안녕하세요!
어머, 벌써 12월이에요! 2024년의 마지막 달이에요. 너무 빨라요... [Oh my, it’s already December! It’s the last month of 2024. Time flies!]
As the year comes to a close, many of us reflect on what we’ve achieved and experienced throughout the year. In Korea, this sense of reflection and celebration is beautifully captured by a special tradition: 송년회, or the end-of-year party; attending 연말 모임, year-end gatherings.
If you’ve been curious about how Koreans wrap up their year and how you, as a language learner, can join in the festivities or at least talk about them, this episode is for you.
Today, we’ll explore the cultural significance of 송년회, learn some key vocabulary and phrases to help you feel confident in conversations, and I’ll share tips on how you can participate in this tradition, even if it’s just through practicing what you’ve learned today.
Let’s dive right in!
[INTRO MUSIC]
So, let’s start with the basics. So, what exactly is 송년회?
The word 송년회 is made up of three parts:
- 송 means to farewell or bid goodbye,
- 년 means year,
- 회 means a gathering or meeting.
Put together, 송년회 literally means a gathering to say goodbye to the year — 연말에 한 해를 보내며 베푸는 모임.
It’s a popular tradition in Korea, and you’ll find that people from all walks of life participate in 송년회—whether it’s family, coworkers, friends, or even members of social clubs. These gatherings are a way to reflect on the year that’s passed, express gratitude, and enjoy time together before starting fresh in the new year.
송년회는 보통 12월에 해요, 12월, December. In workplaces, 직장에서는 종종 레스토랑, 고깃집이나 호프집에서 공식적인 저녁 식사를 해요. 보통 소주나 맥주와 같은 많은 음식과 음료가 있고, 많은 건배가 있습니다. So, there is a lot of food, drinks like soju or beer, and a lot of bottoms-up toasting.
But 송년회 isn’t just about food and drinks—it’s also about reflection. In formal settings, someone, usually a 직장 상사 (workplace superior), will make a speech, thanking the team for their hard work and perhaps sharing goals for the coming year.
For younger or more casual groups, 송년회에는 노래방이나 비밀 선물 교환과 같은 재미있는 활동이 포함될 수 있어요. So there can be fun activities like 노래방 (karaoke) or even a secret gift exchange. What’s important is the spirit of togetherness and celebration.
One thing to keep in mind is that Korean social gatherings often follow a hierarchical etiquette. If you’re at a 송년회 with colleagues and seniors, you’ll likely see younger or junior members pouring drinks for their seniors, always with both hands—it’s a sign of respect, 존경의 표시. K 드라마에서 많이 봤을거라 믿어요.
When receiving a drink from a senior, make sure to hold your glass with both hands and slightly bow your head. These small gestures are key to fitting into Korean social settings.
자, 이제 송년회가 무엇인지 알았으니 let’s learn some key vocabulary and phrases that will help you talk about it and maybe even participate in one someday.
Here’s some essential vocabulary:
* 송년회: End-of-year party.
* 회식: A company gathering or dinner.
* 건배: Cheers! (for information, not always but a lot of times, 건배 means bottoms-up!)
* 감동적인: Moving or touching. You can use it to describe like moving speeches — 감동적인 연설.
* 감사의 말씀: Words of thanks.
* 칭찬: Compliment or praise.
And of course, we cannot leave out:
* 소주: Soju, the Korean alcohol.
* 맥주: Beer.
* 폭탄주: Literal meaning is bomb alcohol, bomb cocktail, meaning mixed liquor – usually beer with hard liquor.
Now that we’ve looked at some VERY essential vocabulary, now let’s move on to useful phrases.
Here are some expressions you might hear or use at a 송년회:
* 올 한 해 수고 많으셨습니다: You worked hard this year. Thank you for your hard effort this year.
* 내년에도 잘 부탁드립니다: Please take care of me next year as well.
* 건배합시다!: Let’s toast!
If you’re asked to say a few words, you could say:
* 올해 정말 많이 배웠습니다: I learned so much this year.
* 도와주셔서 감사합니다: Thank you for your help.
So, how can you actively participate in a 송년회, or at least feel confident talking about it?
First, remember that small talk is key. Simple expressions of gratitude or compliments can go a long way. Try practicing phrases like:
* 올 한 해 다들 고생 많으셨습니다 or 수고 많으셨습니다: Everyone worked hard this year — to thank everyone.
Next, be very mindful of etiquette. Use honorifics when addressing seniors, and don’t forget the two-handed pour when serving or receiving drinks.
Lastly, bring something to share where appropriate! If you’re comfortable, prepare a short thank-you message in Korean—it shows effort and is always appreciated. For example:
* 함께해서 즐거웠습니다. 내년에도 좋은 한 해 되시길 바랍니다: It was great being together. I wish you all a wonderful year ahead.
여러분은 연말모임 계획이 있으신가요? So, do you have any year-end gatherings planned? 가족, 친구, 동료들과 함께 모이실 건가요? Will you be gathering with family, friends, or coworkers? Whether you’re spending time with family, coworkers, or friends, I hope you take the opportunity to appreciate each other and maybe even use some of the Korean words and phrases we’ve learned today.
I hope you enjoyed learning about 송년회 and picked up some useful phrases and cultural tips along the way. 오늘 배운 표현을 꼭 연습해 보세요!
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave a review or share it with someone who’s learning Korean.
Thank you for listening, and until next time, 건배! (Cheers!)
