Newspaper and Editorial Style and Sino-Korean Vocabulary

News articles and editorials are characterized by a concise, objective style and a rich use of Sino-Korean vocabulary. This lesson covers the features of news style and commonly used Sino-Korean words.

1. Features of News Style

The body of an article ends in the present or past declarative '-다,' and quotations use formal reporting verbs such as '-(이)라고 밝혔다' and '-(으)ㄹ 것이라고 전망했다.'

정부는 내년 예산을 5퍼센트 증액하기로 결정했다.

jeongbuneun naenyeon yesan-eul 5peosenteu jeungaekhagiro gyeoljeonghaetda.

The government has decided to increase next year's budget by 5 percent.

전문가들은 경기가 점차 회복될 것으로 전망했다.

jeonmunga-deureun gyeonggi-ga jeomcha hoebokdoel geoseuro jeonmanghaetda.

Experts forecast that the economy will gradually recover.

회사 측은 사과문을 발표하고 재발 방지를 약속했다.

hoesa cheug-eun sagwamun-eul balpyohago jaebal bangji-reul yaksokhaetda.

The company released an apology and pledged to prevent recurrence.

In news attributions, the source is often expressed objectively by adding '측' (side), as in '회사 측' (the company) and '정부 측' (the government).

2. Common Sino-Korean Words

Sino-Korean	Romanization	English
증가/감소	jeungga/gamso	increase/decrease
촉구하다	chokguhada	to urge
전망/예상	jeonmang/yesang	forecast/expectation
대책/방안	daechaek/bangan	countermeasure/plan
우려/논란	uryeo/nollan	concern/controversy
급증/급감	geupjeung/geupgam	surge/plunge
밝히다/지적하다	balghida/jijeokhada	to state/to point out

시민단체는 정부에 대책 마련을 촉구했다.

simindanche-neun jeongbu-e daechaek maryeon-eul chokguhaetda.

Civic groups urged the government to come up with countermeasures.

수출이 급증하면서 무역 흑자가 확대되었다.

suchul-i geupjeunghamyeonseo muyeok heukja-ga hwakdaedoeeotda.

As exports surged, the trade surplus expanded.

3. Asserting Opinions in Editorials

Editorials go beyond conveying facts to advance arguments. Strong expressions of obligation and evaluation are used, such as '-아/어야 한다,' '-(으)ㄹ 필요가 있다,' and '-(이)라 하지 않을 수 없다.'

근본적인 해결책을 시급히 마련해야 한다.

geunbonjeog-in haegyeolchaeg-eul sigeuphi maryeonhaeya handa.

A fundamental solution must be devised urgently.

💡 Tip: Sino-Korean words can carry different levels of formality even when they mean the same thing. For example, the Sino-Korean '지원하다' is more formal than the native '돕다.' Choose vocabulary to match the style.

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