Korean Dictionary
How to say "Lecturer" in Korean
“Lecturer” in Korean is 강사 (pronounced "Gangsa").
강사
Gangsa
Usage & Context
Lecturers (강사) in Korea are instructors who teach at universities or hagwons without the full tenure-track status of a 교수 (professor). Star hagwon lecturers are especially celebrated in Korea — top-performing 강사 at major private academies in Daechi-dong (Seoul's famous education district) can earn millions of dollars annually.
Example Sentence
외부 강사가 특별 강의를 했어요.
A visiting lecturer gave a special lecture.
How to use 강사 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Lecturer” is 강사, romanized as Gangsa.
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 강사.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '강사' as 'Gang-sa'. 'Gang' sounds like the beginning of 'gangster' but with a softer 'g' sound. 'Sa' rhymes with 'sah' in 'sahara'.
More Example Sentences
A student recommending a popular lecturer to a friend.
그 강사님 강의는 정말 재미있어요.
That lecturer's class is really interesting.
Someone explaining their part-time job at a private academy.
학원 강사로 일하면서 돈을 벌고 있어요.
I'm earning money by working as a hagwon lecturer.
Announcing a highly anticipated public lecture event.
유명한 스타 강사 초청 강연이 있었어요.
There was a special lecture by a famous star lecturer.
Cultural Context
In Korea, '강사' often refers to instructors at private academies (학원, hagwon) as much as, or even more than, university lecturers. '스타 강사' (star lecturers) at top hagwons, especially in Seoul's Daechi-dong, are celebrities in their own right, known for their engaging teaching styles and ability to help students achieve high test scores. They can command immense salaries, reflecting the intense competition in Korea's education system.
Editorial note
We review entries like 강사 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
강사님
Lecturer (polite address)
초빙 강사
Visiting lecturer
학원 강사
Hagwon lecturer
Related Expressions
교수
gyosu
professor (tenured or tenure-track)
선생님
seonsaengnim
teacher, instructor (general term of respect)
학원
hagwon
private academy, cram school
강의
gangui
lecture, class
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