Korean coworker greetings: Korean coworker greetings work best when you keep the first introduction short, ask how the person prefers to be addressed and use consistent morning, lunch and goodbye phrases.
Korean coworker greetings: This episode builds coworker relationships without teaching task clarification. Not understanding speech is Episode 13, repeated demonstrations are Episode 14 and worksite commands are Episode 15.
Korean coworker greetings: What you will finish
You will give a safe three-part introduction, use a coworker’s preferred title, explain your team and beginner status, thank or offer help, join lunch respectfully and close the day.
Preview the official workplace-culture textbook, download it, then open the source
The HRDK workplace-culture textbook explains Korean workplace forms of address and includes coworker and cafeteria conversations. Preview the official 40-page PDF, download the same untouched original, and retain the HRDK source page.
- Official textbook preview
- Official original download
EPS-TOPIK NEW Standard Textbook 2 — Workplace Culture PDF · 40 pages · 7,825,570 bytes
- Official source page
Verified on 25 August 2026: the current 40-page PDF was reachable, 7,825,570 bytes and matched its PDF signature and recorded SHA-256. BSKorean links to the HRDK original and does not mirror it.
Eight steps from introduction to goodbye
- 1. Give a short first introduction
- 2. Ask a coworker’s preferred form of address
- 3. Explain your team and beginner role
- 4. Use a consistent morning greeting
- 5. Thank a coworker and offer help
- 6. Invite or join coworkers for lunch
- 7. State a food restriction without a long explanation
- 8. Use a respectful end-of-day goodbye
24 Korean phrases for coworkers
Use the learner-friendly pronunciation first and RR only as a reference. Confirm difficult sounds with Korean audio or a speaker.
1. Give a short first introduction
Use your name, country only if you choose, and the fact that you will work together. Do not include passport, residence-card, home-address or account details in casual introductions.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 안녕하세요. 저는 민수라고 합니다. | ahn-nyuhng-hah-seh-yoh. juh-neun meen-soo-rah-goh hahm-nee-dah. RR: Annyeonghaseyo. jeoneun minsurago hamnida. |
Hello. My name is Minsu. |
| 2 | 베트남에서 왔습니다. | beh-teu-nah-meh-suh waht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Beteunameseo watsseumnida. |
I am from Vietnam. |
| 3 | 오늘부터 같이 일하게 됐습니다. | oh-neul-boo-tuh gah-chee eel-hah-geh dweht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Oneulbuteo gachi ilhage dwaetsseumnida. |
I started working with you today. |
2. Ask a coworker’s preferred form of address
The official textbook explains that Korean workplaces often use a job title plus 님 for a superior and name plus 씨 for a coworker. Ask the person directly because each workplace has its own convention.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 4 | 성함이 어떻게 되세요? | suhng-hah-mee uh-ttuh-keh dweh-seh-yoh? RR: Seonghami eotteoke doeseyo? |
May I ask your name? |
| 5 | 어떻게 불러 드리면 돼요? | uh-ttuh-keh bool-ruh deu-ree-myuhn dweh-yoh? RR: Eotteoke bulreo deurimyeon dwaeyo? |
How should I address you? |
| 6 | 어느 팀에서 일하세요? | uh-neu tee-meh-suh eel-hah-seh-yoh? RR: Eoneu timeseo ilhaseyo? |
Which team do you work in? |
3. Explain your team and beginner role
Say your team and that you are learning the work. This sets expectations without turning the introduction into a full employment history.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | 저는 포장팀에서 일합니다. | juh-neun poh-jahng-tee-meh-suh eel-hahm-nee-dah. RR: Jeoneun pojangtimeseo ilhamnida. |
I work in the packaging team. |
| 8 | 이 일을 처음 배웁니다. | ee ee-reul chuh-eum beh-oom-nee-dah. RR: I ireul cheoeum baeumnida. |
I am learning this work for the first time. |
| 9 | 잘 부탁드립니다. | jahl boo-tahk-tteu-reem-nee-dah. RR: Jal butaktteurimnida. |
I look forward to working with you. |
4. Use a consistent morning greeting
A repeatable ‘good morning’ and ‘please take care of me today’ is enough. Match the workplace tone and do not force physical contact.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | 좋은 아침입니다. | joh-heun ah-chee-meem-nee-dah. RR: Joheun achimimnida. |
Good morning. |
| 11 | 먼저 출근하셨네요. | muhn-juh chool-geun-hah-syuhn-neh-yoh. RR: Meonjeo chulgeunhasyeonneyo. |
You arrived before me. |
| 12 | 오늘도 잘 부탁드립니다. | oh-neul-doh jahl boo-tahk-tteu-reem-nee-dah. RR: Oneuldo jal butaktteurimnida. |
I look forward to working with you today too. |
5. Thank a coworker and offer help
Thank the person for a specific help, say what became clear and offer manageable help. Do not promise a task you are not trained or authorized to perform.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 도와주셔서 감사합니다. | doh-wah-joo-syuh-suh gahm-sah-hahm-nee-dah. RR: Dowajusyeoseo gamsahamnida. |
Thank you for helping me. |
| 14 | 덕분에 이해했습니다. | duhk-ppoo-neh ee-heh-heht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Deokppune ihaehaetsseumnida. |
I understood thanks to you. |
| 15 | 제가 도와드릴까요? | jeh-gah doh-wah-deu-reel-kkah-yoh? RR: Jega dowadeurilkkayo? |
May I help you? |
6. Invite or join coworkers for lunch
Use a simple lunch invitation or accept an invitation. Ask where the cafeteria is and whether you may sit with the group rather than assuming seats.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 16 | 점심 같이 드실래요? | juhm-seem gah-chee deu-seel-reh-yoh? RR: Jeomsim gachi deusilraeyo? |
Would you like to have lunch together? |
| 17 | 구내식당은 어디예요? | goo-neh-seek-ttahng-eun uh-dee-yeh-yoh? RR: Gunaesikttangeun eodiyeyo? |
Where is the cafeteria? |
| 18 | 여기에 같이 앉아도 돼요? | yuh-gee-eh gah-chee ahn-jah-doh dweh-yoh? RR: Yeogie gachi anjado dwaeyo? |
May I sit here with you? |
7. State a food restriction without a long explanation
State allergies, religious restrictions or foods you cannot eat directly and early. You do not owe coworkers private medical or religious details beyond what is necessary for a safe choice.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 19 | 저는 돼지고기를 못 먹어요. | juh-neun dweh-jee-goh-gee-reul moht muh-guh-yoh. RR: Jeoneun dwaejigogireul mot meogeoyo. |
I cannot eat pork. |
| 20 | 조금 맵지만 괜찮아요. | joh-geum mehp-jjee-mahn gwehn-chahn-hah-yoh. RR: Jogeum maepjjiman gwaenchanhayo. |
It is a little spicy, but I am okay. |
| 21 | 맛있게 드세요. | mah-seet-kkeh deu-seh-yoh. RR: Masitkke deuseyo. |
Enjoy your meal. |
8. Use a respectful end-of-day goodbye
Before leaving, say you will go first, thank coworkers for their work and say you will see them tomorrow. Report unfinished work through the proper handoff separately.
| # | Korean | How to say it | Natural meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 22 | 먼저 들어가 보겠습니다. | muhn-juh deu-ruh-gah boh-geht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Meonjeo deureoga bogetsseumnida. |
I will head out first. |
| 23 | 오늘 수고 많으셨습니다. | oh-neul soo-goh mahn-heu-syuht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Oneul sugo manheusyeotsseumnida. |
Thank you for your hard work today. |
| 24 | 내일 뵙겠습니다. | neh-eel bwehp-kkeht-sseum-nee-dah. RR: Naeil boepkketsseumnida. |
See you tomorrow. |
20 words to recognize
| # | Korean | Pronunciation | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 자기소개 | jah-gee-soh-geh RR: Jagisogae |
self-introduction |
| 2 | 성함 | suhng-hahm RR: Seongham |
name (honorific) |
| 3 | 이름 | ee-reum RR: Ireum |
name |
| 4 | 직책 | jeek-chehk RR: Jikchaek |
job title |
| 5 | 팀 | teem RR: Tim |
team |
| 6 | 동료 | dohng-ryoh RR: Dongryo |
coworker |
| 7 | 상사 | sahng-sah RR: Sangsa |
supervisor |
| 8 | 포장팀 | poh-jahng-teem RR: Pojangtim |
packaging team |
| 9 | 처음 | chuh-eum RR: Cheoeum |
first time |
| 10 | 부탁 | boo-tahk RR: Butak |
request/favor |
| 11 | 출근 | chool-geun RR: Chulgeun |
come to work |
| 12 | 도움 | doh-oom RR: Doum |
help |
| 13 | 감사 | gahm-sah RR: Gamsa |
thanks |
| 14 | 구내식당 | goo-neh-seek-ttahng RR: Gunaesikttang |
cafeteria |
| 15 | 점심 | juhm-seem RR: Jeomsim |
lunch |
| 16 | 같이 | gah-chee RR: Gachi |
together |
| 17 | 돼지고기 | dweh-jee-goh-gee RR: Dwaejigogi |
pork |
| 18 | 맵다 | mehp-ttah RR: Maeptta |
spicy |
| 19 | 수고 | soo-goh RR: Sugo |
hard work |
| 20 | 내일 | neh-eel RR: Naeil |
tomorrow |
Replies you may hear
- 반가워요. 같이 잘해 봅시다. – Nice to meet you. Let us work well together.
- 저는 김대리라고 불러 주세요. – Please call me Assistant Manager Kim.
- 저는 생산팀에서 일해요. – I work in the production team.
- 좋은 아침이에요. 일찍 오셨네요. – Good morning. You came early.
- 괜찮아요. 모르면 물어보세요. – It is okay. Ask when you do not know.
- 열두 시에 구내식당으로 가요. – Let us go to the cafeteria at twelve.
- 안 매운 음식도 있어요. – There is also non-spicy food.
- 수고하셨어요. 내일 봐요. – Good work. See you tomorrow.
Two coworker dialogues
1
신입: 안녕하세요. 저는 민수라고 합니다.
동료: 반가워요. 저는 김대리예요.
신입: 어떻게 불러 드리면 돼요?
동료: 김대리라고 불러 주세요.
신입: 오늘부터 잘 부탁드립니다.
The new worker introduces themself and asks the coworker’s preferred title.
2
동료: 점심 같이 드실래요?
신입: 네. 구내식당은 어디예요?
동료: 저와 같이 가요.
신입: 감사합니다. 저는 돼지고기를 못 먹어요.
동료: 안 매운 다른 메뉴를 같이 찾아봐요.
A coworker invites the new worker to lunch, who asks about the cafeteria and states a food restriction.
A respectful first-week checklist
- My introduction is under three sentences
- No ID, address or account details were shared
- I asked the preferred name or title
- I know the coworker’s team
- I stated that I am still learning
- Morning greeting matches the workplace tone
- Thanks refers to specific help
- Lunch seating and food restrictions are clear
- I did not promise untrained work
- Goodbye and work handoff are separate
What this episode does not cover
- Episode 13 handles speech you did not understand
- Episode 14 asks for a repeated explanation or demonstration
- Episode 15 decodes common site commands
- Harassment, conflict and formal complaints are covered later
- Names and titles vary, so the colleague’s preference and workplace rule take priority
Keep casual introductions separate from official identity checks. Do not show or send an ID image, account number, password, verification code or home address merely because a new coworker asks.
Prepared by BSKorean Content Studio for foreign workers and new residents. HRDK’s current workplace-culture textbook, including workplace naming and cafeteria dialogue, was reviewed on 25 August 2026.
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
Introduce yourself in three sentences, ask a coworker’s preferred title, then practise a lunch invitation and end-of-day greeting.
