Korean Dictionary
How to say "Senator" in Korean
“Senator” in Korean is 상원의원 (pronounced "Sangwon uiwon").
상원의원
Sangwon uiwon
Usage & Context
A member of the upper house of parliament in countries with bicameral legislatures. While South Korea has a unicameral legislature, the term is used when discussing other countries.
Example Sentence
미국의 상원의원들이 법안을 투표했습니다.
U.S. senators voted on the bill.
How to use 상원의원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Senator” is 상원의원, romanized as Sangwon uiwon.
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 상원의원.
Pronunciation Guide
상 (Sang) sounds like 'sahng' as in 'sang a song'. 원 (won) is like 'wahn' or 'wun'. 의 (ui) is a tricky vowel, but in 의원 (uiwon), it's often pronounced like 'ee'. So, 의원 (uiwon) sounds like 'ee-wahn'. Together, it's 'Sahng-wahn ee-wahn'.
More Example Sentences
Reporting on international political news.
미국 상원의원 선거 결과가 발표되었습니다.
The results of the U.S. Senate election have been announced.
Discussing a politician's career in a country with a Senate.
그는 20년 동안 상원의원으로 활동했습니다.
He served as a senator for 20 years.
Describing a legislative debate in a bicameral system.
상원의원들이 새로운 법안에 대해 격렬하게 토론했습니다.
Senators fiercely debated the new bill.
Cultural Context
South Korea has a unicameral legislature (국회), meaning there is no 'Senate' or '상원' in its political system. Therefore, '상원의원' is a term primarily used when discussing the political structures of other countries, particularly those with bicameral legislatures like the United States. Koreans are familiar with the concept through international news and media, often referring to '미국 상원의원' (U.S. Senator).
Editorial note
We review entries like 상원의원 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
상원의원 선거
Senatorial election
상원의원 후보
Senatorial candidate
미국 상원의원
U.S. Senator
Related Expressions
하원의원
Hawon uiwon
House Representative (for bicameral systems)
국회의원
Gukhoe uiwon
National Assembly member (Korean equivalent of a legislator)
의원
Uiwon
Member of assembly/parliament (general term)
상원
Sangwon
Senate (the institution)
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