Korean Dictionary
How to say "Prison" in Korean
“Prison” in Korean is 감옥 (pronounced "Gamok").
감옥
Gamok
Usage & Context
A place where people convicted of crimes are confined. South Korea has a prison system with various facilities for different security levels.
Example Sentence
그는 감옥에 수감되었습니다.
He was imprisoned.
How to use 감옥 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Prison” is 감옥, romanized as Gamok.
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 감옥.
Pronunciation Guide
Pronounce '감옥' as 'Ga-mok'. 'Ga' sounds like 'gah' in 'garage'. 'Mok' sounds like 'mock' (as in, to mock someone). The stress is on the first syllable, 'Ga'.
More Example Sentences
Discussing the consequence of a white-collar crime.
그는 횡령죄로 감옥에 가게 되었습니다.
He ended up going to prison for embezzlement.
Someone reflecting on their past mistakes.
감옥에서 복역하는 동안 많은 것을 깨달았다고 합니다.
He said he realized many things while serving time in prison.
Discussing a memorable movie scene.
영화에서 주인공이 감옥을 탈출하는 장면이 인상 깊었어요.
The scene where the protagonist escapes from prison in the movie was impressive.
Cultural Context
While '감옥' (gamok) is a common term for prison, the more formal and official term used in the Korean legal system is '교도소' (gyodosoo), which translates to 'correctional facility'. K-dramas often depict the harsh realities of prison life, sometimes with a focus on rehabilitation or the camaraderie among inmates, though '감옥' is frequently used in everyday conversation and media for simplicity.
Editorial note
We review entries like 감옥 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
감옥에 가다
to go to prison
감옥살이
prison life
감옥에서 나오다
to get out of prison
Related Expressions
교도소
gyodosoo
correctional facility (more formal)
수감
sugam
imprisonment
죄수
joesu
prisoner
석방
seokbang
release (from prison)
More Law & Government Words
Master Korean with AI-Powered Learning
Practice Prison and 10,000+ words with native pronunciation and AI conversation.
