Please send the meeting materials in advance.
💡 Memory tip: 자 (resource) + 료 (material) — resource materials. The data and documents you need for your presentation!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [자료]. The ㄹ in 료 has the initial ㄹ sound. Two clean syllables.
opinion / view
이 안건에 대한 의견을 말씀해 주십시오.Please share your opinion on this agenda item.
💡 Memory tip: 의 (meaning/righteous) + 견 (view/see) — a view formed with meaning. Your professional perspective on the matter!
Pronunciation: 의견 is pronounced [의견] or [이견]. The ㅢ vowel often reduces to [이] in casual speech.
proposal / suggestion
새로운 제안을 드리겠습니다.I would like to make a new proposal.
💡 Memory tip: 제 (present/offer) + 안 (plan/idea) — presenting an idea. Your carefully crafted proposal!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [제안]. Two distinct syllables. The ㅔ vowel in 제 is open, and 안 has the nasal ㄴ batchim.
decision
최종 결정은 다음 주에 내리겠습니다.The final decision will be made next week.
💡 Memory tip: 결 (determine/conclude) + 정 (fix/settle) — concluding and settling on something. The final call!
Pronunciation: 결정 is pronounced [결쩡]. The ㄹ batchim in 결 causes the ㅈ in 정 to tense to [ㅉ].
attendance / participation
회의에 참석해 주셔서 감사합니다.Thank you for attending the meeting.
💡 Memory tip: 참 (participate) + 석 (seat) — taking your seat to participate. Being present at the meeting!
Pronunciation: 참석 is pronounced [참석]. The ㅁ batchim in 참 flows into ㅅ of 석. Final ㄱ is unreleased.
progress / proceeding / facilitation
프로젝트 진행 상황을 보고하겠습니다.I will report on the project progress.
💡 Memory tip: 진 (advance/move forward) + 행 (go/walk) — advancing and going forward. Making progress!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [진행]. The ㄴ batchim in 진 connects to ㅎ of 행. Clear pronunciation.
report / reporting
주간 보고서를 제출해 주세요.Please submit the weekly report.
💡 Memory tip: 보 (report/inform) + 고 (tell/announce) — informing and announcing. Delivering your findings to the team!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [보고]. Two clean open syllables. Very straightforward pronunciation.
result / outcome
조사 결과를 발표하겠습니다.I will present the survey results.
💡 Memory tip: 결 (conclude) + 과 (fruit/outcome) — the fruit of conclusions. What you get at the end of the process!
Pronunciation: 결과 is pronounced [결과]. The ㄹ batchim in 결 connects to the ㄱ of 과. Clean pronunciation.
schedule / timetable
다음 회의 일정을 잡겠습니다.I will set the schedule for the next meeting.
💡 Memory tip: 일 (day/date) + 정 (fix/determine) — fixing the dates. Your planned schedule!
Pronunciation: 일정 is pronounced [일쩡]. The ㄹ batchim in 일 causes the ㅈ in 정 to tense to [ㅉ].
deadline / closing
마감일이 이번 주 금요일입니다.The deadline is this Friday.
💡 Memory tip: 마 (final/end) + 감 (close/wrap up) — the final closing point. The dreaded deadline!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [마감]. Two clean syllables with the ㅁ batchim in 감.
feedback
발표에 대한 피드백 부탁드립니다.I would appreciate feedback on the presentation.
💡 Memory tip: A loanword from English "feedback" — widely used in Korean business. Just add Korean pronunciation!
Pronunciation: Pronounced [피드백]. A loanword adapted to Korean phonetics. Final ㄱ is unreleased.
Korean meetings are deeply influenced by Confucian values of hierarchy and group harmony. Understanding these unwritten rules is essential for professional success.
-- Seating Hierarchy (자리 배치): In Korean meetings, seating is not random. The most senior person typically sits at the head of the table or farthest from the door (상석, the "upper seat"). Junior members sit closer to the door, as they are expected to handle tasks like adjusting the room temperature, managing the projector, or getting refreshments. Knowing where to sit shows your understanding of Korean corporate culture.
-- Speaking Order (발언 순서): Opinions are often shared in order of seniority, with the most junior members speaking first and the most senior person speaking last. This prevents juniors from simply agreeing with their superiors. However, the final decision almost always rests with the highest-ranking person present. If you're a junior employee, offering your opinion before being asked is risky — wait for your turn or for the senior to invite comments.
-- Consensus Culture (합의 문화): Korean meetings often aim for group consensus rather than majority vote. The phrase 다 같은 의견이시죠? (We're all in agreement, right?) is commonly used to confirm that everyone is on board. Dissenting after this point is very difficult, which is why it's important to voice concerns early in the discussion.
-- 회식 (Company Dinner) After Meetings: Important meetings, especially milestone events or team-building sessions, are often followed by 회식 — a company dinner that typically involves Korean BBQ and drinking. 회식 is where real relationship-building happens and where decisions made in the meeting room get their informal seal of approval. Attendance is technically optional but practically expected.
-- Silent Agreement (침묵의 동의): In Korean meetings, silence often means agreement. If no one objects to a proposal, it's generally assumed to be accepted. This differs from Western meetings where explicit verbal agreement is expected.
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