4 · 40 words

Public services and paperwork

Forms, certificates and the counter at the local office.

Living in Korea means visits to the 주민 센터, the neighbourhood office, and for a foreigner to the immigration office as well. The words follow the paper through its life: you fill in a form (작성하다), hand it in (제출하다), the office accepts it (접수하다) and deals with it (처리하다), and in the end issues a document (발급하다). Nearly all of them are Sino-Korean and formal; on a notice the same word often stands without its 하다: 접수, “applications”.

The words

Verb (10)

신청하다to apply forVerb3

여권은 인터넷으로도 신청할 수 있어요.You can apply for a passport online too.

작성하다to fill in; to draw up (a document)Verb4

신청서는 검은색 펜으로 작성해 주십시오.Please fill in the form in black pen.

제출하다to submit, hand inVerb4

필요한 서류를 모두 이번 주 금요일까지 제출해야 해요.All the required documents have to be submitted by this Friday.

접수하다to accept, receive (an application); to file oneVerb4

온라인으로 접수한 신청은 다음 날 처리됩니다.Applications received online are processed the next day.

Said from both sides of the counter: the applicant, too, says 서류를 접수했어요. A notice saying 접수 마감 means applications are closed.

처리하다to handle, processVerb4

이 일은 제가 오늘 안에 처리할게요.I will deal with this today.

발급하다to issue (a document)Verb4

주민 센터에서 증명서를 그 자리에서 발급해 줬어요.The community centre issued the certificate on the spot.

Used of the office; the passive is 발급되다 and the person asking says 발급받다.

등록하다to registerVerb3

외국인은 입국한 뒤 정해진 기간 안에 등록해야 해요.Foreigners have to register within a set period after arrival.

Said [등노카다].

갱신하다to renewVerb4

운전면허를 갱신할 때가 됐어요.It is time to renew my driving licence.

연장하다to extendVerb4

비자를 일 년 더 연장했어요.I extended my visa for another year.

수령하다to collect, receive (formally)Verb4

새 여권은 다음 주부터 수령하실 수 있습니다.You can collect your new passport from next week.

Formal; in conversation, 찾다 or 받다.

This list belongs to The state, the 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.