Korean Dictionary
How to say "Long distance relationship" in Korean
“Long distance relationship” in Korean is 장거리 연애 (pronounced "Janggori yeonae").
장거리 연애
Janggori yeonae
Usage & Context
A romantic relationship where partners live far apart. Particularly relevant as many young Koreans move to Seoul for work while their partners remain in hometown cities. Video calls (화상통화) via KakaoTalk are used to maintain connection. Military service (군대) also creates many long-distance situations.
Example Sentence
장거리 연애는 서로 신뢰가 정말 중요해요.
Trust is really important in a long-distance relationship.
How to use 장거리 연애 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Long distance relationship” is 장거리 연애, romanized as Janggori yeonae.
Usage tip
Relationship words can sound too direct if the social context is wrong. Check the age, closeness, and formality before using it.
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 장거리 연애.
Pronunciation Guide
'장' sounds like 'jang' in 'jang-go' (a Korean drum), similar to 'jong' in 'jungle' but with an 'a'. '거' is like 'geo' in 'geography'. '리' is like 'ree' in 'reel'. '연' sounds like 'yeon' in 'Yeon-woo,' similar to 'yawn' but shorter. '애' is like 'ae' in 'apple' or 'air'.
More Example Sentences
Explaining the reason for a long-distance relationship, a common situation in Korea.
군대 때문에 장거리 연애를 시작했어요.
I started a long-distance relationship because of military service.
Giving advice or reflecting on the challenges of such relationships.
장거리 연애는 서로에 대한 믿음이 가장 중요해요.
Trust in each other is most important in a long-distance relationship.
Describing the effort and commitment involved in maintaining the relationship.
주말마다 남자친구를 만나러 장거리 연애를 하고 있어요.
I'm in a long-distance relationship, meeting my boyfriend every weekend.
Cultural Context
'장거리 연애' is very common in Korea due to factors like mandatory military service for men, young people moving to Seoul for jobs, or studying abroad. KakaoTalk video calls and frequent weekend visits are typical ways to maintain these relationships. There's a common perception that '장거리 연애' is difficult and requires a lot of effort and trust, often leading to breakups if not managed well.
Editorial note
We check relationship words like 장거리 연애 against age, closeness, and politeness rules, because a literal English match often misses the social meaning.
Reviewed by Min-jung Park, Korean Language Teacher. Updated May 31, 2026. See our editorial standards.
Common Phrases
장거리 연애 중이야.
I'm in a long-distance relationship.
장거리 연애 힘들지?
Long-distance relationships are hard, aren't they?
장거리 연애 성공 비결.
Secret to a successful long-distance relationship.
Related Expressions
연애
Yeonae
Romantic relationship, dating
주말 부부
Jumal bubu
Weekend couple (married couple living apart during the week)
곰신
Gomsin
Girlfriend of a soldier (term for women waiting for their boyfriends to finish military service)
짝사랑
Jjaksarang
One-sided love, unrequited love (opposite of a mutual relationship)
More Relationships Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Long distance relationship and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
