Understanding the vocabulary associated with political and civic life is essential for anyone looking to gain a deeper comprehension of Korean culture and engage in informed discussions on societal issues. Below, we’ve compiled a selection of useful Korean words and phrases that will help learners discuss politics and civic matters with fluency.

정치 (Jeongchi) – Politics
정치 refers to the activities associated with the governance of a country or area, particularly the debate between parties having power.
요즘 정치 뉴스를 따라가기가 정말 어렵습니다.
(Keeping up with the political news these days is really difficult.)

민주주의 (Minjujuui) – Democracy
민주주의 is a system of government by the whole population, usually through elected representatives.
민주주의는 국민의 목소리를 중요시합니다.
(Democracy values the voice of the people.)

투표 (Tupyo) – Vote
투표 is the act of expressing choice or preference in an election or other decision-making process.
투표는 우리의 권리이자 책임입니다.
(Voting is both our right and responsibility.)

국회 (Gukhoe) – National Assembly or Parliament
국회 is the legislative body of government in Korea, analogous to the parliament or congress in other countries.
국회에서 새로운 법안이 통과되었습니다.
(A new bill has been passed in the National Assembly.)

대통령 (Daetongryeong) – President
대통령 is the head of state and head of government in Korea, and the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
대통령은 오늘 국민들에게 연설할 예정입니다.
(The president is scheduled to give a speech to the citizens today.)

정당 (Jeongdang) – Political Party
정당 is an organization that coordinates candidates to compete in a particular country’s elections.
여러 정당들이 선거에서 경쟁하고 있습니다.
(Several political parties are competing in the elections.)

시위 (Siwi) – Demonstration/Protest
시위 is a public gathering of people to express their political opinions and objections.
시민들이 평화적인 시위를 하고 있습니다.
(Citizens are holding a peaceful demonstration.)

선거 (Seongeo) – Election
선거 is the formal process through which voters decide on the person or group of people to hold office.
선거 결과가 곧 발표될 것입니다.
(The results of the election will be announced soon.)

법률 (Beopryul) – Law
법률 are the system of rules that are created and enforced through social or governmental institutions.
새 법률이 시행되면 국민의 삶에 영향을 미칩니다.
(When new laws are implemented, they affect the lives of the citizens.)

헌법 (Heonbeop) – Constitution
헌법 is the fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of a state.
헌법은 우리나라의 가장 기본적인 법입니다.
(The constitution is the most basic law of our country.)

시민권 (Simingwon) – Citizenship
시민권 refers to the status of a person recognized under the law as being a legal member of a sovereign state.
시민권을 가진 사람은 투표할 권리가 있습니다.
(A person with citizenship has the right to vote.)

인권 (Ingwon) – Human Rights
인권 are the moral principles or norms that describe certain standards of human behavior, protected as legal rights.
모든 사람은 기본적인 인권을 가져야 합니다.
(Everyone should have basic human rights.)

외교 (Oegyo) – Diplomacy
외교 is the profession, activity, or skill of managing international relations, typically by a country’s representatives abroad.
외교는 국가간의 관계를 원활하게 합니다.
(Diplomacy smooths the relations between countries.)

By familiarizing yourself with these terms, you can more effectively participate in conversations about Korean political and civic life, and gain a deeper understanding of how the country operates on a societal level. Whether you’re studying Korean for personal interest, academic purposes, or planning a visit, these vocabulary words are a valuable addition to your language toolkit.