Korean Dictionary
How to say "Overfishing" in Korean
“Overfishing” in Korean is 남획 (pronounced "namhoek").
남획
namhoek
Usage & Context
Overfishing depletes fish populations faster than they can reproduce. Korean fishing industries face sustainability challenges due to declining fish stocks. International agreements and quotas aim to prevent overfishing in Korean waters.
Example Sentence
남획으로 인해 물고기 개체 수가 줄어들고 있어요.
Fish populations are declining due to overfishing.
How to use 남획 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Overfishing” is 남획, romanized as namhoek.
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 남획.
Pronunciation Guide
남 (nam) sounds like 'nahm' as in 'nahm-say'. 획 (hoek) sounds like 'hwek' or 'hweck', where 'oe' is like the 'we' in 'wet' but with slightly rounded lips, followed by a 'k' sound. Together: 'nahm-hwek'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing conservation issues and species endangerment.
불법 남획 때문에 특정 어종이 멸종 위기에 처했어요.
Due to illegal overfishing, certain fish species are endangered.
Talking about policy and government action.
정부는 남획을 막기 위한 강력한 규제를 시행해야 합니다.
The government must implement strong regulations to prevent overfishing.
Explaining the environmental impact of human activities.
남획은 해양 생태계에 심각한 피해를 줍니다.
Overfishing causes severe damage to marine ecosystems.
Cultural Context
Korea, being a peninsula, has a strong fishing culture and industry. Discussions around '남획' are common, especially concerning popular seafood like mackerel (고등어) and squid (오징어), which are staples in the Korean diet. You'll often hear news reports or documentaries about declining fish stocks in the East Sea (동해) or West Sea (서해), highlighting the urgency of preventing overfishing and ensuring sustainable marine resources.
Editorial note
We review entries like 남획 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
남획을 막다
to prevent overfishing
남획으로 인한
caused by overfishing
불법 남획
illegal overfishing
Related Expressions
어획량
eoeokryang
fish catch volume
수산 자원
susan jawon
marine resources
멸종 위기
myeoljong wigi
endangered (species)
어업 규제
eoeop gyuje
fishing regulations
More Environment Words
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