How to Write an Email in Korean
The process of learning Korean can bring about several emotions. You might feel overwhelmed learning an entirely new alphabet, a bit stuck with your pronunciation, or even confused about how to greet people based on social class. However, as with learning anything new, the key is to take things slow and stay dedicated to practicing. This is especially true when learning how to write an email in Korean. Writing an email in Korean requires a different approach to greetings, body structure, and even sign-offs. To help you learn everything you need to write the perfect email in Korean, check out our guide below.
A Few Tips for Writing an Email in Korean
Writing an email in Korean requires specific formatting that varies slightly from writing an email in English. Here are some of the most important tips for writing an email in Korean.
Formatting an Email in Korean
First, make sure you clearly state the purpose of the email and your name or company name in the subject line, as many emails in Korean are screened this way. Then, you’ll introduce yourself. Although this seems a bit backward, most emails in Korean begin by addressing the recipient, introducing the sender, then clearly stating the intention of the email before signing off. Short, sweet, and to the point.
Choosing the Right Title
The title or greeting you use will depend on their social standing and their relationship to you. You’ll need to use more formal email greetings or titles when writing to someone you have a professional relationship with or who holds a superior position. You can use more casual titles and greetings when writing to a friend, family member, or significant other. The entire email language should match the formality of the title, so it’s important to understand who you’re emailing from the beginning.
The Use of Emoticons
Emoticons or emojis are common in Korean culture, so they’re used in emails occasionally. When exchanging emails between friends or family, many people use ^^. This is a smiley face emoticon used in casual Korean emails. While you might think business emails abandon them altogether, sometimes you might see a simple :) being used. This is usually reserved for business associates with rapport and is never used more than once throughout the email.
Some Useful Terms for Emails in Korean
It’s also a good idea to familiarize yourself with a few useful terms (i.e., sender vs. receiver) in Korean. Some of the most important ones to know when learning how to write an email in Korean include the following:
- 보내는 사람 — Sender
- 받는 사람 — Reciever
- 제목 — Subject
- 회신 — Reply
- 전달 — Forward
- 보내기 — Send
- 참조 — CC
- 숨은 참조 — BCC
Since you’ll need to include your name when writing an email in Korean, it will be fairly obvious to the recipient that you’re not a native Korean speaker. This means you’ll get a bit of leeway from the reader, so it’s okay if it’s not perfect from the start.
Greetings for an Email in Korean
When you’re ready to start writing, make sure you have a few of the most common greetings for an email in Korean handy! To help you practice using these in different situations, download Tandem and find a native Korean speaker to act as your pen pal. In the meantime, try to familiarize yourself with the following email openers.
친애하는 관계자님께 드립니다
This is a simple way to say, “Dear Sir/Madam.” It can be used when you’re not sure of the gender or name of the recipient. It’s considered a formal email greeting in Korean and should be used in business situations or when emailing someone in a superior position,
관계자님께 드립니다
When you know the recipient is male but aren’t sure what their name is, you can use this to say, “Dear Sir.” It’s a formal way to start an email in Korean.
사모님께 드립니다
Alternatively, when you know the recipient is female but aren’t sure what their name is, you can use this to say, “Dear Madam.” Again, this is a more formal email greeting in Korean.
관계자분(들)께 드립니다
If you have no idea who the recipient is, what gender they are, or what their name is but still want to sound formal, use this to say, “To whom it may concern.”
안녕하세요. ....에 대해 저희가 편지를 드립니다
When you’re addressing an email being sent on behalf of a group or the entire company, you can say, “We are writing to you regarding…” It’s considered a formal email opening in Korean.
...를 대신하여 글을 드립니다
If you’re writing an email on behalf of someone else in a formal setting, you can use this to say, “I am writing to you on behalf of…”
...에 대해 문의하고자 글을 드립니다
This is a more casual way to open an email. It means, “I am writing to enquire about…”
How to Close an Email in Korean
Throughout the body of the email, you can describe the intention but never press send without properly closing an email in Korean. Some great ways to end an email in Korean include the following.
미리 감사의 말씀 드리며
This commonly used formal email sign-off means, “Thank you in advance.”
이 외에 도움이 더 필요하시면, 저에게 연락하여 주시기 바랍니다
This formal ending translates to, “If you need any additional assistance, please contact me.” It’s considered a very polite way to end an email in Korean.
더 많은 정보가 필요하시면, 주저하지 마시고 저에게 연락 주시기 바랍니다
You can also let your recipient know you’re available for follow-up questions by using the above. This translates to, “Should you need any further information, please do not hesitate to contact me.” It’s considered a formal email ending that’s very polite.
더 많은 정보가 궁금하시면, 저에게 연락 주십시오
Although still formal, this email sign-off is a little less polite. It translates to, “If you require any further information, feel free to contact me.”
이 일에 대해 당신과 함께 이야기 해 보고싶습니다
Use this phrase for a more direct ending that shows you mean business. It translates to, “I look forward to discussing this with you.” It’s still considered formal, but it’s not seen as very polite.
조만간 답장 받길 기대합니다
For an email sign-off that’s a bit more casual, you can use, “I look forward to hearing from you soon.”
미리 감사의 말씀 드리며
For a short yet polite formal email ending, use this option. It translates to “thanking you in advance.”
(자신의 이름) 드림
When you want to use a more traditional, widely used email sign-off, simply end the body with, “Yours sincerely.” It’s formal yet light.
보냄
The most informal email sign-off you can use is “kind/best regards.” Keep this between friends, family members, or business associates who are considered your equal and whom you have rapport with.
Koreans also commonly end their emails with a well-wishing. This can be about the weather or their day in general. Some common examples include the following:
- 즐거운 주말 보내세요 — Have a nice weekend
- 오늘도 좋은 하루 보내세요 — Have a nice day
- 즐거운 점심시간 되세요 — Enjoy your lunch
- 쌀쌀한 날씨에 감기 조심하세요 — Don’t catch a cold in the chilly weather
- 미세먼지 조심하세요 — Watch out for the fine dust
How to Write an Email to a Professor in Korean
When you want to write an email to a professor in Korean, you need to address the professor, introduce yourself, and then clearly explain the purpose of the email before signing off. This is kind of similar to writing a regular email in Korean. You can follow the template below to help.
Greetings
Greet your professor using 교수님, which translates to “Professor.” You can include their full name or keep it as is, but if you choose to add their name make sure that it’s their entire name as some Korean professors don’t like it when you only use their surname.
Introduction
Next, introduce yourself by stating the name of the course you’re in, what department you’re in, your student ID number, and your name. This provides detailed information that your professor can use to quickly understand who you are and where the email is going.
Purpose
Next, describe the purpose of your email. These could include things like asking for further explanation of a subject, explaining why you’ll be absent, asking for permission, or arranging an appointment to meet.
Ending
Finally, end the email by thanking them. You can do this by writing, 바쁘신 와중에 시간 내주셔서 감사합니다, which translates to, “Thank you for taking time out of your busy schedule.” Finish the email with your name.
How to Write a Letter in Korean
Luckily, when learning how to write an email in Korean, you also learn how to write a letter in Korean! You can use the tips above for electronic or hand-written letters, as the same general rules apply.
Learning how to write an email in Korean can be a little confusing, but once you get the hang of it, you’ll be set for life! To help you practice your penmanship and exchange formal and informal emails with a native Korean speaker, download Tandem. Tandem offers a unique language learning experience that will help you deepen your understanding and improve your Korean emails while working towards fluency. All you need to do is download the app, sign up, and find a native speaker of your target language. Once you match, you’ll begin communicating through language exchange and one-on-one teaching. To join our worldwide community, sign up for Tandem today.
