Korean Dictionary
How to say "Korean War" in Korean
“Korean War” in Korean is 한국 전쟁 (pronounced "hanguk jeonjaeng").
한국 전쟁
hanguk jeonjaeng
Usage & Context
The Korean War (1950–1953) was a conflict between North and South Korea involving major world powers. It resulted in an armistice but no formal peace treaty. Korea remains technically divided along the 38th parallel.
Example Sentence
한국 전쟁은 1950년에 시작됐어요.
The Korean War started in 1950.
How to use 한국 전쟁 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Korean War” is 한국 전쟁, romanized as hanguk jeonjaeng.
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 한국 전쟁.
Pronunciation Guide
"Han-guk" sounds like "hahn-gook" (like 'hahn' in 'Hannah' and 'gook' like 'cook'). "Jeon-jaeng" sounds like "juhn-jaeng" (like 'juhn' in 'junction' and 'jaeng' like 'jang' in 'jangly'). The stress is on the first syllable of each word.
More Example Sentences
Stating a historical fact.
한국 전쟁은 1950년에 발발했어요.
The Korean War broke out in 1950.
Explaining the consequences of the war.
한국 전쟁 이후 남북 분단이 고착화되었죠.
After the Korean War, the division of North and South Korea became solidified.
Expressing respect for veterans.
한국 전쟁 참전 용사들에게 감사하는 마음을 가져야 해요.
We should be grateful to the veterans of the Korean War.
Cultural Context
한국 전쟁 (Hanguk Jeonjaeng), or the Korean War (1950-1953), is a pivotal and tragic event that profoundly shaped modern Korea. It resulted in the permanent division of the peninsula and left deep scars on the national psyche. While often referred to as a "forgotten war" in some Western countries, it is a constant presence in Korean memory, influencing everything from national security policies to family histories. Many K-dramas and films touch upon the war's impact, often depicting the pain of separated families and the resilience of the Korean people.
Editorial note
We review entries like 한국 전쟁 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
한국 전쟁 발발
Outbreak of the Korean War
한국 전쟁의 비극
The tragedy of the Korean War
한국 전쟁 기념관
Korean War Memorial Museum
Related Expressions
6.25 전쟁 (유기오 전쟁)
Yugio Jeonjaeng
6.25 War (referring to June 25th, 1950, the start date)
휴전선
hyujeonseon
armistice line / DMZ
참전 용사
chamjeon yongsa
war veteran
남북 분단
nambuk bundan
division of Korea (closely related consequence)
More Korean History Words
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