Korean Dictionary
How to say "Prime Minister" in Korean
“Prime Minister” in Korean is 총리 (pronounced "Chongni").
총리
Chongni
Usage & Context
The head of government under the president in South Korea. The prime minister oversees the cabinet and government administration.
Example Sentence
총리는 국무회의를 주재합니다.
The prime minister presides over the State Council.
How to use 총리 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Prime Minister” is 총리, romanized as Chongni.
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 총리.
Pronunciation Guide
총 (Chong) sounds like 'chong' in 'strong' but with a 'ch' sound. 리 (ni) sounds like 'nee' in 'knee'. The 'g' in '총' often assimilates to an 'n' sound when followed by '리', making it sound more like 'Chong-ni' rather than 'Chong-ri'.
More Example Sentences
Reporting on a political appointment in the news.
새 총리가 오늘 임명되었습니다.
A new prime minister was appointed today.
Explaining the role of the prime minister.
총리는 대통령을 보좌하며 행정부를 총괄합니다.
The prime minister assists the president and oversees the executive branch.
Describing public reaction to government policy.
국민들은 총리의 정책 발표에 주목했습니다.
The public paid attention to the prime minister's policy announcement.
Cultural Context
In South Korea, the '총리' (Prime Minister), officially '국무총리' (Gungmu Chongni), is the second-highest executive official, appointed by the President with National Assembly approval. Unlike some parliamentary systems, the Korean President holds the most executive power, and the PM's role is primarily to assist the President and manage the cabinet, acting as the President's chief deputy.
Editorial note
We review entries like 총리 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
국무총리
Prime Minister (full title)
총리실
Prime Minister's Office
총리 후보자
Prime Minister nominee
Related Expressions
대통령
Daetongnyeong
President
장관
Janggwan
Minister (cabinet member)
국무회의
Gungmuhoeui
State Council (cabinet meeting)
행정부
Haengjeongbu
Executive branch
More Law & Government Words
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