Korean Dictionary
How to say "Money Laundering" in Korean
“Money Laundering” in Korean is 자금 세탁 (pronounced "Jajin setag").
자금 세탁
Jajin setag
Usage & Context
Concealing the origin of illegally obtained money. Money laundering is a serious financial crime prosecuted internationally including in South Korea.
Example Sentence
자금 세탁은 국제 범죄입니다.
Money laundering is an international crime.
How to use 자금 세탁 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Money Laundering” is 자금 세탁, romanized as Jajin setag.
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 자금 세탁.
Pronunciation Guide
자금 (jageum): 'Ja' sounds like 'jar,' 'geum' sounds like 'gum.' 세탁 (setak): 'Se' sounds like 'say,' 'tak' sounds like 'tack.' The stress is relatively even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Explaining a criminal's method.
그는 불법 자금을 자금 세탁을 통해 합법적인 돈처럼 보이게 했습니다.
He made illegal funds look like legitimate money through money laundering.
Discussion about global financial crime.
국제 사회는 자금 세탁 방지를 위해 노력하고 있습니다.
The international community is working to prevent money laundering.
News about a financial institution.
그 은행은 자금 세탁에 연루된 혐의를 받고 있습니다.
That bank is suspected of being involved in money laundering.
Cultural Context
While not as frequently discussed in daily Korean life as tax evasion, '자금 세탁' (money laundering) is a serious topic in financial news and crime dramas. Korean financial institutions have strict regulations to prevent it, and any involvement can lead to severe penalties and reputational damage. It's often associated with organized crime, corruption, or large-scale fraud, making it a common plot device in thrillers and investigative K-dramas.
Editorial note
We review entries like 자금 세탁 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
자금 세탁 방지
anti-money laundering (AML)
자금 세탁 혐의
suspicion of money laundering
자금 세탁 조직
money laundering organization
Related Expressions
불법 자금
bulbeop jageum
illegal funds
검은 돈
geomeun don
black money (slang for illegal money)
자금 조달
jageum jodal
fundraising, financing
돈세탁
donsetak
money laundering (more colloquial, but less formal than 자금 세탁)
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