The term 희망퇴직 (hui-mang-toe-jik) refers to voluntary retirement programs often implemented by Korean companies, especially during periods of economic difficulty or restructuring. Understanding this term and related expressions is crucial for comprehending discussions about the Korean workplace, business news, and employment situations. This guide covers the core term, related vocabulary, common phrases, cultural context, and a conversation example to help you discuss this topic accurately.
Table Of Content
Core Term
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Expression: 희망퇴직
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik
Meaning: Voluntary Retirement (literally “hopeful retirement,” often refers to an early retirement package offered by a company, sometimes under pressure)
Related Vocabulary
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Expression: 퇴직
Pronunciation: toe-jik
Meaning: Retirement, Resignation -
Expression: 조기 퇴직
Pronunciation: jo-gi toe-jik
Meaning: Early Retirement -
Expression: 명예퇴직
Pronunciation: myeong-ye-toe-jik
Meaning: Honorary Retirement (often for long-serving employees, sometimes similar to 희망퇴직) -
Expression: 구조조정
Pronunciation: gu-jo-jo-jeong
Meaning: Restructuring -
Expression: 권고사직
Pronunciation: gwon-go-sa-jik
Meaning: Recommended Resignation (resignation strongly suggested by the company) -
Expression: 해고
Pronunciation: hae-go
Meaning: Dismissal, Firing -
Expression: 퇴직금
Pronunciation: toe-jik-geum
Meaning: Severance Pay, Retirement Pay -
Expression: 위로금
Pronunciation: wi-ro-geum
Meaning: Consolation Money (often paid as part of a voluntary retirement package) -
Expression: 실업
Pronunciation: sil-eop
Meaning: Unemployment -
Expression: 재취업
Pronunciation: jae-chwi-eop
Meaning: Re-employment -
Expression: 감원
Pronunciation: gam-won
Meaning: Personnel Reduction, Downsizing -
Expression: 인력 감축
Pronunciation: il-lyeok gam-chuk
Meaning: Workforce Reduction
Common Phrases
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Expression: 희망퇴직을 신청하다
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-ji-geul sin-cheong-ha-da
Meaning: To apply for voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 회사에서 희망퇴직을 실시하고 있어요.
Pronunciation: hoe-sa-e-seo hui-mang-toe-ji-geul sil-si-ha-go i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The company is implementing a voluntary retirement program. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 조건이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik jo-geo-ni eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What are the conditions for voluntary retirement? -
Expression: 희망퇴직하면 위로금을 받을 수 있나요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik-ha-myeon wi-ro-geu-meul ba-deul su in-na-yo?
Meaning: Can I receive consolation money if I take voluntary retirement? -
Expression: 많은 직원들이 희망퇴직을 고민하고 있다.
Pronunciation: ma-neun jig-won-deu-ri hui-mang-toe-ji-geul go-min-ha-go it-da.
Meaning: Many employees are considering voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 구조조정의 일환으로 희망퇴직을 받습니다.
Pronunciation: gu-jo-jo-jeong-ui il-hwa-neu-ro hui-mang-toe-ji-geul bat-seum-ni-da.
Meaning: They are accepting voluntary retirements as part of restructuring. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 후 계획이 있으신가요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik hu gye-hoe-gi i-sseu-sin-ga-yo?
Meaning: Do you have plans after taking voluntary retirement? -
Expression: 그는 희망퇴직하고 사업을 시작했어요.
Pronunciation: geu-neun hui-mang-toe-jik-ha-go sa-eo-beul si-ja-kae-sseo-yo.
Meaning: He took voluntary retirement and started a business. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 대상자는 누구인가요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik dae-sang-ja-neun nu-gu-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: Who is eligible for the voluntary retirement program? -
Expression: 희망퇴직 공고가 나왔어요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik gong-go-ga na-wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: The announcement for voluntary retirement came out. -
Expression: 희망퇴직을 권유받았어요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-ji-geul gwon-yu-ba-da-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I was encouraged (or pressured) to take voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 신청 마감이 언제인가요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik sin-cheong ma-ga-mi eon-je-in-ga-yo?
Meaning: When is the deadline for applying for voluntary retirement?
Discussing the Situation
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Expression: 요즘 경기가 안 좋아서 희망퇴직을 받는 회사가 많아요.
Pronunciation: yo-jeum gyeong-gi-ga an jo-a-seo hui-mang-toe-ji-geul ban-neun hoe-sa-ga ma-na-yo.
Meaning: Lately, many companies are offering voluntary retirement because the economy is bad. -
Expression: 희망퇴직은 사실상 권고사직이나 다름없다는 말도 있어요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-ji-geun sa-sil-sang gwon-go-sa-ji-gi-na da-reum-eop-da-neun mal-do i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Some say that voluntary retirement is practically the same as recommended resignation. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 압박을 느끼고 있어요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik ap-ba-geul neu-kki-go i-sseo-yo.
Meaning: I’m feeling pressured to take voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 회사가 어려워서 희망퇴직 외에는 방법이 없다고 합니다.
Pronunciation: hoe-sa-ga eo-ryeo-wo-seo hui-mang-toe-jik oe-e-neun bang-beo-bi eop-da-go ham-ni-da.
Meaning: They say there’s no other way besides voluntary retirement because the company is struggling. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 제도가 어떻게 운영되나요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik je-do-ga eo-tteo-ke un-yeong-doe-na-yo?
Meaning: How does the voluntary retirement system operate? -
Expression: 희망퇴직 제안을 받아들일지 말지 고민 중이에요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik je-a-neul ba-da-deu-ril-ji mal-ji go-min jung-i-e-yo.
Meaning: I’m contemplating whether or not to accept the voluntary retirement offer. -
Expression: 희망퇴직하면 퇴직금이 더 많이 나오나요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik-ha-myeon toe-jik-geu-mi deo ma-ni na-o-na-yo?
Meaning: Do you get more severance pay if you take voluntary retirement? -
Expression: 희망퇴직 후 재취업이 걱정됩니다.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik hu jae-chwi-eo-bi geok-jeong-doem-ni-da.
Meaning: I’m worried about finding re-employment after voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 희망퇴직은 신중하게 결정해야 하는 문제입니다.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-ji-geun sin-jung-ha-ge gyeol-jeong-hae-ya ha-neun mun-je-im-ni-da.
Meaning: Voluntary retirement is an issue that requires careful decision-making. -
Expression: 우리 부서에서도 희망퇴직자가 나왔어요.
Pronunciation: u-ri bu-seo-e-seo-do hui-mang-toe-jik-ja-ga na-wa-sseo-yo.
Meaning: Someone from our department also took voluntary retirement. -
Expression: 희망퇴직 대상 연령이 어떻게 되나요?
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik dae-sang yeol-lyeong-i eo-tteo-ke doe-na-yo?
Meaning: What is the target age range for voluntary retirement? -
Expression: 희망퇴직 관련해서 상담받고 싶어요.
Pronunciation: hui-mang-toe-jik gwal-lyeon-hae-seo sang-dam-bat-go si-peo-yo.
Meaning: I want to get counseling regarding voluntary retirement.
Korean Culture Notes
The term 희망퇴직 (hui-mang-toe-jik), while literally translating to “hopeful retirement,” carries significant weight in the Korean workplace. It’s rarely about employees happily choosing early retirement. Instead, it’s typically a program initiated by companies facing financial difficulties or undergoing restructuring (구조조정 – gu-jo-jo-jeong) to reduce their workforce.
Although presented as “voluntary,” employees, particularly older staff or those in departments being downsized, may feel considerable pressure (압박 – ap-bak) to accept the offer. Refusing might lead to unfavorable transfers or being subtly pushed out later, making it feel closer to 권고사직 (gwon-go-sa-jik – recommended resignation).
To incentivize acceptance, companies usually offer enhanced severance packages (퇴직금 – toe-jik-geum) or additional “consolation money” (위로금 – wi-ro-geum). The terms and amounts vary greatly depending on the company’s situation and the employee’s tenure.
The term 명예퇴직 (myeong-ye-toe-jik – honorary retirement) is sometimes used similarly but can also refer to retirement programs offered under less pressured circumstances, perhaps for long-serving employees reaching a certain age, sometimes with more positive connotations. However, in practice, the lines between 희망퇴직 and 명예퇴직 can blur.
Due to its connection with job insecurity and restructuring, discussing 희망퇴직 can be a sensitive topic. It reflects broader economic conditions and the challenges of lifetime employment concepts in modern Korea.
Real Conversation Example
Situation: Two colleagues, Minjun (A) and Sora (B), are talking privately after a company-wide announcement about a voluntary retirement program.
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Expression: A: 소라 씨, 오늘 회사 공지 봤어요? 희망퇴직 실시한다고요.
Pronunciation: So-ra ssi, o-neul hoe-sa gong-ji bwa-sseo-yo? hui-mang-toe-jik sil-si-han-da-go-yo.
Meaning: Sora, did you see the company notice today? They said they’re implementing a voluntary retirement program. -
Expression: B: 네, 봤어요. 마음이 좀 무겁네요. 요즘 회사 사정이 안 좋다는 얘기는 들었지만…
Pronunciation: Ne, bwa-sseo-yo. ma-eu-mi jom mu-geom-ne-yo. yo-jeum hoe-sa sa-jeong-i an jo-ta-neun yae-gi-neun deu-reo-jji-man…
Meaning: Yes, I saw it. I feel a bit heavy-hearted. I heard the company situation wasn’t good lately, but… -
Expression: A: 그러게요. 희망퇴직 조건은 확인해 봤어요? 위로금은 좀 준다고 하던데요.
Pronunciation: Geu-reo-ge-yo. hui-mang-toe-jik jo-geo-neun hwa-gin-hae bwa-sseo-yo? wi-ro-geu-meun jom jun-da-go ha-deon-de-yo.
Meaning: I know, right? Have you checked the conditions for voluntary retirement? I heard they’re giving some consolation money. -
Expression: B: 자세히는 못 봤는데, 그래도 고민되네요. 희망퇴직 신청해야 할지…
Pronunciation: Ja-se-hi-neun mot bwan-neun-de, geu-rae-do go-min-doe-ne-yo. hui-mang-toe-jik sin-cheong-hae-ya hal-ji…
Meaning: I haven’t looked closely, but I’m still worried. Whether I should apply for voluntary retirement… -
Expression: A: 저도 마찬가지예요. 대상자가 주로 15년차 이상이라고 하던데, 저도 해당되거든요.
Pronunciation: Jeo-do ma-chan-ga-ji-ye-yo. dae-sang-ja-ga ju-ro sip-o-nyeon-cha i-sang-i-ra-go ha-deon-de, jeo-do hae-dang-doe-geo-deun-yo.
Meaning: Me too. They said the main targets are those with 15 years or more experience, and that includes me. -
Expression: B: 맞아요. 희망퇴직 후 재취업도 쉽지 않을 텐데… 신중하게 생각해 봐야겠어요.
Pronunciation: Ma-ja-yo. hui-mang-toe-jik hu jae-chwi-eop-do swip-ji a-neul ten-de… sin-jung-ha-ge saeng-ga-kae bwa-ya-ge-sseo-yo.
Meaning: That’s right. Finding re-employment after voluntary retirement won’t be easy either… I need to think about it carefully. -
Expression: A: 네, 마감일까지 시간이 좀 있으니 서로 정보 공유하면서 결정해요.
Pronunciation: Ne, ma-gam-il-kka-ji si-ga-ni jom i-sseu-ni seo-ro jeong-bo gong-yu-ha-myeon-seo gyeol-jeong-hae-yo.
Meaning: Yes, we have some time until the deadline, so let’s share information and decide.
Practice Tips
Understanding 희망퇴직 involves grasping not just the words but the underlying context of Korean corporate culture and economic pressures~. Try reading Korean news articles about business or labor issues; you’ll likely encounter this term often!
Practice using the phrases when discussing hypothetical work situations or news events. Consider the nuances: Is it truly voluntary? What are the implications for the employee and the company? Thinking about these aspects will deepen your understanding beyond simple translation. Good luck with your practice!
