Korean Dictionary
How to say "IPO" in Korean
“IPO” in Korean is 기업공개 (pronounced "gieop-gongkae").
기업공개
gieop-gongkae
Usage & Context
The first sale of company stock to the public. IPOs in Korea are significant milestones for companies. They provide capital for growth and increase company visibility.
Example Sentence
회사가 기업공개를 준비하고 있습니다.
The company is preparing for an IPO.
How to use 기업공개 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “IPO” is 기업공개, romanized as gieop-gongkae.
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 기업공개.
Pronunciation Guide
The word is pronounced 'gee-up-gong-kay'. 'Gi-eop' sounds like 'gee-up' (as in 'get up'), with a soft 'p' sound at the end. 'Gong' is like the English word 'gong'. 'Kae' is pronounced like 'kay' (as in 'okay'), with a slightly aspirated 'k' sound.
More Example Sentences
Discussing a startup's future plans with a colleague.
그 스타트업은 내년에 기업공개를 목표로 하고 있어요.
That startup is aiming for an IPO next year.
Reading a business news article about a new stock offering.
이번 기업공개는 투자자들에게 큰 관심을 받고 있습니다.
This IPO is receiving great interest from investors.
Sharing investment experiences with a friend.
저는 최근에 기업공개된 회사 주식에 투자했어요.
I recently invested in a company that just went public.
Cultural Context
IPOs in Korea, often referred to as '공모주 청약' (gongmoju cheongyak - public offering subscription), are a big deal. When a promising company announces its IPO, there's often intense competition among retail investors to subscribe to shares, sometimes leading to oversubscription rates of hundreds or even thousands to one. It's seen as a quick way to potentially make profits, and news about upcoming IPOs is closely followed by the investment community.
Editorial note
We review business terms like 기업공개 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
기업공개 준비
preparing for an IPO
기업공개 성공
successful IPO
기업공개 시장
IPO market
Related Expressions
상장
sangjang
listing (on stock exchange)
주식
jusik
stock, share
공모주
gongmoju
public offering shares
투자
tuja
investment
More Business Words
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