Understanding the terminology related to construction subcontracting is crucial when dealing with building projects or related business in Korea. This guide covers the essential Korean term for “construction subcontracting,” along with related vocabulary, phrases, and cultural context to help you navigate discussions and contracts effectively.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Construction Subcontracting
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Expression: 건설하도급
Pronunciation: geon-seol-ha-do-geup
Meaning: Construction Subcontracting (This term specifically refers to the practice of subcontracting within the construction industry.)
Key Vocabulary
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Expression: 건설
Pronunciation: geon-seol
Meaning: Construction -
Expression: 하도급
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup
Meaning: Subcontracting -
Expression: 원도급
Pronunciation: won-do-geup
Meaning: Prime contract / Main contract -
Expression: 하도급업체
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup-eop-che
Meaning: Subcontractor -
Expression: 원도급업체
Pronunciation: won-do-geup-eop-che
Meaning: Prime contractor / Main contractor -
Expression: 계약
Pronunciation: gye-yak
Meaning: Contract -
Expression: 하도급 계약
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gye-yak
Meaning: Subcontract agreement -
Expression: 공사
Pronunciation: gong-sa
Meaning: Construction work / Project -
Expression: 현장
Pronunciation: hyeon-jang
Meaning: Site / Field (Construction site) -
Expression: 발주처
Pronunciation: bal-ju-cheo
Meaning: Client / Ordering party -
Expression: 시공사
Pronunciation: si-gong-sa
Meaning: Construction company / Contractor -
Expression: 감리
Pronunciation: gam-ri
Meaning: Supervision (Construction supervision)
Essential Phrases
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Expression: 이 공사는 하도급으로 진행됩니다.
Pronunciation: i gong-sa-neun ha-do-geup-eu-ro jin-haeng-doem-ni-da.
Meaning: This construction project will be carried out through subcontracting. -
Expression: 하도급 계약을 체결했습니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gye-yak-eul che-gyeol-haet-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: We signed the subcontract agreement. -
Expression: 하도급업체를 선정해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup-eop-che-reul seon-jeong-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We need to select a subcontractor. -
Expression: 원도급업체는 하도급업체를 관리합니다.
Pronunciation: won-do-geup-eop-che-neun ha-do-geup-eop-che-reul gwan-ri-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: The prime contractor manages the subcontractors. -
Expression: 하도급 대금 지급이 지연되고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup dae-geum ji-geup-i ji-yeon-doe-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Payment for the subcontract is being delayed. -
Expression: 불법 하도급은 금지되어 있습니다.
Pronunciation: bul-beop ha-do-geup-eun geum-ji-doe-eo it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Illegal subcontracting is prohibited. -
Expression: 하도급 관련 법규를 준수해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gwal-lyeon beop-gyu-reul jun-su-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We must comply with subcontracting regulations. -
Expression: 이 프로젝트는 여러 하도급업체가 참여합니다.
Pronunciation: i peu-ro-jek-teu-neun yeo-reo ha-do-geup-eop-che-ga cham-yeo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Several subcontractors are participating in this project. -
Expression: 하도급 계약 조건을 검토해 주세요.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gye-yak jo-geon-eul geom-to-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please review the subcontract terms and conditions. -
Expression: 하도급 공사 범위는 어디까지인가요?
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gong-sa beom-wi-neun eo-di-kka-ji-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the scope of the subcontracted work? -
Expression: 하도급 관리 시스템이 필요합니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup gwan-ri si-seu-tem-i pil-yo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: A subcontract management system is needed. -
Expression: 하도급 분쟁이 발생했습니다.
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup bun-jaeng-i bal-saeng-haet-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: A subcontracting dispute has occurred.
Related Concepts
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Expression: 재하도급
Pronunciation: jae-ha-do-geup
Meaning: Sub-subcontracting (Subcontracting by a subcontractor, often restricted by law) -
Expression: 하도급법 (하도급거래 공정화에 관한 법률)
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup-beop (ha-do-geup-geo-rae gong-jeong-hwa-e gwan-han beom-nyul)
Meaning: Subcontracting Law (Act on Fair Transactions in Subcontracting) -
Expression: 공정거래위원회
Pronunciation: gong-jeong-geo-rae-wi-won-hoe
Meaning: Fair Trade Commission (FTC) – enforces the Subcontracting Law. -
Expression: 건설산업기본법
Pronunciation: geon-seol-san-eop-gi-bon-beop
Meaning: Framework Act on the Construction Industry -
Expression: 하도급 대금 직불
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup dae-geum jik-bul
Meaning: Direct payment of subcontract price (often from the client directly to the subcontractor under certain conditions) -
Expression: 하도급 신고
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup sin-go
Meaning: Subcontract report/notification (required reporting to authorities) -
Expression: 부당한 하도급 대금 결정
Pronunciation: bu-dang-han ha-do-geup dae-geum gyeol-jeong
Meaning: Unfair determination of subcontract price (prohibited practice) -
Expression: 기술 유용
Pronunciation: gi-sul yu-yong
Meaning: Misappropriation of technology (prime contractor unfairly using subcontractor’s tech) -
Expression: 하도급 분쟁 조정 협의회
Pronunciation: ha-do-geup bun-jaeng jo-jeong hyeop-ui-hoe
Meaning: Subcontracting Dispute Mediation Council -
Expression: 건설 공제 조합
Pronunciation: geon-seol gong-je jo-hap
Meaning: Construction Guarantee Cooperative (provides guarantees for contracts, payments, etc.) -
Expression: 하자 보수
Pronunciation: ha-ja bo-su
Meaning: Defect repair / Warranty work -
Expression: 안전 관리
Pronunciation: an-jeon gwan-ri
Meaning: Safety management
Korean Culture Notes
Subcontracting (하도급 – ha-do-geup) is extremely common in the Korean construction industry, particularly for large-scale projects. Large prime contractors (원도급업체 – won-do-geup-eop-che) often rely on numerous specialized subcontractors (하도급업체 – ha-do-geup-eop-che) to complete various parts of the work.
Due to the power imbalance that can exist between prime contractors and subcontractors, South Korea has specific laws, primarily the Act on Fair Transactions in Subcontracting (하도급법 – ha-do-geup-beop), to protect subcontractors from unfair practices. This includes regulations regarding timely payments, fair contract terms, and prohibiting the misuse of a subcontractor’s technical information.
Relationships and reputation play a significant role in the selection of subcontractors. While bidding processes exist, established trust and past performance are highly valued.
Issues such as delayed payments (대금 지급 지연 – dae-geum ji-geup ji-yeon) or unfair reduction of contract price (부당 감액 – bu-dang gam-aek) have historically been concerns. The Fair Trade Commission (공정거래위원회 – gong-jeong-geo-rae-wi-won-hoe) actively monitors and penalizes violations of the Subcontracting Law.
Understanding the distinction between the prime contractor (원도급업체) who contracts directly with the client (발주처) and the subcontractor (하도급업체) who contracts with the prime contractor is fundamental in business dealings within this sector.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A representative from a prime contractor meets with the CEO of a potential subcontractor to discuss a new apartment complex project.
Roles:
A: 김 부장 (원도급업체) – Manager Kim (Prime Contractor)
B: 박 사장 (하도급업체) – CEO Park (Subcontractor)
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Expression: A: 박 사장님, 이번 신규 아파트 건설 프로젝트 관련해서 하도급 업체를 찾고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: bak sa-jang-nim, i-beon sin-gyu a-pa-teu geon-seol peu-ro-jek-teu gwal-lyeon-hae-seo ha-do-geup eop-che-reul chat-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: CEO Park, we are looking for subcontractors for this new apartment construction project. -
Expression: B: 네, 김 부장님. 저희 회사는 전기 공사 전문입니다. 어떤 부분을 하도급 주실 계획이신가요?
Pronunciation: ne, gim bu-jang-nim. jeo-hui hoe-sa-neun jeon-gi gong-sa jeon-mun-im-ni-da. eo-tteon bu-bun-eul ha-do-geup ju-sil gye-hoek-i-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Yes, Manager Kim. Our company specializes in electrical work. Which part are you planning to subcontract? -
Expression: A: 전체 전기 설비 공사를 맡기려고 합니다. 하도급 계약 조건은 저희 표준 양식을 따르게 됩니다.
Pronunciation: jeon-che jeon-gi seol-bi gong-sa-reul mat-gi-ryeo-go ham-ni-da. ha-do-geup gye-yak jo-geon-eun jeo-hui pyo-jun yang-sik-eul tta-reu-ge doem-ni-da.
Meaning: We intend to entrust the entire electrical installation work. The subcontract terms will follow our standard format. -
Expression: B: 알겠습니다. 저희 실적과 기술력은 충분하다고 자부합니다. 하도급법 관련 규정도 철저히 준수하고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: al-get-seum-ni-da. jeo-hui sil-jeok-gwa gi-sul-lyeok-eun chung-bun-ha-da-go ja-bu-ham-ni-da. ha-do-geup-beop gwal-lyeon gyu-jeong-do cheol-jeo-hi jun-su-ha-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Understood. We are confident in our track record and technical capabilities. We also strictly adhere to regulations related to the Subcontracting Law. -
Expression: A: 좋습니다. 제안서와 견적서를 보내주시면 검토 후 연락드리겠습니다. 원도급업체로서 하도급업체와의 공정한 거래를 중요하게 생각합니다.
Pronunciation: jo-seum-ni-da. je-an-seo-wa gyeon-jeok-seo-reul bo-nae-ju-si-myeon geom-to hu yeol-lak-deu-ri-get-seum-ni-da. won-do-geup-eop-che-ro-seo ha-do-geup-eop-che-wa-ui gong-jeong-han geo-rae-reul jung-yo-ha-ge saeng-gak-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Good. Please send us your proposal and quotation, and we will review them and contact you. As the prime contractor, we value fair transactions with our subcontractors.
Practice Tips
Mastering terms related to 건설하도급 takes practice! Try reading articles about the Korean construction industry or looking at sample contract clauses (if available) to see these words used in context~.
Understanding the difference between 원도급 and 하도급, and knowing key related terms like 하도급업체, 하도급 계약, and 하도급법 will be very helpful, especially if you work in or with the Korean construction sector. Pay attention to the legal nuances as they are quite important in practice!
Keep practicing the pronunciation, focusing on the syllable breaks. Good luck with your studies! 화이팅!
