Korean Dictionary
How to say "Fine" in Korean
“Fine” in Korean is 벌금 (pronounced "Beolgeum").
벌금
Beolgeum
Usage & Context
A monetary penalty imposed by a court for breaking the law. Fines are common punishments in South Korea for traffic violations and minor offenses.
Example Sentence
그는 100만원의 벌금을 내야 합니다.
He must pay a fine of one million won.
How to use 벌금 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Fine” is 벌금, romanized as Beolgeum.
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 벌금.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounced 'buhl-geum' — 'beol' rhymes with 'full' (short vowel) and 'geum' rhymes with 'gum.' Lean the final 'm' softly, don't overstress it.
Formal & Casual Forms
Formal (존댓말)
과태료
gwataeryo
Administrative penalty (e.g., parking tickets) — technically distinct from 벌금, but often used interchangeably in daily speech
More Example Sentences
complaining to a friend after a traffic ticket
과속으로 벌금을 물었어요.
I got fined for speeding.
warning sign near a residential area
쓰레기 무단 투기 시 벌금이 부과됩니다.
A fine will be imposed for illegal dumping of trash.
asking a police officer or at a government office
벌금이 얼마예요?
How much is the fine?
Cultural Context
In Korea, 벌금 specifically refers to criminal fines decided by a court, while 과태료 covers administrative penalties like parking or minor traffic violations — the distinction matters for legal paperwork but most people use 벌금 loosely for both. Speed cameras (과속 단속 카메라) are famously dense on Korean expressways, and first-time offenders typically receive a 범칙금 (minor ticket fine) rather than a full 벌금. If you hear someone say '벌금 맞았어,' they're complaining about getting hit with a fine.
Editorial note
We review entries like 벌금 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
벌금을 내다
to pay a fine
벌금이 부과되다
a fine is imposed
벌금 폭탄
a massive fine (lit. 'fine bomb')
Related Expressions
과태료
gwataeryo
administrative fine (e.g., parking ticket)
범칙금
beomchikgeum
minor traffic ticket fine
처벌
cheobeol
punishment
위반
wiban
violation / breach
More Law & Government Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Fine and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
