Understanding where your food comes from is increasingly important for consumers worldwide, including in Korea. This guide introduces the Korean term for a “transparent food chain” and related vocabulary and phrases, helping you discuss food origins, safety, and the journey from farm to table in Korean. Learn how to navigate conversations about food transparency and make informed choices.
Table Of Content
Core Expression
- Expression: 투명한 식품 체인
Pronunciation: tu-myeong-han sik-pum che-in
Meaning: Transparent food chain (Refers to the clear visibility of the food production and distribution process)
Related Vocabulary
This section covers essential words related to food safety, origin, and the supply process.
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Expression: 식품 안전
Pronunciation: sik-pum an-jeon
Meaning: Food safety -
Expression: 원산지
Pronunciation: won-san-ji
Meaning: Place of origin -
Expression: 생산자
Pronunciation: saeng-san-ja
Meaning: Producer -
Expression: 유통 과정
Pronunciation: yu-tong gwa-jeong
Meaning: Distribution process -
Expression: 소비자
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja
Meaning: Consumer -
Expression: 농장
Pronunciation: nong-jang
Meaning: Farm -
Expression: 식탁
Pronunciation: sik-tak
Meaning: Dining table -
Expression: 이력 추적 시스템
Pronunciation: i-ryeok chu-jeok si-seu-tem
Meaning: Traceability system -
Expression: 인증 마크
Pronunciation: in-jeung ma-keu
Meaning: Certification mark -
Expression: 친환경 농산물
Pronunciation: chin-hwan-gyeong nong-san-mul
Meaning: Eco-friendly agricultural products -
Expression: 유기농
Pronunciation: yu-gi-nong
Meaning: Organic farming / Organic -
Expression: 신뢰성
Pronunciation: sil-loe-seong
Meaning: Reliability / Trustworthiness
Understanding the Process
Use these phrases to talk about understanding the food supply chain.
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Expression: 이 식품의 원산지가 어디인가요?
Pronunciation: i sik-pum-ui won-san-ji-ga eo-di-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Where is the origin of this food product? -
Expression: 생산 과정을 알 수 있을까요?
Pronunciation: saeng-san gwa-jeong-eul al su it-sseul-kka-yo?
Meaning: Can I know the production process? -
Expression: 유통 경로가 투명한가요?
Pronunciation: yu-tong gyeong-no-ga tu-myeong-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is the distribution channel transparent? -
Expression: 농장에서 식탁까지 어떻게 오나요?
Pronunciation: nong-jang-e-seo sik-tak-kka-ji eo-tteo-ke o-na-yo?
Meaning: How does it get from the farm to the table? -
Expression: 이력 추적이 가능한가요?
Pronunciation: i-ryeok chu-jeok-i ga-neung-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is traceability possible? -
Expression: 어떤 인증을 받았나요?
Pronunciation: eo-tteon in-jeung-eul ba-dat-na-yo?
Meaning: What certifications has it received? -
Expression: 생산자 정보를 확인할 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: saeng-san-ja jeong-bo-reul hwa-gin-hal su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I check the producer’s information? -
Expression: 식품 정보를 더 자세히 알고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: sik-pum jeong-bo-reul deo ja-se-hi al-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to know more detailed information about the food. -
Expression: 투명성이 중요하다고 생각해요.
Pronunciation: tu-myeong-seong-i jung-yo-ha-da-go saeng-ga-kae-yo.
Meaning: I think transparency is important. -
Expression: 소비자의 알 권리를 존중해야 해요.
Pronunciation: so-bi-ja-ui al kwon-ri-reul jon-jung-hae-ya hae-yo.
Meaning: We must respect the consumer’s right to know. -
Expression: 이 앱으로 식품 이력을 확인할 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: i aep-eu-ro sik-pum i-ryeok-eul hwa-gin-hal su i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: You can check the food history with this app. -
Expression: QR 코드를 스캔해 보세요.
Pronunciation: QR ko-deu-reul seu-kaen-hae bo-se-yo.
Meaning: Try scanning the QR code.
Discussing Food Safety and Origin
Here are phrases for discussing concerns and seeking assurance about food.
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Expression: 이 음식은 안전한가요?
Pronunciation: i eum-sik-eun an-jeon-han-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is this food safe? -
Expression: 원산지 표시를 확인했어요.
Pronunciation: won-san-ji pyo-si-reul hwa-gi-nae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I checked the origin label. -
Expression: 국산 농산물을 선호해요.
Pronunciation: guk-san nong-san-mul-eul seon-ho-hae-yo.
Meaning: I prefer domestic agricultural products. -
Expression: 수입산인가요? 국산인가요?
Pronunciation: su-ip-san-in-ga-yo? guk-san-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Is it imported or domestic? -
Expression: 유기농 제품이라 믿을 수 있어요.
Pronunciation: yu-gi-nong je-pum-i-ra mi-deul su i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I can trust it because it’s an organic product. -
Expression: 식품 안전 문제가 걱정돼요.
Pronunciation: sik-pum an-jeon mun-je-ga geok-jeong-doe-yo.
Meaning: I’m worried about food safety issues. -
Expression: 믿을 수 있는 판매처에서 구매해요.
Pronunciation: mi-deul su it-neun pan-mae-cheo-e-seo gu-mae-hae-yo.
Meaning: I buy from reliable sellers. -
Expression: 정부의 식품 관리 기준은 어떤가요?
Pronunciation: jeong-bu-ui sik-pum gwan-ri gi-jun-eun eo-tteon-ga-yo?
Meaning: What are the government’s food management standards? -
Expression: 아이에게 먹일 거라 더 신경 쓰여요.
Pronunciation: a-i-e-ge meo-gil geo-ra deo sin-gyeong sseu-yeo-yo.
Meaning: I’m more concerned because I’ll be feeding it to my child. -
Expression: 신선도가 중요한 것 같아요.
Pronunciation: sin-seon-do-ga jung-yo-han geot ga-ta-yo.
Meaning: I think freshness is important. -
Expression: 가공식품보다는 자연식품을 선호해요.
Pronunciation: ga-gong-sik-pum-bo-da-neun ja-yeon-sik-pum-eul seon-ho-hae-yo.
Meaning: I prefer natural foods over processed foods. -
Expression: 식품 첨가물이 들어있나요?
Pronunciation: sik-pum cheom-ga-mul-i deu-reo-in-na-yo?
Meaning: Does it contain food additives?
Korean Culture Notes
Understanding the cultural context enhances language learning.
- High Consumer Awareness: Korean consumers are generally very conscious of food safety and origin, partly due to past food safety incidents. This drives demand for transparency.
- Mandatory Origin Labeling: Korea has relatively strict regulations requiring origin labeling (원산지 표시 – won-san-ji pyo-si) for many food items, especially in restaurants and markets. Checking these labels is common practice.
- Trust in Certification: Certifications like HACCP (해썹 – hae-sseop), organic (유기농 – yu-gi-nong), and GAP (농산물우수관리인증 – nong-san-mul u-su-gwan-ri-in-jeung) carry significant weight for consumers seeking assurance.
- Rise of Traceability Systems: Government and private companies are increasingly implementing traceability systems (이력 추적 시스템 – i-ryeok chu-jeok si-seu-tem), often accessible via QR codes, allowing consumers to track food from farm to shelf.
- Preference for Domestic Products: There’s often a cultural preference for domestic products (국산 – guk-san), perceived as fresher or more trustworthy, though this varies depending on the item.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two friends are grocery shopping and discussing the origin of some vegetables.
Roles:
* A: Min-jun (Concerned consumer)
* B: Ji-hye (Friend)
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Expression: A: 이 채소 어디서 온 건지 궁금하네. 원산지 표시가 잘 안 보여.
Pronunciation: i chae-so eo-di-seo on geon-ji gung-geum-ha-ne. won-san-ji pyo-si-ga jal an bo-yeo.
Meaning: I wonder where these vegetables came from. I can’t see the origin label clearly. -
Expression: B: 그러게. 요즘은 투명한 식품 체인이 중요하잖아. 어디서 어떻게 키웠는지 알면 좋지.
Pronunciation: geu-reo-ge. yo-jeum-eun tu-myeong-han sik-pum che-in-i jung-yo-ha-ja-na. eo-di-seo eo-tteo-ke ki-won-neun-ji al-myeon jo-chi.
Meaning: Right. A transparent food chain is important these days. It’s good to know where and how it was grown. -
Expression: A: 맞아. 특히 아이들 먹일 거는 더 신경 쓰여. 이력 추적 시스템이 있으면 좋을 텐데.
Pronunciation: ma-ja. teu-ki a-i-deul meo-gil geo-neun deo sin-gyeong sseu-yeo. i-ryeok chu-jeok si-seu-tem-i i-sseu-myeon jo-eul ten-de.
Meaning: Exactly. I’m especially careful with food for the kids. It would be great if there was a traceability system. -
Expression: B: 저쪽에 유기농 코너 가볼까? 거기는 보통 생산자 정보나 인증 마크가 잘 되어 있더라고.
Pronunciation: jeo-jjok-e yu-gi-nong ko-neo ga-bol-kka? geo-gi-neun bo-tong saeng-san-ja jeong-bo-na in-jeung ma-keu-ga jal doe-eo it-deo-ra-go.
Meaning: Shall we check the organic section over there? They usually have good producer information and certification marks. -
Expression: A: 좋은 생각이야. 조금 비싸도 안전한 식품을 사는 게 마음이 편해.
Pronunciation: jo-eun saeng-ga-gi-ya. jo-geum bi-ssa-do an-jeon-han sik-pum-eul sa-neun ge ma-eum-i pyeon-hae.
Meaning: Good idea. I feel more at ease buying safe food, even if it’s a bit more expensive. -
Expression: B: 나도 그래. 소비자가 더 똑똑해져야 생산자들도 투명하게 정보를 공개할 거야.
Pronunciation: na-do geu-rae. so-bi-ja-ga deo ttok-tto-kae-jyeo-ya saeng-san-ja-deul-do tu-myeong-ha-ge jeong-bo-reul gong-gae-hal geo-ya.
Meaning: Me too. As consumers become smarter, producers will also disclose information more transparently.
Practice Tips
Practice makes perfect~! Try using these phrases when you go grocery shopping in Korea or discuss food choices with Korean friends. Pay attention to labels (원산지 표시!) and look for certification marks (인증 마크!). Asking questions like “이거 국산이에요?” (i-geo guk-san-i-e-yo? – Is this domestic?) or “유기농 맞아요?” (yu-gi-nong ma-ja-yo? – Is it really organic?) can be great practice. Don’t hesitate to inquire about the food you eat – it shows you’re an informed consumer! Fighting~! (화이팅! hwa-i-ting!)
