4 · 40 words
Politics and government
Government, parliament, elections and the words of policy.
Almost all of the vocabulary of politics is Sino-Korean, built from syllables that keep coming back: 정 (govern) in 정치, 정부, 정당 and 정책; 국 (nation) in 국회, 국민 and 국가. Once you know the syllable, the next word is already half learnt. News reports use the formal -습니다 style, and a few sentences here do too.
The words
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Verb (6)
투표하다to voteVerb4
저는 아침 일찍 투표하고 출근했어요.I voted early in the morning and then went to work.
출마하다to run, stand (for office)Verb4
대학 동기가 이번 시의원 선거에 출마했어요.A friend from my year at university is standing in this city council election.
당선되다to be electedVerb4
그는 처음 나간 선거에서 시장으로 당선됐어요.He was elected mayor in the first election he stood in.
지지하다to support (a person, an idea)Verb4
저는 그 후보의 환경 정책을 지지해요.I support that candidate’s environmental policy.
가결되다to be passed, carried (a bill, a motion)Verb4
그 법안은 어제 국회에서 가결됐어요.The bill was passed by parliament yesterday.
취임하다to take officeVerb4
새 대통령이 오늘 오전에 취임했습니다.The new president took office this morning.
Noun (34)
정치politicsNoun4
요즘은 젊은 사람들도 정치에 관심이 많아요.These days young people are very interested in politics too.
정치인politicianNoun4
그 정치인은 시장에서 상인들과 이야기를 나눴어요.The politician chatted with the traders at the market.
정부governmentNoun4
정부가 새로운 교통 정책을 발표했습니다.The government has announced a new transport policy.
정권administration, government in powerNoun4
정권이 바뀌면 정책도 달라지는 경우가 많아요.When the administration changes, policies often change too.
정부 is the institution; 정권 is whoever holds power at the time.
국회the National Assembly; parliamentNoun4
국회에서 그 문제를 두고 오랫동안 토론했어요.Parliament debated the issue for a long time.
The name of the Korean parliament; for an elected assembly in general, 의회.
국회의원member of parliamentNoun4
우리 지역 국회의원이 주민들의 이야기를 들으러 왔어요.The member of parliament for our area came to hear what residents had to say.
의회assembly; councilNoun4
시의회에서 새 도서관 계획을 논의했어요.The city council discussed the plan for a new library.
선거electionNoun4
다음 달에 선거가 있어서 거리에 포스터가 많이 붙어 있어요.There is an election next month, so there are lots of posters up in the streets.
투표율voter turnoutNoun4
날씨가 좋지 않아서 투표율이 낮을까 봐 걱정했어요.I was worried that turnout would be low because the weather was bad.
후보candidateNoun4
이번 선거에는 후보가 다섯 명이나 나왔어요.As many as five candidates are standing in this election.
공약campaign pledgeNoun4
그 후보는 버스 요금을 없애겠다는 공약을 내세웠어요.The candidate made abolishing bus fares a campaign pledge.
대통령presidentNoun4
대통령이 오늘 아침 기자 회견을 열었습니다.The president held a press conference this morning.
총리prime ministerNoun4
총리가 홍수 피해 지역을 방문했습니다.The prime minister visited the area hit by the floods.
장관minister (head of a ministry)Noun4
새로 임명된 장관이 첫 회의를 열었어요.The newly appointed minister held a first meeting.
정당political partyNoun4
두 정당은 세금 문제에 대해 생각이 서로 달라요.The two parties disagree on the question of taxes.
여당the ruling partyNoun4
여당과 야당이 오랜만에 의견을 모았어요.The ruling party and the opposition reached agreement for once.
야당the opposition (party)Noun4
야당은 정부의 예산안을 강하게 비판했어요.The opposition strongly criticised the government’s draft budget.
정책policyNoun4
정부는 집값을 안정시키기 위한 정책을 내놓았어요.The government has put forward a policy to stabilise house prices.
임기term of officeNoun4
그 시장은 임기를 마치고 고향으로 돌아갔어요.The mayor finished his term and went back to his home town.
개혁reformNoun4
많은 사람들이 교육 제도의 개혁이 필요하다고 말해요.Many people say the education system needs reform.
법lawNoun3
새로 만든 법은 내년부터 시행돼요.The new law comes into force next year.
법안bill (a proposed law)Noun4
정부가 새 법안을 국회에 제출했습니다.The government has submitted a new bill to parliament.
국민the people, citizens (of a country)Noun4
정치인은 국민의 목소리에 귀를 기울여야 해요.Politicians should listen to the voice of the people.
국민 is the people of a nation; 시민 is a citizen, often of a city.
국가state, nationNoun4
국가는 국민의 안전을 책임져야 해요.The state must take responsibility for the safety of its people.
A different 국가 is the national anthem.
민주주의democracyNoun4
민주주의에서는 국민이 선거로 대표를 뽑아요.In a democracy the people choose their representatives in elections.
대표representativeNoun3
반 대표로 학교 회의에 참석했어요.I attended the school meeting as class representative.
권력power (political)Noun4
권력이 한 사람에게 모이면 위험해요.It is dangerous when power is concentrated in one person.
Said [궐력].
지도자leaderNoun4
좋은 지도자는 다른 사람의 말을 잘 들어요.A good leader listens carefully to others.
행정public administrationNoun4
행정 절차가 복잡해서 서류를 내는 데 오래 걸렸어요.The administrative procedure was complicated, so submitting the papers took a long time.
외교diplomacyNoun4
외교는 대화로 나라 사이의 문제를 푸는 일이에요.Diplomacy means solving problems between countries through dialogue.
회담talks (between leaders)Noun4
두 나라의 정상이 회담을 가졌어요.The leaders of the two countries held talks.
연설speech (to an audience)Noun4
대통령의 연설은 이십 분 동안 이어졌어요.The president’s speech went on for twenty minutes.
시위demonstration, protestNoun4
시청 앞에서 평화로운 시위가 열렸어요.A peaceful demonstration was held in front of City Hall.
평화peaceNoun3
전쟁이 끝나고 마침내 평화가 찾아왔어요.The war ended and peace finally came.
This list belongs to Politics, law and public services — three lists and 120 words that can also be practised as a whole.
Practise this list
Multiple choice and gaps, drawn from exactly these 40 words. Whatever you get wrong comes back tomorrow.