Whether you’re an aspiring photographer or filmmaker looking to explore South Korea’s vibrant culture or a language enthusiast keen on mastering Korean, diving into the specific vocabulary of photography and film can greatly enhance your skills and understanding. Here, we’ve curated a list of essential Korean vocabulary that will help you navigate the exciting worlds of photography and film.

사진 (sajin) – Photograph
This word is used to refer to a photograph or a picture.
제가 여행 갔을 때 찍은 사진이에요. (I’m showing you a photograph I took during my trip.)

카메라 (kamera) – Camera
Used to refer to any photographic camera, from DSLRs to camera phones.
새 카메라를 사서 매우 기뻐요. (I’m very happy with my new camera.)

렌즈 (renjeu) – Lens
The lens of a camera through which light travels and an image is captured.
이 렌즈는 풍경 사진을 찍기에 완벽해요. (This lens is perfect for taking landscape photos.)

조명 (jomyeong) – Lighting
Lighting is crucial in photography and film to ensure proper exposure and mood.
조명을 잘 설정해야 사진이 더 잘 나와요. (You need to set up the lighting properly to get a good photo.)

감독 (gamdok) – Director
A director is someone who oversees the artistic aspects of a film.
그 영화의 감독은 아주 유명해요. (The director of that movie is very famous.)

촬영 (chalyeong) – Filming/Shooting
The act of recording photographs or videos.
우리는 내일부터 촬영을 시작할 예정입니다. (We are scheduled to start shooting from tomorrow.)

편집 (pyeonjip) – Editing
The process of selecting, cutting, and arranging photographs or film footage.
편집이 끝나면 영화가 완성됩니다. (The movie will be complete after editing.)

영화 (yeonghwa) – Movie/Film
A film or a movie; broadly used to describe any motion picture.
이 영화는 제가 가장 좋아하는 작품이에요. (This movie is my favorite work.)

장면 (jangmyeon) – Scene
A part of a film or an incident taking place in a particular time frame.
이 장면은 영화의 감정을 전달하는 데 중요해요. (This scene is important for conveying the emotions of the movie.)

배우 (baeu) – Actor
A person whose profession is acting on the stage, in films, or on television.
그 배우는 다양한 역할을 해내는 데 능숙해요. (That actor is skilled at playing a variety of roles.)

씬 (ssin) – Scene (slang/loanword)
This is a borrowed term from English, commonly used in informal conversations to refer to a scene.
그 씬은 정말 임팩트 있었어요. (That scene was really impactful.)

시나리오 (sinario) – Screenplay/Script
A written work by screenwriters for a film or television program.
시나리오를 읽고 나서 이 역할을 맡기로 결정했어요. (I decided to take the role after reading the screenplay.)

특수효과 (teuksuhyogwa) – Special Effects
The artificial and enhanced effects used in movies to create an illusion or an enhanced reality.
이 영화의 특수효과는 정말 놀라워요. (The special effects in this movie are really amazing.)

스틸컷 (seutilkkeot) – Still Cut
A photographic still or a single image taken from a motion picture for promotional use.
스틸컷을 보니 영화가 더 기대되요. (The still cuts make me look forward to the movie even more.)

프레임 (peureim) – Frame
In photography and film, a frame is each of the many consecutive photographic images or a single static image displayed in a film.
이 프레임에서 모든 요소가 완벽하게 어우러져 있어요. (In this frame, all elements harmonize perfectly.)

Learning these vocabulary words can be a game-changer for those interested in Korean photography and film. As you continue to immerse yourself in the culture and language, these terms will become part of your regular lexicon, enriching your understanding of both the art forms and the Korean language itself. Happy learning, and don’t forget to practice using these words as you explore and discuss your passion for photography and film in Korean!