Understanding your rights as a consumer is important everywhere, including Korea. This guide covers essential Korean vocabulary and phrases related to consumer protection (소비자보호), helping you navigate situations like requesting refunds, making complaints, or understanding terms and conditions when purchasing goods or services in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 소비자보호
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja-bo-ho
Meaning: Consumer protection
Key Vocabulary
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Expression: 소비자
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja
Meaning: Consumer -
Expression: 권리
Pronunciation: gwol-li
Meaning: Right(s) -
Expression: 환불
Pronunciation: hwan-bul
Meaning: Refund -
Expression: 교환
Pronunciation: gyo-hwan
Meaning: Exchange -
Expression: 불만
Pronunciation: bul-man
Meaning: Complaint, dissatisfaction -
Expression: 신고하다
Pronunciation: sin-go-ha-da
Meaning: To report -
Expression: 영수증
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung
Meaning: Receipt -
Expression: 제품
Pronunciation: je-pum
Meaning: Product -
Expression: 서비스
Pronunciation: seo-bi-seu
Meaning: Service -
Expression: 결함
Pronunciation: gyeol-ham
Meaning: Defect, flaw -
Expression: 보증 기간
Pronunciation: bo-jeung gi-gan
Meaning: Warranty period -
Expression: 고객센터
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo
Meaning: Customer service center
Making Complaints
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Expression: 불만이 있습니다.
Pronunciation: bul-man-i iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I have a complaint. -
Expression: 이 제품에 문제가 있어요.
Pronunciation: i je-pum-e mun-je-ga iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: There is a problem with this product. -
Expression: 서비스가 만족스럽지 않습니다.
Pronunciation: seo-bi-seu-ga man-jok-seu-reop-ji an-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I am not satisfied with the service. -
Expression: 담당자와 이야기하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: dam-dang-ja-wa i-ya-gi-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I would like to speak to the person in charge (manager). -
Expression: 이 문제를 해결해 주세요.
Pronunciation: i mun-je-reul hae-gyeol-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please resolve this issue. -
Expression: 소비자보호원에 신고하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja-bo-ho-won-e sin-go-ha-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will report this to the Consumer Protection Agency. -
Expression: 이것은 불공정 거래입니다.
Pronunciation: i-geos-eun bul-gong-jeong geo-rae-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This is an unfair transaction. -
Expression: 제품 설명과 다릅니다.
Pronunciation: je-pum seol-myeong-gwa da-reum-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s different from the product description. -
Expression: 고객센터에 전화해 보겠습니다.
Pronunciation: go-gaek-sen-teo-e jeon-hwa-hae bo-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will call the customer service center. -
Expression: 정식으로 항의하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-sik-eu-ro hang-ui-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I want to make a formal complaint.
Requesting Refunds or Exchanges
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Expression: 환불해 주세요.
Pronunciation: hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please give me a refund. -
Expression: 이것을 교환하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: i-geos-eul gyo-hwan-ha-go sip-eo-yo.
Meaning: I want to exchange this. -
Expression: 영수증 여기 있습니다.
Pronunciation: yeong-su-jeung yeo-gi iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Here is the receipt. -
Expression: 제품에 결함이 있습니다.
Pronunciation: je-pum-e gyeol-ham-i iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: The product is defective. -
Expression: 이 사이즈는 저에게 맞지 않아요.
Pronunciation: i sa-i-jeu-neun jeo-e-ge mat-ji an-a-yo.
Meaning: This size doesn’t fit me. -
Expression: 다른 색상으로 교환할 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: da-reun saek-sang-eu-ro gyo-hwan-hal su iss-eul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I exchange it for a different color? -
Expression: 환불 규정이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hwan-bul gyu-jeong-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the refund policy? -
Expression: 며칠 전에 샀어요.
Pronunciation: myeo-chil jeon-e sass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I bought this a few days ago. -
Expression: 아직 사용하지 않았습니다.
Pronunciation: a-jik sa-yong-ha-ji an-ass-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I haven’t used it yet. -
Expression: 포장을 뜯지 않았어요.
Pronunciation: po-jang-eul tteut-ji an-ass-eo-yo.
Meaning: I haven’t opened the packaging. -
Expression: 다른 제품으로 바꿔주세요.
Pronunciation: da-reun je-pum-eu-ro ba-kkwo-ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please exchange it for a different product.
Understanding Your Rights
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Expression: 소비자 권리가 무엇인가요?
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja gwol-li-ga mu-eos-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What are my consumer rights? -
Expression: 보증 기간이 얼마나 되나요?
Pronunciation: bo-jeung gi-gan-i eol-ma-na doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How long is the warranty period? -
Expression: 약관을 설명해 주시겠어요?
Pronunciation: yak-gwan-eul seol-myeong-hae ju-si-gess-eo-yo?
Meaning: Could you explain the terms and conditions? -
Expression: 수리 비용은 누가 부담하나요?
Pronunciation: su-ri bi-yong-eun nu-ga bu-dam-ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Who covers the repair costs? -
Expression: 계약을 취소하고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: gye-yak-eul chwi-so-ha-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I want to cancel the contract. -
Expression: 정보 공개를 요청합니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-bo gong-gae-reul yo-cheong-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: I request disclosure of information. -
Expression: 개인정보 보호 정책은 무엇입니까?
Pronunciation: gae-in-jeong-bo bo-ho jeong-chaeg-eun mu-eos-im-ni-kka?
Meaning: What is the privacy policy? -
Expression: 법적 조치를 고려하겠습니다.
Pronunciation: beop-jeok jo-chi-reul go-ryeo-ha-gess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will consider legal action. -
Expression: 소비자 상담 센터 전화번호가 뭐예요?
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja sang-dam sen-teo jeon-hwa-beon-ho-ga mwo-ye-yo?
Meaning: What is the phone number for the consumer counseling center? -
Expression: 이것은 법에 위반됩니다.
Pronunciation: i-geos-eun beob-e wi-ban-doem-ni-da.
Meaning: This violates the law.
Korean Culture Notes
Receipt is Key (영수증은 필수): Always keep your receipt (영수증 – yeong-su-jeung) in Korea. It’s almost always required for refunds or exchanges. Some stores might offer electronic receipts sent via text message.
Korea Consumer Agency (한국소비자원): If you cannot resolve an issue directly with the business, you can seek help from the Korea Consumer Agency (한국소비자원 – han-guk-so-bi-ja-won), often simply called 소비자원 (so-bi-ja-won). They provide counseling and mediation services. Their hotline number is 1372.
Return Policies Vary: While major department stores and chain retailers often have clear return/exchange policies (usually within 7-14 days with receipt and original packaging), smaller shops might have stricter or less defined rules. It’s wise to ask about the policy (환불/교환 규정 – hwan-bul/gyo-hwan gyu-jeong) before purchasing, especially for expensive items.
Politeness Matters: Even when making a complaint, maintaining a polite and calm demeanor is generally more effective in Korea. Start politely, clearly state the problem, and present your desired resolution (refund/exchange).
Online Shopping Protections: Korea has robust laws protecting online consumers, including a mandatory “cooling-off” period (usually 7 days) during which you can return most items for any reason (though you might have to pay return shipping).
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A customer (A) wants to return a shirt they bought yesterday because it’s defective.
Roles: A: Customer, B: Store Clerk
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Expression: A: 안녕하세요. 어제 여기서 이 셔츠를 샀는데요.
Pronunciation: an-nyeong-ha-se-yo. eo-je yeo-gi-seo i syeo-cheu-reul san-neun-de-yo.
Meaning: Hello. I bought this shirt here yesterday. -
Expression: B: 네, 손님. 무엇을 도와드릴까요?
Pronunciation: ne, son-nim. mu-eos-eul do-wa-deu-ril-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, customer. How may I help you? -
Expression: A: 집에 와서 보니 여기에 작은 구멍이 있어요. 제품에 결함이 있는 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: jib-e wa-seo bo-ni yeo-gi-e jak-eun gu-meong-i iss-eo-yo. je-pum-e gyeol-ham-i iss-neun geot gat-a-yo.
Meaning: When I got home, I saw there’s a small hole here. I think the product is defective. -
Expression: B: 아, 그러세요? 죄송합니다. 영수증 가지고 계신가요?
Pronunciation: a, geu-reo-se-yo? joe-song-ham-ni-da. yeong-su-jeung ga-ji-go gye-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Oh, really? I apologize. Do you have the receipt? -
Expression: A: 네, 여기 있습니다. 환불받고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, yeo-gi iss-seum-ni-da. hwan-bul-bat-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, here it is. I would like to get a refund. -
Expression: B: 네, 확인했습니다. 죄송하지만 같은 제품 새것으로 교환은 어떠신가요?
Pronunciation: ne, hwa-gin-haess-seum-ni-da. joe-song-ha-ji-man gat-eun je-pum sae-geos-eu-ro gyo-hwan-eun eo-tteo-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Yes, I’ve confirmed it. I’m sorry, but how about exchanging it for a new one of the same product? -
Expression: A: 아니요, 그냥 환불해 주세요.
Pronunciation: a-ni-yo, geu-nyang hwan-bul-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: No, please just give me a refund. -
Expression: B: 알겠습니다. 결제하신 카드로 환불 처리해 드리겠습니다. 잠시만 기다려 주세요.
Pronunciation: al-gess-seum-ni-da. gyeol-je-ha-sin ka-deu-ro hwan-bul cheo-ri-hae deu-ri-gess-seum-ni-da. jam-si-man gi-da-ryeo ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Understood. I will process the refund to the card you paid with. Please wait a moment.
Practice Tips
Knowing these consumer protection phrases can empower you during your shopping experiences in Korea! Try practicing them by role-playing different scenarios, like returning an item or asking about a warranty~ Familiarize yourself with the key vocabulary, especially 환불 (refund), 교환 (exchange), and 영수증 (receipt). Don’t hesitate to use these expressions if you encounter a problem; clear communication is key! Good luck!
