Understanding how to discuss environmental issues and disputes is increasingly important globally. This guide provides essential Korean vocabulary and phrases related to environmental disputes (환경분쟁), covering everything from basic terms to expressions used in reporting or discussing these conflicts. Learning these terms will help you navigate conversations about environmental concerns in Korea.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 환경분쟁
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng
Meaning: Environmental dispute
Basic Vocabulary for Environmental Issues
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Expression: 환경 문제
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong mun-je
Meaning: Environmental problem/issue -
Expression: 환경 오염
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong o-yeom
Meaning: Environmental pollution -
Expression: 소음 공해
Pronunciation: so-eum gong-hae
Meaning: Noise pollution -
Expression: 대기 오염
Pronunciation: dae-gi o-yeom
Meaning: Air pollution -
Expression: 수질 오염
Pronunciation: su-jil o-yeom
Meaning: Water pollution -
Expression: 토양 오염
Pronunciation: to-yang o-yeom
Meaning: Soil pollution -
Expression: 폐기물
Pronunciation: pye-gi-mul
Meaning: Waste / Waste material -
Expression: 쓰레기 문제
Pronunciation: sseu-re-gi mun-je
Meaning: Trash problem / Waste issue -
Expression: 악취
Pronunciation: ak-chwi
Meaning: Bad smell / Foul odor -
Expression: 진동
Pronunciation: jin-dong
Meaning: Vibration -
Expression: 일조권 침해
Pronunciation: il-jo-gwon chim-hae
Meaning: Infringement of the right to sunlight -
Expression: 자연 파괴
Pronunciation: ja-yeon pa-goe
Meaning: Destruction of nature
Phrases for Discussing Environmental Disputes
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Expression: 이 지역은 환경분쟁이 심각합니다.
Pronunciation: i ji-yeog-eun hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng-i sim-gak-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Environmental disputes are serious in this area. -
Expression: 공장 때문에 소음 피해가 발생했어요.
Pronunciation: gong-jang ttae-mun-e so-eum pi-hae-ga bal-saeng-haess-eo-yo.
Meaning: Noise damage occurred because of the factory. -
Expression: 주민들과 건설 회사 사이에 갈등이 있습니다.
Pronunciation: ju-min-deul-gwa geon-seol hoe-sa sa-i-e gal-deung-i iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: There is a conflict between the residents and the construction company. -
Expression: 환경 오염으로 인한 피해를 호소하고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong o-yeom-eu-ro in-han pi-hae-reul ho-so-ha-go iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: They are complaining about the damage caused by environmental pollution. -
Expression: 이 문제는 법적으로 해결해야 할 것 같습니다.
Pronunciation: i mun-je-neun beop-jeog-eu-ro hae-gyeol-hae-ya hal geot gat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: It seems this issue needs to be resolved legally. -
Expression: 환경분쟁의 원인이 무엇인가요?
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng-ui won-in-i mu-eos-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: What is the cause of the environmental dispute? -
Expression: 정부의 개입이 필요합니다.
Pronunciation: jeong-bu-ui gae-ib-i pil-yo-ham-ni-da.
Meaning: Government intervention is necessary. -
Expression: 우리는 해결책을 찾기 위해 노력하고 있습니다.
Pronunciation: u-ri-neun hae-gyeol-chaeg-eul chat-gi wi-hae no-ryeok-ha-go iss-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: We are trying to find a solution. -
Expression: 양측의 입장을 들어봐야 합니다.
Pronunciation: yang-cheug-ui ip-jang-eul deul-eo-bwa-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We need to listen to both sides’ positions. -
Expression: 이 분쟁은 언제부터 시작되었나요?
Pronunciation: i bun-jaeng-eun eon-je-bu-teo si-jak-doe-eoss-na-yo?
Meaning: When did this dispute begin?
Phrases for Reporting or Mediating Disputes
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Expression: 환경분쟁조정위원회에 신고했습니다.
Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng-jo-jeong-wi-won-hoe-e sin-go-haess-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I reported it to the Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission. -
Expression: 민원을 제기하다
Pronunciation: min-won-eul je-gi-ha-da
Meaning: To file a civil complaint -
Expression: 피해 보상을 요구하다
Pronunciation: pi-hae bo-sang-eul yo-gu-ha-da
Meaning: To demand compensation for damages -
Expression: 증거 자료를 제출하다
Pronunciation: jeung-geo ja-ryo-reul je-chul-ha-da
Meaning: To submit evidence -
Expression: 조정을 신청하다
Pronunciation: jo-jeong-eul sin-cheong-ha-da
Meaning: To apply for mediation -
Expression: 합의에 이르다
Pronunciation: hab-ui-e i-reu-da
Meaning: To reach an agreement / settlement -
Expression: 법적 조치를 취하다
Pronunciation: beop-jeok jo-chi-reul chwi-ha-da
Meaning: To take legal action -
Expression: 전문가의 의견을 구하다
Pronunciation: jeon-mun-ga-ui ui-gyeon-eul gu-ha-da
Meaning: To seek an expert’s opinion -
Expression: 현장 조사를 실시하다
Pronunciation: hyeon-jang jo-sa-reul sil-si-ha-da
Meaning: To conduct an on-site investigation -
Expression: 분쟁 당사자
Pronunciation: bun-jaeng dang-sa-ja
Meaning: Parties involved in the dispute -
Expression: 중재 절차
Pronunciation: jung-jae jeol-cha
Meaning: Arbitration procedure
Korean Culture Notes
In Korea, rapid industrialization and urbanization have sometimes led to environmental conflicts, particularly concerning noise, sunlight access, and pollution from factories or construction sites. Awareness of environmental issues is growing, and citizens are increasingly active in voicing concerns.
The government operates the Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission (환경분쟁조정위원회, Pronunciation: hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng-jo-jeong-wi-won-hoe), which provides mediation and arbitration services to resolve environmental disputes outside of the court system. This is often the first step people take when facing such issues.
Community harmony (공동체 의식, Pronunciation: gong-dong-che ui-sik) is valued, but when environmental rights are infringed upon, residents are often willing to organize and collectively address the problem, sometimes leading to protests or formal complaints.
When discussing these issues, using formal language and clearly stating the facts and evidence is generally considered more effective than overly emotional appeals, especially in official settings like mediation.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two neighbors are discussing the noise and dust coming from a nearby construction site.
Characters:
A: Resident experiencing issues
B: Neighbor suggesting action
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Expression: A: 요즘 옆 건물 공사 때문에 소음이랑 먼지가 너무 심하지 않아요?
Pronunciation: yo-jeum yeop geon-mul gong-sa ttae-mun-e so-eum-i-rang meon-ji-ga neo-mu sim-ha-ji an-a-yo?
Meaning: Isn’t the noise and dust from the construction next door really bad lately? -
Expression: B: 맞아요. 창문도 못 열고 살겠어요. 이건 거의 환경분쟁 수준이에요.
Pronunciation: maj-a-yo. chang-mun-do mot yeol-go sal-gess-eo-yo. i-geon geo-ui hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng su-jun-i-e-yo.
Meaning: That’s right. I can’t even open the windows. This is almost at the level of an environmental dispute. -
Expression: A: 구청에 민원이라도 넣어볼까요?
Pronunciation: gu-cheong-e min-won-i-ra-do neo-eo-bol-kka-yo?
Meaning: Should we try filing a civil complaint with the district office? -
Expression: B: 그것도 좋지만, 피해가 계속되면 환경분쟁조정위원회에 조정을 신청하는 게 더 효과적일 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: geu-geot-do jo-chi-man, pi-hae-ga gye-sok-doe-myeon hwan-gyeong-bun-jaeng-jo-jeong-wi-won-hoe-e jo-jeong-eul sin-cheong-ha-neun ge deo hyo-gwa-jeog-il su iss-eo-yo.
Meaning: That’s a good idea too, but if the damage continues, applying for mediation with the Environmental Dispute Resolution Commission might be more effective. -
Expression: A: 아, 그런 기관이 있었군요. 필요한 서류가 뭘까요?
Pronunciation: a, geu-reon gi-gwan-i iss-eoss-gun-yo. pil-yo-han seo-ryu-ga mwol-kka-yo?
Meaning: Oh, I didn’t know such an organization existed. What documents would be needed? -
Expression: B: 아마 소음 측정 기록이나 피해 사진 같은 증거 자료가 필요할 거예요. 같이 알아봐요.
Pronunciation: a-ma so-eum cheuk-jeong gi-rog-i-na pi-hae sa-jin gat-eun jeung-geo ja-ryo-ga pil-yo-hal geo-ye-yo. gat-i ar-a-bwa-yo.
Meaning: Probably evidence like noise measurement records or photos of the damage will be needed. Let’s look into it together.
Practice Tips
Discussing environmental disputes requires specific vocabulary, so practice using these terms regularly! Try describing a hypothetical situation involving noise pollution (소음 공해) or waste issues (쓰레기 문제) using the phrases learned today~
You can also read Korean news articles about environmental issues to see how these terms are used in context. Pay attention to words like 피해 보상 (damage compensation) and 조정 신청 (mediation application). Keep practicing, and you’ll become more confident discussing these important topics in Korean!
