Jobs in Korean — 50 Professions with Pronunciation

<h2>Jobs in Korean: Essential Vocabulary</h2> <p>Knowing job vocabulary in Korean is fundamental. It's one of the first questions people will ask you in Korea: <strong>직업이 뭐예요?</strong> (jig-eo-bi mwo-ye-yo?) — "What's your job?" After 12 years in Seoul, I've noticed that profession is often the primary social criteria in Korea — much more than in most Western countries. Your job largely defines how people perceive you.</p> <h2>[Basic Vocabulary](/en/korean/100-essential-words) — 직업 기본 단어</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>직업</td><td>jig-eop</td><td>Job / profession</td></tr> <tr><td>일</td><td>il</td><td>Work</td></tr> <tr><td>회사</td><td>hoe-sa</td><td>Company</td></tr> <tr><td>회사원</td><td>hoe-sa-won</td><td>Office worker</td></tr> <tr><td>사장님</td><td>sa-jang-nim</td><td>Boss / CEO</td></tr> <tr><td>직원</td><td>jig-won</td><td>Employee</td></tr> <tr><td>프리랜서</td><td>peu-ri-raen-seo</td><td>Freelancer</td></tr> <tr><td>자영업자</td><td>ja-yeong-eop-ja</td><td>Self-employed</td></tr> </table> <h2>Health and Medicine — 의료</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>의사</td><td>ui-sa</td><td>Doctor</td></tr> <tr><td>[간호사](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%84%ED%98%B8%EC%82%AC)</td><td>gan-ho-sa</td><td>Nurse</td></tr> <tr><td>치과의사</td><td>chi-gwa-ui-sa</td><td>Dentist</td></tr> <tr><td>약사</td><td>yak-sa</td><td>Pharmacist</td></tr> <tr><td>수의사</td><td>su-ui-sa</td><td>Veterinarian</td></tr> <tr><td>한의사</td><td>han-ui-sa</td><td>Traditional Korean medicine doctor</td></tr> </table> <p>In Korea, <strong>의사</strong> (doctor) is one of the most prestigious professions. It's the dream job many parents have for their children. The <strong>한의사</strong> (traditional medicine doctor) is also highly respected — traditional Korean medicine is still widely practiced.</p> <h2>Law and Government — 법률과 행정</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>변호사</td><td>byeon-ho-sa</td><td>Lawyer</td></tr> <tr><td>판사</td><td>pan-sa</td><td>Judge</td></tr> <tr><td>[검사](/en/dictionary/%EA%B2%80%EC%82%AC)</td><td>geom-sa</td><td>Prosecutor</td></tr> <tr><td>공무원</td><td>gong-mu-won</td><td>Government employee / civil servant</td></tr> <tr><td>외교관</td><td>oe-gyo-gwan</td><td>Diplomat</td></tr> </table> <p><strong>공무원</strong> (civil servant) is an extremely coveted job in Korea. The job stability makes it a dream choice. Every year, hundreds of thousands of candidates take the civil service exam — some study for 3 to 5 years to pass it.</p> <h2>Education — 교육</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>선생님</td><td>seon-saeng-nim</td><td>Teacher</td></tr> <tr><td>교수님</td><td>gyo-su-nim</td><td>University professor</td></tr> <tr><td>[강사](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%95%EC%82%AC)</td><td>gang-sa</td><td>Instructor / lecturer</td></tr> <tr><td>연구원</td><td>yeon-gu-won</td><td>Researcher</td></tr> </table> <h2>Arts and Entertainment — 예술과 엔터테인먼트</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>[가수](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%80%EC%88%98)</td><td>ga-su</td><td>Singer</td></tr> <tr><td>배우</td><td>bae-u</td><td>Actor / actress</td></tr> <tr><td>[감독](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%90%EB%8F%85)</td><td>gam-dok</td><td>Director</td></tr> <tr><td>작가</td><td>jak-ga</td><td>Writer / author</td></tr> <tr><td>화가</td><td>hwa-ga</td><td>Painter / artist</td></tr> <tr><td>음악가</td><td>eum-ak-ga</td><td>Musician</td></tr> <tr><td>사진작가</td><td>sa-jin-jak-ga</td><td>Photographer</td></tr> <tr><td>디자이너</td><td>di-ja-i-neo</td><td>Designer</td></tr> <tr><td>아이돌</td><td>a-i-dol</td><td>Idol (K-pop)</td></tr> <tr><td>연예인</td><td>yeon-ye-in</td><td>Celebrity / entertainer</td></tr> </table> <p>In Korea, <strong>아이돌</strong> (idol) is a real profession. Trainees (연습생, yeon-seup-saeng) train for years before debuting. It's a demanding path that combines singing, dancing, foreign languages, and sometimes even cosmetic surgery.</p> <h2>Science and Technology — 과학과 기술</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>엔지니어</td><td>en-ji-ni-eo</td><td>Engineer</td></tr> <tr><td>프로그래머</td><td>peu-ro-geu-rae-meo</td><td>Programmer</td></tr> <tr><td>[개발자](/en/dictionary/%EA%B0%9C%EB%B0%9C%EC%9E%90)</td><td>gae-bal-ja</td><td>Developer</td></tr> <tr><td>과학자</td><td>gwa-hak-ja</td><td>Scientist</td></tr> <tr><td>[건축가](/en/dictionary/%EA%B1%B4%EC%B6%95%EA%B0%80)</td><td>geon-chuk-ga</td><td>Architect</td></tr> </table> <h2>Services and Business — 서비스와 상업</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>요리사</td><td>yo-ri-sa</td><td>Chef / cook</td></tr> <tr><td>웨이터</td><td>we-i-teo</td><td>Waiter</td></tr> <tr><td>미용사</td><td>mi-yong-sa</td><td>Hairdresser</td></tr> <tr><td>운전기사</td><td>un-jeon-gi-sa</td><td>Driver / chauffeur</td></tr> <tr><td>기자</td><td>gi-ja</td><td>Journalist</td></tr> <tr><td>통역사</td><td>tong-yeok-sa</td><td>Interpreter</td></tr> <tr><td>번역가</td><td>beon-yeok-ga</td><td>Translator</td></tr> <tr><td>회계사</td><td>hoe-gye-sa</td><td>Accountant</td></tr> </table> <h2>Safety and Emergency — 안전과 긴급</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>경찰관</td><td>gyeong-chal-gwan</td><td>Police officer</td></tr> <tr><td>소방관</td><td>so-bang-gwan</td><td>Firefighter</td></tr> <tr><td>군인</td><td>gun-in</td><td>Soldier / military</td></tr> <tr><td>구급대원</td><td>gu-geup-dae-won</td><td>Paramedic / EMT</td></tr> </table> <p><strong>군인</strong> (soldier) is a very prominent job in Korean culture, as military service is mandatory for all men (18 to 21 months). Even K-pop idols have to serve!</p> <h2>Other Common Jobs</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>농부</td><td>nong-bu</td><td>Farmer</td></tr> <tr><td>어부</td><td>eo-bu</td><td>Fisherman</td></tr> <tr><td>비행기 조종사</td><td>bi-haeng-gi jo-jong-sa</td><td>Pilot</td></tr> <tr><td>승무원</td><td>seung-mu-won</td><td>Flight attendant</td></tr> <tr><td>우체부</td><td>u-che-bu</td><td>Mail carrier</td></tr> <tr><td>배달원</td><td>bae-dal-won</td><td>Delivery person</td></tr> </table> <h2>Talking About Your Job — 직업에 대해 말하기</h2> <table> <tr><th>Korean</th><th>Romanization</th><th>English</th></tr> <tr><td>직업이 뭐예요?</td><td>jig-eo-bi mwo-ye-yo?</td><td>What's your job?</td></tr> <tr><td>저는 …입니다</td><td>jeo-neun …im-ni-da</td><td>I am a … (profession)</td></tr> <tr><td>…에서 일해요</td><td>…e-seo il-hae-yo</td><td>I work at …</td></tr> <tr><td>무슨 일을 하세요?</td><td>mu-seun i-reul ha-se-yo?</td><td>What do you do for a living?</td></tr> </table> <p>The question <strong>무슨 일을 하세요?</strong> is the polite way to ask about someone's job. It's more natural than 직업이 뭐예요? in casual conversation.</p> <p>💼 <strong>Want to talk about your career in Korean?</strong> <a href="/en/signup">Sign up on Seonsaengnim</a> for structured courses and a teacher available 24/7!</p>