Korean Dictionary
How to say "Advertising" in Korean
“Advertising” in Korean is 광고 (pronounced "gwanggo").
광고
gwanggo
Usage & Context
Paid promotion of products or services through various media. Advertising in Korea uses TV, radio, print, and digital channels. It is a major component of marketing budgets.
Example Sentence
광고 예산을 증가시켰습니다.
We increased the advertising budget.
How to use 광고 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Advertising” is 광고, romanized as gwanggo.
Usage tip
Business Korean usually needs polite or formal endings, especially in emails, meetings, and customer situations.
Common mistake
Do not rely only on the English meaning. Read the Korean example sentence and notice the particles, word order, and politeness level around 광고.
Pronunciation Guide
광 (gwang) sounds like 'gwahng' (rhymes with 'song' but with a 'gw' sound). 고 (go) sounds like 'go' in 'go'. Combine as 'gwahng-go', with a slight emphasis on the first syllable.
More Example Sentences
Talking about something seen on television.
TV에서 새로운 휴대폰 광고를 봤어요.
I saw a new cell phone advertisement on TV.
Complaining about an app's user experience.
이 앱은 광고가 너무 많아서 불편해요.
This app is inconvenient because it has too many ads.
Reporting on the success of a product campaign.
우리 제품의 광고 효과가 아주 좋았어요.
The advertising effect of our product was very good.
Cultural Context
광고 (gwanggo) is a ubiquitous part of Korean media. K-pop idols and actors frequently appear in 'CFs' (Commercial Films), which are high-production value advertisements. Product placement (PPL) in K-dramas is also very common, sometimes overtly so. A unique aspect of Korean fan culture is placing birthday advertisements for idols in subway stations.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 광고 for formality, so the example fits emails, meetings, or workplace conversations instead of casual speech.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
광고 모델
advertising model (celebrity endorser)
광고 효과
advertising effect
광고 회사
advertising agency
Related Expressions
홍보
hongbo
PR / public relations
캠페인
kaempein
campaign
선전
seonjeon
propaganda (more formal/political)
PPL (피피엘)
pipiel
product placement
More Business Words
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