Understanding terms related to cybersecurity is increasingly important in our digital world. This guide covers the essential Korean vocabulary and phrases for discussing “hacking” (해킹), related security issues, and preventative measures, crucial for navigating online interactions in Korea or discussing cybersecurity topics.
Table Of Content
Core Term: Hacking
-
Expression: 해킹
Pronunciation: hae-king
Meaning: Hacking (loanword from English)
Related Cybersecurity Vocabulary
-
Expression: 해커
Pronunciation: hae-keo
Meaning: Hacker -
Expression: 사이버 보안
Pronunciation: sa-i-beo bo-an
Meaning: Cybersecurity -
Expression: 개인 정보
Pronunciation: gae-in jeong-bo
Meaning: Personal information -
Expression: 비밀번호
Pronunciation: bi-mil-beon-ho
Meaning: Password -
Expression: 바이러스
Pronunciation: ba-i-reo-seu
Meaning: Virus (computer virus) -
Expression: 악성 코드
Pronunciation: ak-seong ko-deu
Meaning: Malicious code / Malware -
Expression: 피싱
Pronunciation: pi-sing
Meaning: Phishing -
Expression: 보안 업데이트
Pronunciation: bo-an eop-de-i-teu
Meaning: Security update -
Expression: 방화벽
Pronunciation: bang-hwa-byeok
Meaning: Firewall -
Expression: 데이터 유출
Pronunciation: de-i-teo yu-chul
Meaning: Data breach / Data leak -
Expression: 계정
Pronunciation: gye-jeong
Meaning: Account (online account) -
Expression: 백신 프로그램
Pronunciation: baek-sin peu-ro-geu-raem
Meaning: Antivirus program
Discussing Hacking Incidents
-
Expression: 제 계정이 해킹당했어요.
Pronunciation: je gye-jeong-i hae-king-dang-hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: My account got hacked. -
Expression: 해킹 피해를 입었어요.
Pronunciation: hae-king pi-hae-reul ib-eo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I suffered damage from hacking. -
Expression: 개인 정보가 유출된 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: gae-in jeong-bo-ga yu-chul-doen geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think my personal information was leaked. -
Expression: 컴퓨터에 바이러스가 걸렸어요.
Pronunciation: keom-pyu-teo-e ba-i-reo-seu-ga geol-lyeo-sseo-yo.
Meaning: My computer got infected with a virus. -
Expression: 이상한 이메일을 받았어요.
Pronunciation: i-sang-han i-me-il-eul bad-a-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I received a strange email. -
Expression: 누군가 제 비밀번호를 알아낸 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: nu-gun-ga je bi-mil-beon-ho-reul ar-a-naen geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think someone found out my password. -
Expression: 해킹 사건에 대해 들었어요?
Pronunciation: hae-king sa-kkeon-e dae-hae deul-eo-sseo-yo?
Meaning: Did you hear about the hacking incident? -
Expression: 어떻게 해킹당했는지 모르겠어요.
Pronunciation: eo-tteo-ke hae-king-dang-haet-neun-ji mo-reu-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I don’t know how I got hacked. -
Expression: 해킹 신고는 어디에 해야 하나요?
Pronunciation: hae-king sin-go-neun eo-di-e hae-ya ha-na-yo?
Meaning: Where should I report the hacking? -
Expression: 은행 계좌를 확인해 봐야겠어요.
Pronunciation: eun-haeng gye-jwa-reul hwag-in-hae bwa-ya-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I should check my bank account. -
Expression: 피싱 사기인 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: pi-sing sa-gi-in geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think it’s a phishing scam. -
Expression: 웹사이트가 해킹당했어요.
Pronunciation: wep-sa-i-teu-ga hae-king-dang-hae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The website was hacked.
Prevention and Security Measures
-
Expression: 비밀번호를 자주 변경해야 해요.
Pronunciation: bi-mil-beon-ho-reul ja-ju byeon-gyeong-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: You should change your password frequently. -
Expression: 강력한 비밀번호를 사용하세요.
Pronunciation: gang-nyeo-kan bi-mil-beon-ho-reul sa-yong-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Use a strong password. -
Expression: 백신 프로그램을 설치하는 것이 중요해요.
Pronunciation: baek-sin peu-ro-geu-raem-eul seol-chi-ha-neun geos-i jung-yo-hae-yo.
Meaning: It’s important to install an antivirus program. -
Expression: 운영체제를 최신 상태로 유지하세요.
Pronunciation: un-yeong-che-je-reul choe-sin sang-tae-ro yu-ji-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Keep your operating system up to date. -
Expression: 의심스러운 링크는 클릭하지 마세요.
Pronunciation: ui-sim-seu-reo-un ring-keu-neun keul-lik-ha-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Don’t click on suspicious links. -
Expression: 공용 와이파이 사용 시 주의하세요.
Pronunciation: gong-yong wa-i-pa-i sa-yong si ju-ui-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Be careful when using public Wi-Fi. -
Expression: 이중 인증을 설정하는 것이 좋아요.
Pronunciation: i-jung in-jeung-eul seol-jeong-ha-neun geos-i jo-a-yo.
Meaning: It’s good to set up two-factor authentication. -
Expression: 개인 정보를 함부로 공유하지 마세요.
Pronunciation: gae-in jeong-bo-reul ham-bu-ro gong-yu-ha-ji ma-se-yo.
Meaning: Don’t share your personal information carelessly. -
Expression: 정기적으로 데이터를 백업하세요.
Pronunciation: jeong-gi-jeog-eu-ro de-i-teo-reul baeg-eop-ha-se-yo.
Meaning: Back up your data regularly. -
Expression: 보안 설정을 확인해 보세요.
Pronunciation: bo-an seol-jeong-eul hwag-in-hae bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Check your security settings. -
Expression: 피싱 이메일에 주의해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: pi-sing i-me-il-e ju-ui-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: You must be careful of phishing emails. -
Expression: 컴퓨터 보안을 강화해야 해요.
Pronunciation: keom-pyu-teo bo-an-eul gang-hwa-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: We need to strengthen computer security.
Korean Culture Notes
South Korea is one of the most digitally connected countries globally, making cybersecurity a significant concern. Online banking, shopping, and government services are widespread, increasing the potential impact of hacking incidents. Public awareness about phishing scams (피싱 사기 – pi-sing sa-gi) and malware is relatively high due to frequent news reports and public campaigns.
Many Koreans utilize public computers at PC bangs (PC방 – pi-ssi-bang), or internet cafes. While convenient, using shared computers requires extra caution regarding login credentials and personal data. Awareness about logging out properly and avoiding sensitive transactions on public networks is crucial.
There’s a strong emphasis on using security software (백신 프로그램 – baek-sin peu-ro-geu-raem) and keeping systems updated. Government agencies like KISA (Korea Internet & Security Agency) actively monitor cyber threats and provide resources for individuals and businesses to enhance their security posture.
Due to past large-scale data breaches affecting major companies, Koreans are often particularly sensitive about the security of their personal identification numbers (주민등록번호 – ju-min-deung-nok-beon-ho) and financial information. This has led to stricter regulations and increased user vigilance.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends, Minjun and Sora, are talking about a recent security issue.
Characters:
- A: Minjun
- B: Sora
-
Expression: A: 소라 씨, 큰일 날 뻔했어요! 어제 제 이메일 계정이 해킹당한 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: So-ra ssi, keun-il nal ppeon-hae-sseo-yo! eo-je je i-me-il gye-jeong-i hae-king-dang-han geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: A: Sora, I almost had a big problem! I think my email account got hacked yesterday. -
Expression: B: 정말요? 괜찮아요? 어떻게 알았어요?
Pronunciation: jeong-mal-lyo? gwaen-chan-a-yo? eo-tteo-ke ar-a-sseo-yo?
Meaning: B: Really? Are you okay? How did you find out? -
Expression: A: 제가 보내지 않은 이상한 이메일이 발송되었더라고요. 바로 비밀번호를 바꿨어요.
Pronunciation: je-ga bo-nae-ji an-eun i-sang-han i-me-il-i bal-song-doe-eot-deo-ra-go-yo. ba-ro bi-mil-beon-ho-reul ba-kkwot-sseo-yo.
Meaning: A: Strange emails I didn’t send were sent out. I changed my password immediately. -
Expression: B: 다행이네요. 요즘 피싱 사기도 많고 해킹 수법도 다양해서 조심해야 해요. 백신 프로그램은 사용하고 있죠?
Pronunciation: da-haeng-i-ne-yo. yo-jeum pi-sing sa-gi-do man-ko hae-king su-beop-do da-yang-hae-seo jo-sim-hae-ya hae-yo. baek-sin peu-ro-geu-raem-eun sa-yong-ha-go it-jyo?
Meaning: B: That’s fortunate. There are many phishing scams these days, and hacking methods are diverse, so we have to be careful. Are you using an antivirus program? -
Expression: A: 네, 사용하고 있어요. 이번 기회에 보안 설정을 다시 한번 점검해 봐야겠어요.
Pronunciation: ne, sa-yong-ha-go i-sseo-yo. i-beon gi-hoe-e bo-an seol-jeong-eul da-si han-beon jeom-geom-hae bwa-ya-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: A: Yes, I am using one. I should take this opportunity to check my security settings again. -
Expression: B: 맞아요. 저도 비밀번호를 좀 더 강력한 걸로 바꿔야겠어요.
Pronunciation: maj-a-yo. jeo-do bi-mil-beon-ho-reul jom deo gang-nyeo-kan geol-lo ba-kkwo-ya-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: B: That’s right. I should also change my password to something stronger.
Practice Tips
Staying safe online involves knowing the right terminology! Try using these phrases when discussing news about data breaches or reminding friends about online safety~ Practice saying “비밀번호를 바꾸세요!” (bi-mil-beon-ho-reul ba-kku-se-yo! – Change your password!) or “의심스러운 링크는 클릭하지 마세요.” (ui-sim-seu-reo-un ring-keu-neun keul-lik-ha-ji ma-se-yo. – Don’t click suspicious links.). You can also read Korean news articles about cybersecurity (사이버 보안 – sa-i-beo bo-an) to see these words in context. Stay vigilant and keep practicing! 화이팅! (hwa-i-ting! – Fighting!/Good luck!)
