Korean Dictionary
How to say "Source" in Korean
“Source” in Korean is 정보원 (pronounced "jeongbowon").
정보원
jeongbowon
Usage & Context
A source is a person or document that provides information for a news story. Protecting confidential sources is a fundamental principle of Korean journalism.
Example Sentence
기자는 정보원의 신원을 보호해야 한다.
A journalist must protect the identity of their source.
How to use 정보원 naturally
Quick answer
The Korean word for “Source” is 정보원, romanized as jeongbowon.
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 정보원.
Pronunciation Guide
'정' (jeong) sounds like 'jung' in 'jungle', but with an 'eo' vowel (like 'uh' in 'butter'). '보' (bo) sounds like 'bo' in 'boat'. '원' (won) sounds like 'won' in 'one' (the number). The stress is fairly even across the syllables.
More Example Sentences
Discussing journalistic ethics.
기자는 정보원의 신원 보호를 최우선으로 해야 합니다.
A journalist must prioritize protecting the identity of their source.
Talking about the origin of a news scoop.
그 특종 기사는 익명의 정보원으로부터 나왔다고 합니다.
That exclusive story reportedly came from an anonymous source.
Describing police investigation methods.
경찰은 사건 해결을 위해 정보원을 확보하려고 노력 중입니다.
The police are trying to secure sources to solve the case.
Cultural Context
'정보원' is a critical term in Korean journalism and law enforcement. The protection of confidential sources is a cornerstone of journalistic ethics, often leading to legal battles between media outlets and authorities seeking to uncover identities. In K-dramas, especially crime or political thrillers, journalists or detectives often rely on '정보원' who provide crucial, sometimes dangerous, information, highlighting the risks involved for both the source and the information gatherer.
Editorial note
We review entries like 정보원 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
정보원을 보호하다
to protect a source
정보원으로부터 듣다
to hear from a source
익명의 정보원
anonymous source
Related Expressions
취재원
chwijaewon
news source (specifically for reporting)
제보자
jebooja
informant, tipster
내부 고발자
naebu gobalja
whistleblower
출처
chulcheo
source (general, for information, not necessarily a person)
More Media & Journalism Words
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