Korean Dictionary
How to say "Major" in Korean
“Major” in Korean is 전공 (pronounced "Jeongong").
전공
Jeongong
Usage & Context
Choosing a major (전공) is a significant decision in Korean university life, often influenced by career prospects and family expectations. Popular majors include engineering, business, medicine, and law. Unlike in some Western countries, changing majors in Korea is uncommon and requires formal procedures, so students are advised to choose carefully.
Example Sentence
전공이 뭐예요?
What is your major?
How to use 전공 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Major” is 전공, romanized as Jeongong.
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 전공.
Pronunciation Guide
전 (jeon) sounds like 'jeon' in 'jeonju' or 'jun' in 'junior'. 공 (gong) sounds like 'gong' in 'gong'. The 'g' in '공' is a soft 'g' sound. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Introducing oneself and their academic field at a social gathering.
제 전공은 컴퓨터 공학이에요.
My major is computer engineering.
A university student expressing dissatisfaction with their current studies.
전공을 바꾸고 싶어요.
I want to change my major.
A student getting involved in campus life.
전공 관련 동아리에 가입했어요.
I joined a club related to my major.
Cultural Context
Choosing a major (전공) in Korea is a highly significant decision, often heavily influenced by future career prospects and family expectations. Unlike some Western countries, changing majors (전과, jeongwa) is less common and can be quite difficult, requiring specific procedures and often a strong justification. Students are generally expected to specialize early, and their major often dictates their career path, making the initial choice critical.
Editorial note
We review entries like 전공 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
전공하다
To major in
전공 수업
Major class
전공 분야
Field of major
Related Expressions
부전공
Bujeongong
Minor
학과
Hakgwa
Department/Faculty
학위
Hagwi
Degree
진로
Jillo
Career path
More Education Words
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