Korean Dictionary
How to say "Phobia" in Korean
“Phobia” in Korean is 공포증 (pronounced "gongpojeung").
공포증
gongpojeung
Usage & Context
A phobia is an extreme irrational fear of something. Korea has seen increased diagnosis and treatment of specific 공포증, including social phobia and agoraphobia.
Example Sentence
고소공포증은 높은 곳에 대한 극심한 두려움이다.
Acrophobia is an extreme fear of heights.
How to use 공포증 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Phobia” is 공포증, romanized as gongpojeung.
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 공포증.
Pronunciation Guide
공 (gong) sounds like 'gone' but with an 'ng' at the end, as in 'sing'. 포 (po) is like 'pour' without the 'r'. 증 (jeung) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle' but with a slightly tighter 'eu' vowel, similar to 'eung' in 'sung'. The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Describing a personal fear.
저는 폐쇄공포증이 있어서 좁은 공간에 오래 못 있어요.
I have claustrophobia, so I can't stay in small spaces for long.
Discussing a common type of phobia.
많은 사람들이 대중 앞에서 말하는 것에 대한 사회공포증을 가지고 있어요.
Many people have social phobia about speaking in front of crowds.
Illustrating an intense specific phobia.
그는 바퀴벌레 공포증 때문에 집에 혼자 있을 때도 무서워해요.
He's scared even when alone at home because of his cockroach phobia.
Cultural Context
Mental health awareness, including phobias, has been growing in Korea. While traditionally less openly discussed, K-dramas and public campaigns are slowly destigmatizing these conditions. For instance, characters in some K-dramas might subtly hint at or explicitly deal with social anxiety or specific phobias, reflecting a societal shift towards acknowledging these issues.
Editorial note
We review entries like 공포증 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
고소공포증이 있다
to have acrophobia (fear of heights)
폐쇄공포증을 느끼다
to feel claustrophobia
사회공포증 극복하기
overcoming social phobia
Related Expressions
두려움
duryeoum
fear
공포
gongpo
terror, horror (stronger than 두려움)
불안감
burangam
anxiety, uneasiness
공황장애
gonghwangjangae
panic disorder
More Mental Health & Wellness Words
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