Korean Dictionary
How to say "Secular" in Korean
“Secular” in Korean is 세속적 (pronounced "Sesok-jeok").
세속적
Sesok-jeok
Usage & Context
Secular refers to matters not related to religion. Modern Korea has become increasingly secular while maintaining religious traditions.
Example Sentence
세속적인 사회입니다.
It is a secular society.
How to use 세속적 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Secular” is 세속적, romanized as Sesok-jeok.
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 세속적.
Pronunciation Guide
The '세' (se) sounds like 'say' in 'saying'. '속' (sok) is like 'sok' in 'sock'. '적' (jeok) sounds like 'juck' in 'duck' but with a 'j' sound, where the 'eo' vowel is similar to the 'u' in 'but'. The stress is fairly even.
More Example Sentences
Discussing a societal trend.
현대 사회는 점점 더 세속적으로 변하고 있습니다.
Modern society is becoming increasingly secular.
Describing someone's lifestyle choice.
그는 세속적인 삶을 추구하며 종교에 얽매이지 않습니다.
He pursues a secular life and isn't bound by religion.
Discussing principles of education policy.
세속적인 교육은 종교 교육과 분리되어야 합니다.
Secular education should be separated from religious education.
Cultural Context
Korea is constitutionally a secular state, meaning there's a separation of church and state. '세속적' (sesok-jeok) is often used to describe this separation or to refer to aspects of life not influenced by religion. While Korea has a strong religious presence (Buddhism, Christianity), the concept of secularism is important in public discourse, especially regarding education and government. The term can sometimes carry a nuance of being 'worldly' or 'materialistic' when contrasted with spiritual values.
Editorial note
We review entries like 세속적 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
세속적인 가치
Secular values
세속적인 삶
Secular life
세속적인 관점
Secular perspective
Related Expressions
종교적
jonggyo-jeok
Religious
현세적
hyeonse-jeok
Worldly/temporal
탈종교화
taljonggyohwa
Secularization
비종교적
bijonggyo-jeok
Non-religious
More Religion Words
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