Understanding how to discuss confidential business information is crucial when operating in a professional Korean environment. This guide covers the essential Korean term for “trade secret,” related vocabulary, and practical phrases for discussing confidentiality and intellectual property in business contexts.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
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Expression: 영업비밀
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil
Meaning: Trade secret (literally “business secret”)
Key Vocabulary Related to Trade Secrets
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Expression: 비밀 유지 계약
Pronunciation: bi-mil yu-ji gye-yak
Meaning: Non-Disclosure Agreement (NDA) -
Expression: 기밀 정보
Pronunciation: gi-mil jeong-bo
Meaning: Confidential information -
Expression: 지식재산권
Pronunciation: ji-sik-jae-san-gwon
Meaning: Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) -
Expression: 독점 정보
Pronunciation: dok-jeom jeong-bo
Meaning: Proprietary information -
Expression: 보안
Pronunciation: bo-an
Meaning: Security -
Expression: 정보 유출
Pronunciation: jeong-bo yu-chul
Meaning: Information leak / Data breach -
Expression: 경쟁사
Pronunciation: gyeong-jaeng-sa
Meaning: Competitor / Rival company -
Expression: 기술
Pronunciation: gi-sul
Meaning: Technology -
Expression: 고객 명단
Pronunciation: go-gaek myeong-dan
Meaning: Customer list -
Expression: 제조 공정
Pronunciation: je-jo gong-jeong
Meaning: Manufacturing process -
Expression: 사업 계획
Pronunciation: sa-eop gye-hoek
Meaning: Business plan -
Expression: 비밀 유지 의무
Pronunciation: bi-mil yu-ji ui-mu
Meaning: Duty of confidentiality
Phrases for Discussing Trade Secrets
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Expression: 이 정보는 영업비밀입니다.
Pronunciation: i jeong-bo-neun yeong-eop-bi-mil-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This information is a trade secret. -
Expression: 영업비밀을 보호해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil-eul bo-ho-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: We must protect the trade secrets. -
Expression: 비밀 유지 계약서에 서명해 주세요.
Pronunciation: bi-mil yu-ji gye-yak-seo-e seo-myeong-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Please sign the Non-Disclosure Agreement. -
Expression: 이 문서는 기밀 정보로 취급해 주십시오.
Pronunciation: i mun-seo-neun gi-mil jeong-bo-ro chwi-geup-hae ju-sip-si-o.
Meaning: Please treat this document as confidential information. -
Expression: 영업비밀 유출은 심각한 문제입니다.
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil yu-chul-eun sim-gak-han mun-je-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Leaking trade secrets is a serious problem. -
Expression: 회사의 지식재산권을 존중해야 합니다.
Pronunciation: hoe-sa-ui ji-sik-jae-san-gwon-eul jon-jung-hae-ya ham-ni-da.
Meaning: You must respect the company’s intellectual property rights. -
Expression: 이 기술은 우리의 핵심 영업비밀입니다.
Pronunciation: i gi-sul-eun u-ri-ui haek-sim yeong-eop-bi-mil-im-ni-da.
Meaning: This technology is our core trade secret. -
Expression: 경쟁사에게 정보를 누설하지 마십시오.
Pronunciation: gyeong-jaeng-sa-e-ge jeong-bo-reul nu-seol-ha-ji ma-sip-si-o.
Meaning: Do not disclose information to competitors. -
Expression: 모든 직원은 비밀 유지 의무가 있습니다.
Pronunciation: mo-deun jik-won-eun bi-mil yu-ji ui-mu-ga it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: All employees have a duty of confidentiality. -
Expression: 영업비밀 접근 권한은 제한되어 있습니다.
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil jeop-geun gwon-han-eun je-han-doe-eo it-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Access to trade secrets is restricted. -
Expression: 이 프로젝트 정보는 외부에 공개할 수 없습니다.
Pronunciation: i peu-ro-jek-teu jeong-bo-neun oe-bu-e gong-gae-hal su eop-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: This project information cannot be disclosed externally. -
Expression: 자료를 안전하게 보관해 주십시오.
Pronunciation: ja-ryo-reul an-jeon-ha-ge bo-gwan-hae ju-sip-si-o.
Meaning: Please store the materials securely.
Legal and Business Context Phrases
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Expression: 부정경쟁방지 및 영업비밀보호에 관한 법률
Pronunciation: bu-jeong-gyeong-jaeng-bang-ji mit yeong-eop-bi-mil-bo-ho-e gwan-han beop-ryul
Meaning: Unfair Competition Prevention and Trade Secret Protection Act (often shortened to 부정경쟁방지법 – bu-jeong-gyeong-jaeng-bang-ji-beop) -
Expression: 영업비밀 침해
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil chim-hae
Meaning: Trade secret infringement / misappropriation -
Expression: 법적 조치를 취하다
Pronunciation: beop-jeok jo-chi-reul chwi-ha-da
Meaning: To take legal action -
Expression: 손해 배상 청구
Pronunciation: son-hae bae-sang cheong-gu
Meaning: Claim for damages -
Expression: 계약 위반
Pronunciation: gye-yak wi-ban
Meaning: Breach of contract -
Expression: 영업비밀 관리 규정
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil gwan-ri gyu-jeong
Meaning: Trade secret management regulations / policy -
Expression: 기술 유출 방지
Pronunciation: gi-sul yu-chul bang-ji
Meaning: Prevention of technology leakage -
Expression: 내부 감사
Pronunciation: nae-bu gam-sa
Meaning: Internal audit -
Expression: 정보 보안 교육
Pronunciation: jeong-bo bo-an gyo-yuk
Meaning: Information security training -
Expression: 퇴사 시 서약서
Pronunciation: toe-sa si seo-yak-seo
Meaning: Pledge/Affidavit upon resignation (often includes confidentiality clauses) -
Expression: 경업 금지 약정
Pronunciation: gyeong-eop geum-ji yak-jeong
Meaning: Non-compete agreement -
Expression: 영업비밀로 인정받기 위한 요건
Pronunciation: yeong-eop-bi-mil-lo in-jeong-bat-gi wi-han yo-geon
Meaning: Requirements for recognition as a trade secret
Korean Business Culture Notes
Confidentiality (비밀 유지 – bi-mil yu-ji) is taken very seriously in Korean business culture. Protecting company information, especially 영업비밀 (yeong-eop-bi-mil), is considered a fundamental duty of employees.
Non-Disclosure Agreements (비밀 유지 계약 – bi-mil yu-ji gye-yak) are standard practice when dealing with sensitive information, both internally with employees and externally with partners or clients. Signing these documents is a formal commitment.
Information leaks (정보 유출 – jeong-bo yu-chul), particularly of trade secrets, can lead to severe consequences, including legal action (법적 조치 – beop-jeok jo-chi) and significant damage to professional reputation and trust.
Companies often implement strict internal policies (관리 규정 – gwan-ri gyu-jeong) and conduct regular training (보안 교육 – bo-an gyo-yuk) to emphasize the importance of protecting trade secrets and confidential data.
Even after leaving a company, former employees are generally expected to maintain confidentiality regarding trade secrets learned during their employment, often reinforced by clauses in their employment contracts or resignation agreements (퇴사 시 서약서 – toe-sa si seo-yak-seo).
Real Conversation Example
Situation: A senior manager (A) is briefing a junior employee (B) on handling sensitive project documents.
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Expression: A: 김 대리, 이 프로젝트 관련 자료는 모두 영업비밀입니다. 취급에 주의해 주세요.
Pronunciation: gim dae-ri, i peu-ro-jek-teu gwal-lyeon ja-ryo-neun mo-du yeong-eop-bi-mil-im-ni-da. chwi-geup-e ju-ui-hae ju-se-yo.
Meaning: Assistant Manager Kim, all materials related to this project are trade secrets. Please handle them with care. -
Expression: B: 네, 부장님. 알겠습니다. 외부 유출되지 않도록 각별히 신경 쓰겠습니다.
Pronunciation: ne, bu-jang-nim. al-get-seum-ni-da. oe-bu yu-chul-doe-ji an-to-rok gak-byeol-hi sin-gyeong sseu-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: Yes, Department Head. Understood. I will pay special attention to ensure there are no external leaks. -
Expression: A: 특히 기술 사양과 고객 명단은 기밀 정보이니, 접근 권한이 없는 사람과 공유하면 안 됩니다.
Pronunciation: teuk-hi gi-sul sa-yang-gwa go-gaek myeong-dan-eun gi-mil jeong-bo-i-ni, jeop-geun gwon-han-i eom-neun sa-ram-gwa gong-yu-ha-myeon an doem-ni-da.
Meaning: Especially the technical specifications and customer list are confidential information, so you must not share them with anyone without access rights. -
Expression: B: 명심하겠습니다. 모든 자료는 보안 폴더에 저장하고, 퇴근 시에는 반드시 잠그겠습니다.
Pronunciation: myeong-sim-ha-get-seum-ni-da. mo-deun ja-ryo-neun bo-an pol-deo-e jeo-jang-ha-go, toe-geun si-e-neun ban-deu-si jam-geu-get-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: I will keep that in mind. I’ll save all materials in the secure folder and make sure to lock up when leaving work. -
Expression: A: 좋습니다. 우리 회사의 영업비밀 보호는 모든 직원의 책임입니다.
Pronunciation: jo-seum-ni-da. u-ri hoe-sa-ui yeong-eop-bi-mil bo-ho-neun mo-deun jik-won-ui chaek-im-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Good. Protecting our company’s trade secrets is the responsibility of every employee.
Practice Tips
Familiarize yourself with the core term 영업비밀 (yeong-eop-bi-mil) and related vocabulary like 기밀 정보 (gi-mil jeong-bo) and 비밀 유지 계약 (bi-mil yu-ji gye-yak)~!
Try creating sentences using the phrases provided. For example, imagine explaining the importance of confidentiality to a new team member or discussing an NDA with a business partner.
Pay attention to how these terms are used in Korean business news articles or dramas dealing with corporate settings. This can help you understand the context and nuances better!
Practice the pronunciations carefully, syllable by syllable, to ensure clear communication in professional situations. Good luck with your studies!
