Understanding the concept and terminology for different organizational structures is useful, especially when discussing business or community initiatives in Korea. This guide focuses on the Korean term for “cooperative,” 협동조합 (hyeop-dong-jo-hap), providing essential vocabulary and phrases related to forming, joining, and discussing cooperatives.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Cooperative
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Expression: 협동조합
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-hap
Meaning: Cooperative (literally: cooperation-combination)
Basic Related Terms
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Expression: 조합원
Pronunciation: jo-ha-bwon
Meaning: Member (of a cooperative or union) -
Expression: 회원
Pronunciation: hoe-won
Meaning: Member (general term) -
Expression: 설립
Pronunciation: seol-lip
Meaning: Establishment, founding -
Expression: 운영
Pronunciation: u-nyeong
Meaning: Operation, management -
Expression: 가입
Pronunciation: ga-ip
Meaning: Joining, signing up -
Expression: 탈퇴
Pronunciation: tal-toe
Meaning: Withdrawal, leaving -
Expression: 정관
Pronunciation: jeong-gwan
Meaning: Articles of association, bylaws -
Expression: 이사회
Pronunciation: i-sa-hoe
Meaning: Board of directors -
Expression: 총회
Pronunciation: chong-hoe
Meaning: General meeting -
Expression: 출자금
Pronunciation: chul-ja-geum
Meaning: Investment money, capital contribution -
Expression: 배당금
Pronunciation: bae-dang-geum
Meaning: Dividend -
Expression: 공동 소유
Pronunciation: gong-dong so-yu
Meaning: Joint ownership
Forming a Cooperative
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Expression: 협동조합을 설립하고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beul seol-li-pa-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to establish a cooperative. -
Expression: 협동조합 설립 절차가 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-hap seol-lip jeol-cha-ga eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the procedure for establishing a cooperative? -
Expression: 조합원으로 가입하려면 어떻게 해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: jo-ha-bwo-neu-ro ga-i-pa-ryeo-myeon eo-tteo-ke hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How can I join as a member? -
Expression: 최소 조합원 수가 몇 명인가요?
Pronunciation: choe-so jo-ha-bwon su-ga myeot myeong-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the minimum number of members? -
Expression: 가입 신청서를 작성해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: ga-ip sin-cheong-seo-reul jak-seong-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: You need to fill out the membership application form. -
Expression: 출자금은 얼마를 내야 하나요?
Pronunciation: chul-ja-geu-meun eol-ma-reul nae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: How much is the capital contribution? -
Expression: 협동조합 정관을 읽어보세요.
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-hap jeong-gwa-neul il-geo-bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Please read the cooperative’s articles of association. -
Expression: 설립 총회를 개최할 예정입니다.
Pronunciation: seol-lip chong-hoe-reul gae-choe-hal ye-jeong-im-ni-da.
Meaning: We plan to hold the inaugural general meeting. -
Expression: 협동조합 기본법을 따라야 합니다.
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-hap gi-bon-beo-beul tta-ra-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We must follow the Framework Act on Cooperatives. -
Expression: 사업 계획서를 준비해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: sa-eop gye-hoek-seo-reul jun-bi-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: You need to prepare a business plan. -
Expression: 지역 사회에 기여하는 협동조합을 만들고 싶습니다.
Pronunciation: ji-yeok sa-hoe-e gi-yeo-ha-neun hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beul man-deul-go sip-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I want to create a cooperative that contributes to the local community.
Discussing Cooperative Activities
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Expression: 이 협동조합은 어떤 사업을 하나요?
Pronunciation: i hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beun eo-tteon sa-eo-beul ha-na-yo?
Meaning: What kind of business does this cooperative do? -
Expression: 조합원들에게 어떤 혜택이 있나요?
Pronunciation: jo-ha-bwon-deu-re-ge eo-tteon hye-tae-gi in-na-yo?
Meaning: What benefits are there for the members? -
Expression: 수익은 어떻게 분배되나요?
Pronunciation: su-i-geun eo-tteo-ke bun-bae-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How are the profits distributed? -
Expression: 정기적으로 총회를 개최합니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-gi-jeo-geu-ro chong-hoe-reul gae-choe-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We hold general meetings regularly. -
Expression: 모든 조합원은 동등한 의결권을 가집니다.
Pronunciation: mo-deun jo-ha-bwo-neun dong-deung-han ui-gyeol-gwo-neul ga-jim-ni-da.
Meaning: All members have equal voting rights. -
Expression: 협동조합은 민주적으로 운영됩니다.
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beun min-ju-jeo-geu-ro u-nyeong-doem-ni-da.
Meaning: Cooperatives are operated democratically. -
Expression: 우리 협동조합은 친환경 농산물을 판매합니다.
Pronunciation: u-ri hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beun chin-hwan-gyeong nong-san-mu-reul pan-mae-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Our cooperative sells eco-friendly agricultural products. -
Expression: 소비자 생활 협동조합입니다.
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja saeng-hwal hyeop-dong-jo-hap-im-ni-da.
Meaning: It’s a consumer cooperative. -
Expression: 사회적 협동조합은 비영리 법인입니다.
Pronunciation: sa-hoe-jeok hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beun bi-yeong-ni beo-bin-im-ni-da.
Meaning: A social cooperative is a non-profit corporation. -
Expression: 협동조합 간의 협력이 중요합니다.
Pronunciation: hyeop-dong-jo-hap gan-ui hyeom-nyeogi jung-yo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Cooperation between cooperatives is important. -
Expression: 조합원 교육 프로그램을 운영하고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: jo-ha-bwon gyo-yuk peu-ro-geu-rae-meul u-nyeong-ha-go it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: We are running member education programs.
Korean Culture Notes
In Korea, cooperatives (협동조합) have gained significant traction, particularly since the enactment of the Framework Act on Cooperatives (협동조합 기본법) in 2012. This law made it much easier to establish various types of cooperatives beyond the traditional agricultural or credit unions.
Consumer cooperatives (소비자 생활 협동조합, often shortened to 생협 – saeng-hyeop) are quite popular, especially those focusing on organic food and ethical consumption, like Hansalim (한살림) and iCOOP (아이쿱).
Social cooperatives (사회적 협동조합) are also growing. These are non-profit organizations focused on addressing social issues, providing social services, or creating jobs for vulnerable populations, reinvesting profits back into the community.
The principle of “one member, one vote” (1인 1표 – i-rin il-pyo) is central to Korean cooperatives, emphasizing democratic governance regardless of the amount of capital contributed by each member.
There’s a strong emphasis on community contribution and ethical practices within the Korean cooperative movement, distinguishing them from purely profit-driven enterprises.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Minji and Jihoon are discussing a local consumer cooperative they are considering joining.
Roles:
A: Minji
B: Jihoon
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Expression: A: 지훈 씨, 요즘 동네에 새로 생긴 소비자 협동조합 들어봤어요?
Pronunciation: Ji-hun ssi, yo-jeum dong-ne-e sae-ro saeng-gin so-bi-ja hyeop-dong-jo-hap deu-reo-bwa-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Jihoon, have you heard about the new consumer cooperative that opened in the neighborhood recently? -
Expression: B: 아, 네. 유기농 제품을 판다고 들었어요. 관심 있으세요?
Pronunciation: a, ne. yu-gi-nong je-pu-meul pan-da-go deu-reo-sseo-yo. gwan-sim i-sseu-se-yo?
Meaning: Ah, yes. I heard they sell organic products. Are you interested? -
Expression: A: 네, 한번 가입해볼까 생각 중이에요. 조합원이 되면 할인 혜택도 있다고 하더라고요.
Pronunciation: ne, han-beon ga-i-pae-bol-kka saeng-gak jung-i-e-yo. jo-ha-bwoni doe-myeon ha-rin hye-taek-do it-da-go ha-deo-ra-go-yo.
Meaning: Yes, I’m thinking about joining. I heard there are discount benefits if you become a member. -
Expression: B: 맞아요. 그리고 협동조합은 이익보다는 조합원과 지역 사회를 우선으로 생각하잖아요.
Pronunciation: ma-ja-yo. geu-ri-go hyeop-dong-jo-ha-beun i-ik-bo-da-neun jo-ha-bwon-gwa ji-yeok sa-hoe-reul u-seo-neu-ro saeng-ga-ka-ja-na-yo.
Meaning: That’s right. And cooperatives prioritize members and the local community over profit, don’t they? -
Expression: A: 네, 그 점이 마음에 들어요. 가입 절차는 간단한가요? 출자금도 내야 하죠?
Pronunciation: ne, geu jeo-mi ma-eu-me deu-reo-yo. ga-ip jeol-cha-neun gan-dan-han-ga-yo? chul-ja-geum-do nae-ya ha-jyo?
Meaning: Yes, I like that aspect. Is the joining process simple? You have to pay a capital contribution too, right? -
Expression: B: 네, 신청서 쓰고 소액의 출자금을 내면 되는 걸로 알아요. 다음에 같이 한번 가볼까요?
Pronunciation: ne, sin-cheong-seo sseu-go so-ae-gui chul-ja-geu-meul nae-myeon doe-neun geol-lo a-ra-yo. da-eu-me ga-chi han-beon ga-bol-kka-yo?
Meaning: Yes, I believe you just fill out an application and pay a small capital contribution. Shall we go together next time? -
Expression: A: 좋아요! 가서 직접 물어보고 결정해요.
Pronunciation: jo-a-yo! ga-seo jik-jeop mu-reo-bo-go gyeol-jeong-hae-yo.
Meaning: Sounds good! Let’s go ask in person and decide.
Practice Tips
Understanding terms like 협동조합 is great for discussing community and business in Korea! Try looking up different types of cooperatives in Korea online (search for 협동조합 종류 – hyeop-dong-jo-hap jong-nyu) to see how the term is used in context~
Practice saying the related terms aloud, focusing on the pronunciation. You could even try explaining the concept of a cooperative in simple Korean using the phrases learned today. Keep practicing, and soon you’ll be discussing these topics with ease!
