Korean Dictionary
How to say "Criminal Law" in Korean
“Criminal Law” in Korean is 형법 (pronounced "Hyeongbeop").
형법
Hyeongbeop
Usage & Context
Laws dealing with crimes and punishments. Criminal law in South Korea defines offenses and penalties.
Example Sentence
형법은 범죄를 정의합니다.
Criminal law defines crimes.
How to use 형법 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Criminal Law” is 형법, romanized as Hyeongbeop.
Usage tip
Learn this word together with a complete Korean sentence. Meaning often depends on particles, politeness level, and word order.
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 형법.
Pronunciation Guide
"Hyeong-beop" is pronounced like "hyung" (similar to the 'hyung' in 'older brother' but with a slightly softer 'h' and 'y' sound) followed by "beop" (like 'bop' a head). The final 'p' sound in 'beop' is a soft, unreleased 'p' at the end of the syllable.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the purpose of criminal law in a documentary.
형법은 범죄와 그에 대한 처벌을 규정합니다.
Criminal law defines crimes and their punishments.
A police officer informing a suspect about legal procedures.
이 사건은 형법에 따라 처리될 예정입니다.
This case will be handled according to criminal law.
Introducing a guest speaker at a legal seminar.
그는 형법 전문가로 유명합니다.
He is famous as a criminal law expert.
Cultural Context
'형법' is a serious term in Korea, often heard in news reports about crimes and trials. The Korean legal system, influenced by continental European civil law, has a distinct approach to criminal justice. Discussions around '형법' often involve public safety, justice, and the severity of punishments, which can be a hot topic in media and public discourse, especially in K-dramas featuring legal themes.
Editorial note
We review entries like 형법 for pronunciation, example sentence fit, and learner mistakes so the page answers more than a direct dictionary lookup.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
형법 위반
Violation of criminal law
형법상 처벌
Punishment under criminal law
형법 개정
Amendment of criminal law
Related Expressions
민법
Minbeop
Civil law (antonym)
범죄
Beomjoe
Crime
처벌
Cheobeol
Punishment
형사 소송
Hyeongsa sosong
Criminal lawsuit
More Law & Government Words
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