Korean Phrases for Your First Day at Work

first day at work Korea: First day at work Korea: follow a simple route from arrival and identity check to work clothes, the site tour, the first supervised task and clocking out.

first day at work Korea: This episode is a first-day operational checklist. Episode 12 handles self-introduction, Episode 13 misunderstanding, Episode 14 repeated instructions and Episode 15 common site commands.

first day at work Korea: What you will finish

You will know where to report, confirm hours, find work clothes and protective equipment, locate key facilities, receive a supervised task, use breaks correctly and close the day.

Preview the official textbook, download it, then open the source

HRDK lists this as the revised EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook workplace-culture section. Open the current official PDF to preview attire, work attitude and workplace language, download the same untouched original, then retain the HRDK source page.

1. Official PDF preview
   • Open the official 40-page workplace-culture textbook preview
2. Official original download

   EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook 2 — Workplace Culture PDF · 40 pages · 7,825,570 bytes

3. Official source page

   HRDK official EPS-TOPIK textbook page

Verified on 25 August 2026: the 40-page PDF was reachable, 7,825,570 bytes, had a valid PDF signature and matched the recorded SHA-256. It is linked from its official host and not mirrored by BSKorean.

Your eight-step first-day route

1. 1. Arrive and find the person in charge
2. 2. Confirm your name and working hours
3. 3. Change clothes and locate protective equipment
4. 4. Find your work area and emergency exit
5. 5. Receive the first task and sequence
6. 6. Identify who checks your work
7. 7. Confirm lunch, breaks and leaving the station
8. 8. Finish, return tools and confirm tomorrow

24 Korean phrases for your first day

Use the learner-friendly pronunciation first and RR only as a reference. Confirm difficult sounds with Korean audio or a speaker.

1. Arrive and find the person in charge

Arrive early enough to find the entrance without rushing. Say it is your first day and ask for the person in charge rather than entering a work area alone.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
1	안녕하세요. 오늘 처음 출근했습니다.	ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh. oh-neul chuh-eum chool-geun-heht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Annyeonghaseyo. oneul cheoeum chulgeunhaetsseumnida.	Hello. Today is my first day at work.
2	어디로 가면 되나요?	uh-dee-roh gah-myuhn dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Eodiro gamyeon doenayo?	Where should I go?
3	담당자분을 만나고 싶습니다.	dahm-dahng-jah-boo-neul mahn-nah-goh seep-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Damdangjabuneul mannago sipsseumnida.	I would like to meet the person in charge.

2. Confirm your name and working hours

Use the name on your records and write down the expected start and finish times. Ask how attendance is recorded before assuming a card, app or paper method.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
4	제 이름은 민수입니다.	jeh ee-reu-meun meen-soo-eem-nee-dah. RR: Je ireumeun minsuimnida.	My name is Minsu.
5	출근 시간은 몇 시예요?	chool-geun see-gah-neun myuht see-yeh-yoh? RR: Chulgeun siganeun myeot siyeyo?	What time does work start?
6	퇴근 시간은 몇 시예요?	tweh-geun see-gah-neun myuht see-yeh-yoh? RR: Toegeun siganeun myeot siyeyo?	What time does work finish?

3. Change clothes and locate protective equipment

Ask where to change and which work clothes, safety shoes and protective equipment are assigned to you. Do not guess how unfamiliar protective equipment is worn.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
7	작업복은 어디에서 갈아입어요?	jah-guhp-ppoh-geun uh-dee-eh-suh gah-rah-ee-buh-yoh? RR: Jageopppogeun eodieseo garaibeoyo?	Where do I change into work clothes?
8	안전화와 보호구는 어디에 있어요?	ahn-juhn-hwah-wah boh-hoh-goo-neun uh-dee-eh ee-ssuh-yoh? RR: Anjeonhwawa bohoguneun eodie isseoyo?	Where are the safety shoes and protective equipment?
9	이 보호구를 어떻게 착용해요?	ee boh-hoh-goo-reul uh-ttuh-keh chah-gyohng-heh-yoh? RR: I bohogureul eotteoke chagyonghaeyo?	How do I wear this protective equipment?

4. Find your work area and emergency exit

During the site tour, identify your work position, toilet, break room and emergency exit. Keep walkways and restricted areas separate.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
10	제 작업 위치가 어디예요?	jeh jah-guhp wee-chee-gah uh-dee-yeh-yoh? RR: Je jageop wichiga eodiyeyo?	Where is my work position?
11	화장실과 휴게실이 어디예요?	hwah-jahng-seel-gwah hyoo-geh-see-ree uh-dee-yeh-yoh? RR: Hwajangsilgwa hyugesiri eodiyeyo?	Where are the toilet and break room?
12	비상구를 알려 주세요.	bee-sahng-goo-reul ahl-ryuh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Bisanggureul alryeo juseyo.	Please show me the emergency exit.

5. Receive the first task and sequence

Ask for today’s task and what comes first. Watch the entire sequence once before starting equipment or handling materials.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
13	오늘 제가 할 일이 무엇인가요?	oh-neul jeh-gah hahl ee-ree moo-uh-seen-gah-yoh? RR: Oneul jega hal iri mueosingayo?	What will I do today?
14	먼저 무엇부터 하면 돼요?	muhn-juh moo-uht-ppoo-tuh hah-myuhn dweh-yoh? RR: Meonjeo mueotpputeo hamyeon dwaeyo?	What should I do first?
15	작업 순서를 보여 주세요.	jah-guhp soon-suh-reul boh-yuh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Jageop sunseoreul boyeo juseyo.	Please show me the work sequence.

6. Identify who checks your work

Know the supervisor or experienced coworker who answers questions. On the first day, confirm whether the task may be done alone and request a check before starting.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
16	누구에게 질문하면 돼요?	noo-goo-eh-geh jeel-moon-hah-myuhn dweh-yoh? RR: Nuguege jilmunhamyeon dwaeyo?	Who should I ask questions?
17	혼자 작업해도 되나요?	hohn-jah jah-guh-peh-doh dweh-nah-yoh? RR: Honja jageopaedo doenayo?	May I work alone?
18	시작하기 전에 확인해 주세요.	see-jah-kah-gee juh-neh hwah-geen-heh joo-seh-yoh. RR: Sijakagi jeone hwaginhae juseyo.	Please check before I start.

7. Confirm lunch, breaks and leaving the station

Confirm the exact start/end of lunch and breaks and who must be told before leaving the station. Do not disappear from an active line without a handoff.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
19	점심시간은 몇 시부터예요?	juhm-seem-see-gah-neun myuht see-boo-tuh-yeh-yoh? RR: Jeomsimsiganeun myeot sibuteoyeyo?	What time does lunch start?
20	휴게시간은 언제예요?	hyoo-geh-see-gah-neun uhn-jeh-yeh-yoh? RR: Hyugesiganeun eonjeyeyo?	When is the break?
21	자리를 비울 때 누구에게 말해요?	jah-ree-reul bee-ool tteh noo-goo-eh-geh mahl-heh-yoh? RR: Jarireul biul ttae nuguege malhaeyo?	Who should I tell when I leave my station?

8. Finish, return tools and confirm tomorrow

Report that the task is complete, return tools to the assigned location and confirm the next arrival time. Record open questions for the next shift.

#	Korean	How to say it	Natural meaning
22	작업이 끝났습니다.	jah-guh-bee kkeun-naht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Jageobi kkeunnatsseumnida.	The work is finished.
23	도구는 어디에 정리해요?	doh-goo-neun uh-dee-eh juhng-ree-heh-yoh? RR: Doguneun eodie jeongrihaeyo?	Where should I put the tools away?
24	내일 몇 시까지 오면 돼요?	neh-eel myuht see-kkah-jee oh-myuhn dweh-yoh? RR: Naeil myeot sikkaji omyeon dwaeyo?	What time should I arrive tomorrow?

20 words to recognize

Replies you may hear

• 사무실로 먼저 가세요. – Go to the office first.
• 출근은 여덟 시, 퇴근은 다섯 시예요. – Work starts at eight and finishes at five.
• 탈의실에서 작업복으로 갈아입으세요. – Change into work clothes in the changing room.
• 비상구는 복도 끝에 있습니다. – The emergency exit is at the end of the corridor.
• 먼저 안전교육을 받으세요. – Receive safety training first.
• 오늘은 담당자와 같이 작업하세요. – Work with the person in charge today.
• 점심시간은 열두 시부터 한 시까지예요. – Lunch is from twelve to one.
• 도구를 정리하고 퇴근하세요. – Put the tools away and clock out.

Two first-day workplace dialogues

1

근로자: 안녕하세요. 오늘 처음 출근했습니다.

담당자: 사무실에서 이름을 확인할게요.

근로자: 작업복은 어디에서 갈아입어요?

담당자: 탈의실에서 갈아입고 안전교육장으로 오세요.

근로자: 비상구도 알려 주세요.

The new worker reports, changes clothes, goes to safety orientation and finds the emergency exit.

2

근로자: 오늘 제가 할 일이 무엇인가요?

담당자: 먼저 이 작업 순서를 보세요.

근로자: 혼자 작업해도 되나요?

담당자: 오늘은 담당자와 같이 하세요.

근로자: 끝나면 도구는 어디에 정리해요?

The worker receives the first sequence, confirms supervision and asks how to close the shift.

Before you leave on day one

• I know the entrance and person in charge
• My recorded name and contact are correct
• Start, finish and attendance method are clear
• I have correct work clothes, shoes and protective equipment
• I can point to the toilet, break room and emergency exit
• I watched the task sequence before starting
• I know who checks my work
• Lunch and break handoff rules are clear
• Tools were returned and open issues reported
• Tomorrow’s arrival time is recorded

Keep these later topics separate

• Episode 12 covers introductions and coworker greetings
• Episode 13 covers not understanding a supervisor
• Episode 14 covers asking for a repeated demonstration
• Episode 15 covers common factory and construction commands
• This article supplements, not replaces, the employer’s site-specific induction and safety training

Do not enter a restricted area, use equipment or begin an unfamiliar task just because you are embarrassed to ask. Stop, identify the supervisor and receive the workplace’s actual safety orientation and protective equipment.

Prepared by BSKorean Content Studio for foreign workers and new residents. The current HRDK EPS-TOPIK workplace-culture PDF and source page were checked on 25 August 2026. Site rules and assigned protective equipment differ by workplace.

Official sources checked

• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook download page
• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook 2: Workplace Culture (PDF)
• HRDK — EPS-TOPIK official learning portal

Five-minute practice

Walk through arrival, changing, the site tour, the first task and clocking out using one Korean sentence at each step.

Practise these phrases in the BSKorean app →

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