Understanding Korean TV Programs

Watching Korean television programs is a fantastic way to improve your listening skills and learn everyday expressions. This guide provides essential vocabulary and phrases to help you understand and discuss various types of Korean TV shows, from popular dramas to entertaining variety programs. Master these terms to enhance your viewing experience and engage in conversations about your favorite shows.

Core Expression

• Expression: 텔레비전 프로그램
  Pronunciation: tel-le-bi-jeon peu-ro-geu-raem
  Meaning: Television program

Basic TV Vocabulary

• Expression: 텔레비전 (티비)
  Pronunciation: tel-le-bi-jeon (ti-bi)
  Meaning: Television (TV)
• Expression: 드라마
  Pronunciation: deu-ra-ma
  Meaning: Drama
• Expression: 예능 프로그램
  Pronunciation: ye-neung peu-ro-geu-raem
  Meaning: Variety show / Entertainment program
• Expression: 뉴스
  Pronunciation: nyu-seu
  Meaning: News
• Expression: 영화
  Pronunciation: yeong-hwa
  Meaning: Movie
• Expression: 채널
  Pronunciation: chae-neol
  Meaning: Channel
• Expression: 리모컨
  Pronunciation: ri-mo-keon
  Meaning: Remote control
• Expression: 배우
  Pronunciation: bae-u
  Meaning: Actor / Actress
• Expression: 자막
  Pronunciation: ja-mak
  Meaning: Subtitles
• Expression: 시청률
  Pronunciation: si-cheong-ryul
  Meaning: Viewer ratings
• Expression: 방송
  Pronunciation: bang-song
  Meaning: Broadcast / Program
• Expression: 본방송
  Pronunciation: bon-bang-song
  Meaning: First run / Original broadcast

Discussing TV Shows

• Expression: 이 드라마 봤어요?
  Pronunciation: i deu-ra-ma bwass-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Have you watched this drama?
• Expression: 어떤 종류의 프로그램을 좋아해요?
  Pronunciation: eo-tteon jong-ryu-ui peu-ro-geu-rae-meul jo-a-hae-yo?
  Meaning: What kind of programs do you like?
• Expression: 요즘 인기 있는 드라마가 뭐예요?
  Pronunciation: yo-jeum in-gi itt-neun deu-ra-ma-ga mwo-ye-yo?
  Meaning: What’s a popular drama these days?
• Expression: 주인공이 누구예요?
  Pronunciation: ju-in-gong-i nu-gu-ye-yo?
  Meaning: Who is the main character?
• Expression: 줄거리가 어떻게 돼요?
  Pronunciation: jul-geo-ri-ga eo-tteo-ke dwae-yo?
  Meaning: What’s the plot?
• Expression: 정말 재미있어요. / 정말 지루해요.
  Pronunciation: jeong-mal jae-mi-iss-eo-yo. / jeong-mal ji-ru-hae-yo.
  Meaning: It’s really fun. / It’s really boring.
• Expression: 다음 화가 기대돼요.
  Pronunciation: da-eum hwa-ga gi-dae-dwae-yo.
  Meaning: I’m looking forward to the next episode.
• Expression: 결말이 어땠어요?
  Pronunciation: gyeol-mal-i eo-ttaess-eo-yo?
  Meaning: How was the ending?
• Expression: 이 배우 연기 잘해요.
  Pronunciation: i bae-u yeon-gi jal-hae-yo.
  Meaning: This actor acts well.
• Expression: 추천할 만한 프로그램 있어요?
  Pronunciation: chu-cheon-hal man-han peu-ro-geu-raem iss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Are there any programs you’d recommend?
• Expression: 저는 주로 예능을 봐요.
  Pronunciation: jeo-neun ju-ro ye-neung-eul bwa-yo.
  Meaning: I mainly watch variety shows.
• Expression: 이 프로그램은 꼭 봐야 해요.
  Pronunciation: i peu-ro-geu-raem-eun kkok bwa-ya hae-yo.
  Meaning: You must watch this program.

Watching TV Phrases

• Expression: 텔레비전을 켜다 / 끄다
  Pronunciation: tel-le-bi-jeon-eul kyeo-da / kkeu-da
  Meaning: To turn the television on / off
• Expression: 채널을 돌리다
  Pronunciation: chae-neo-reul dol-li-da
  Meaning: To change the channel
• Expression: 소리를 높이다 / 줄이다
  Pronunciation: so-ri-reul nop-i-da / jul-i-da
  Meaning: To turn the volume up / down
• Expression: 자막을 켜다 / 끄다
  Pronunciation: ja-ma-geul kyeo-da / kkeu-da
  Meaning: To turn subtitles on / off
• Expression: 몇 시에 시작해요?
  Pronunciation: myeot si-e si-jak-hae-yo?
  Meaning: What time does it start?
• Expression: 몇 번 채널이에요?
  Pronunciation: myeot beon chae-neo-ri-e-yo?
  Meaning: What channel number is it?
• Expression: 재방송은 언제 해요?
  Pronunciation: jae-bang-song-eun eon-je hae-yo?
  Meaning: When is the rerun?
• Expression: 광고 시간이에요.
  Pronunciation: gwang-go si-gan-i-e-yo.
  Meaning: It’s commercial time.
• Expression: 이거 녹화했어요?
  Pronunciation: i-geo nok-hwa-haess-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Did you record this?
• Expression: 다시 보기로 봤어요.
  Pronunciation: da-si bo-gi-ro bwass-eo-yo.
  Meaning: I watched it on replay (VOD).
• Expression: 리모컨 어디 있어요?
  Pronunciation: ri-mo-keon eo-di iss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: Where is the remote control?
• Expression: 지금 뭐 하고 있어요?
  Pronunciation: ji-geum mwo ha-go iss-eo-yo?
  Meaning: What are you watching now?

Korean Culture Notes

Popular Genres: Korean dramas (드라마 – deu-ra-ma) are incredibly popular globally, covering genres like romance, historical (사극 – sa-geuk), thriller, and fantasy. Variety shows (예능 – ye-neung) featuring celebrities in games, talk shows, or reality formats are also a major part of Korean TV culture.

PPL (Product Placement): You’ll often notice Product Placement (간접 광고 – gan-jeop gwang-go, often called PPL) in Korean dramas and shows. Characters might conspicuously use certain phones, eat at specific restaurant chains, or drink particular beverages. This is a common way programs are funded.

Broadcast Schedule: Many popular dramas air twice a week on consecutive days (e.g., Monday-Tuesday or Wednesday-Thursday). Weekend dramas are also common. Knowing the typical schedule helps understand why people eagerly anticipate certain days.

Online Streaming Dominance: While traditional broadcasting (본방송 – bon-bang-song) still exists, many Koreans, especially younger generations, watch programs through online streaming platforms (OTT 서비스 – O-Ti-Ti seo-bi-seu) like Netflix, Wavve, or TVING. These platforms often release episodes shortly after their original broadcast.

Variety Show Formats: Korean variety shows often have unique formats, like outdoor missions (야외 버라이어티 – ya-oe beo-ra-i-eo-ti), studio talk shows (토크쇼 – to-keu-syo), or reality shows following celebrities’ lives (리얼리티 쇼 – ri-eol-li-ti syo). Understanding these formats adds context to the humor and interactions.

Real Conversation Example

Situation: Two friends, Minjun (A) and Sora (B), are talking about a popular Korean drama they are both watching.

• Expression: A: 소라 씨, 어제 그 드라마 봤어요? 정말 재미있던데요!
  Pronunciation: So-ra ssi, eo-je geu deu-ra-ma bwass-eo-yo? Jeong-mal jae-mi-itt-deon-de-yo!
  Meaning: Sora, did you watch that drama yesterday? It was really interesting!
• Expression: B: 네, 봤어요! 저도 완전 빠졌어요. 특히 남자 주인공 연기가 대단해요.
  Pronunciation: Ne, bwass-eo-yo! Jeo-do wan-jeon ppa-jyeoss-eo-yo. Teuk-hi nam-ja ju-in-gong yeon-gi-ga dae-dan-hae-yo.
  Meaning: Yes, I watched it! I’m totally hooked too. The male lead’s acting is especially amazing.
• Expression: A: 맞아요! 다음 주 내용이 너무 궁금해요. 예고편 보니까 더 기대돼요.
  Pronunciation: Maj-a-yo! Da-eum ju nae-yong-i neo-mu gung-geum-hae-yo. Ye-go-pyeon bo-ni-kka deo gi-dae-dwae-yo.
  Meaning: Right! I’m so curious about next week’s story. Watching the preview made me even more excited.
• Expression: B: 저도요! 본방송 놓치면 꼭 다시 보기로 챙겨 봐요.
  Pronunciation: Jeo-do-yo! Bon-bang-song not-chi-myeon kkok da-si bo-gi-ro chaeng-gyeo bwa-yo.
  Meaning: Me too! If I miss the original broadcast, I make sure to watch it on replay.
• Expression: A: 혹시 다른 재미있는 프로그램 추천해 줄 수 있어요? 요즘 볼 게 없어서요.
  Pronunciation: Hok-si da-reun jae-mi-iss-neun peu-ro-geu-raem chu-cheon-hae jul su iss-eo-yo? Yo-jeum bol ge eobs-eo-seo-yo.
  Meaning: By any chance, can you recommend any other fun programs? I don’t have much to watch these days.
• Expression: B: 음… 요즘 새로 시작한 예능 프로그램 있는데, 그것도 꽤 웃겨요. 한번 봐 보세요!
  Pronunciation: Eum… yo-jeum sae-ro si-jak-han ye-neung peu-ro-geu-raem iss-neun-de, geu-geot-do kkwae ut-gyeo-yo. Han-beon bwa bo-se-yo!
  Meaning: Hmm… There’s a variety show that started recently, it’s quite funny too. Try watching it!

Practice Tips

Watching Korean TV is already great practice! Try turning on Korean subtitles (한국어 자막 – han-gu-geo ja-mak) to connect sounds with words~ Challenge yourself by trying to understand without any subtitles sometimes! Discussing the shows you watch with Korean friends or language partners using the phrases you learned today is also excellent practice. Don’t be afraid to ask questions like “이 장면 이해가 안 돼요” (i jang-myeon i-hae-ga an dwae-yo – I don’t understand this scene) or “이 단어 뜻이 뭐예요?” (i dan-eo tteus-i mwo-ye-yo? – What does this word mean?). Enjoy your Korean TV journey! Fighting!~