Advanced · Korean Study
Korean media literacy: separate 사실, 의견, 추측 and 근거
Read a Korean post by labeling observable fact, attributed opinion, prediction, source and missing evidence before sharing it.
Label the type of claim before translating it
A screenshot says that every class is cancelled “from tomorrow.” Before translating it for a friend, there is one small question to settle: tomorrow relative to which date? A fluent translation can still mislead if the original notice is old.
This lesson follows a fictional community post through that problem. The vocabulary helps you distinguish a fact, an opinion and a guess, then identify where the information came from and what supports it. Those distinctions matter when you summarize a Korean text for someone else.
Build a claim-evidence vocabulary
| Korean | Working meaning | Use it when |
|---|---|---|
| 사실 | fact | claim supported as true |
| 의견 | opinion | judgment or position |
| 추측 | speculation / inference | uncertain conclusion |
| 출처 | source | where information came from |
| 근거 | evidence / grounds | support for a claim |
| 확인 | verification | act of checking |
출처 is the source of information; 근거 is the evidence or grounds supporting a claim. A post can identify a source without showing why its conclusion follows. Conversely, an image may seem to contain evidence while leaving you unable to find the original source.
사실 means a fact, but calling something 사실 does not verify it. 의견 names a view or judgment. 추측 names a guess or uncertain inference. A single sentence may combine an observable detail with the writer’s opinion about it.
Preserve uncertainty and attribution
| Pattern or sentence | Natural meaning | Point to notice |
|---|---|---|
| 자료에 따르면 | according to the data | attributes evidence |
| 관계자는 말했다 | an official said | attributes a statement |
| 늘어난 것으로 보인다 | it appears to have increased | preserves inference |
| 아직 확인되지 않았다 | has not yet been confirmed | explicit uncertainty |
늘어난 것으로 보인다 means “it appears to have increased.” 것으로 보인다 leaves the conclusion as an assessment based on what is available. Dropping “appears” in English would make the statement sound more certain.
관계자는 말했다 attributes a statement to someone connected with the matter. Depending on the context, 관계자 may be an official, representative or another person involved. It does not automatically identify a government official. 자료에 따르면 similarly tells you that the writer is drawing on particular data or materials.
Pause before forwarding a screenshot
| Speaker | Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|---|
| A | 이 공지가 오늘부터 적용된대요. | They say this notice applies from today. |
| B | 원문 날짜와 기관 이름이 있어요? | Does it have the original date and institution name? |
| A | 사진만 있고 링크는 없어요. | There is only a photo and no link. |
| B | 공식 원문을 확인한 뒤에 공유해요. | Let’s share it after checking the official original. |
The first speaker has heard that a notice applies from today. The ending -대요 reports what someone says; it does not show that the speaker has personally checked the notice. The second speaker asks whether the original date and institution name are visible.
When the answer is that there is only an image, they decide to check the original notice before sharing it. 확인한 뒤에 puts checking first and sharing afterward. The exchange does not yet decide whether the screenshot is accurate.
Trace the source chain
An image can preserve the wording of a notice while losing its address, date or later correction. Finding the original page lets you compare the screenshot with the version that the issuer currently provides.
For a summary, retain the source and the limits of the statement. “A representative said the schedule would change” and “the schedule changed” are different claims. Keeping that difference makes your translation more faithful and your own uncertainty easier to explain.
Correct likely misunderstandings
| Avoid | Use or check | Why |
|---|---|---|
| 사실이라는 단어 = verified | 독립 근거 확인 | a label can itself be an unsupported claim |
| 스크린샷 날짜를 오늘로 가정 | 원문 게시일 확인 | relative dates can expire |
| 말했다를 삭제 | 출처 인용 유지 | removing attribution changes certainty |
A large number of comments or shares tells you that a post attracted attention. It does not establish that the information is correct. The source and the supporting evidence still need to fit the particular claim.
Relative words such as 오늘 and 내일 depend on the date of the original message. If you summarize an older notice, giving the actual date can prevent readers from interpreting “tomorrow” as tomorrow from the day you share it.
Read a fictional viral post correction
“내일부터 모든 수업이 취소된다”라는 사진이 온라인 커뮤니티에 빠르게 퍼졌다.
사진에는 기관 이름이 있었지만 게시 날짜와 원문 주소가 없었다.
한 이용자가 기관 홈페이지에서 같은 제목의 공지를 찾았고 지난달 자료라는 것을 확인했다.
최신 공지에는 한 수업의 시간만 바뀌고 나머지 수업은 정상 운영된다고 적혀 있었다.
기관 담당자도 오래된 사진이 다시 공유되고 있다며 최신 일정을 확인해 달라고 말했다.
이용자들은 원문 주소와 날짜를 함께 공유하고 잘못된 게시물을 수정하기로 했다.
Read an English translation
A photo saying “All classes are canceled from tomorrow” spread quickly on a community board.
The image showed an institution name, but no posting date or original URL.
A user found a notice with the same title on the institution’s site and confirmed that it was from the previous month.
The latest notice said only one class time had changed and the other classes would operate normally.
An institution representative also said an old image was circulating again and asked users to check the latest schedule.
Users decided to share the original link and date together and correct the inaccurate posts.
This passage is original and written for this lesson. Use it to trace who did what, when, with what evidence and with what level of certainty.
Try it in a familiar situation
A screenshot says 내일부터 모든 수업이 취소된다, but it has no visible date. What information would you look for before translating “tomorrow” for a friend? In 늘어난 것으로 보인다, which part should remain in your English summary?
Read the explanation
Find the original notice and its posting or effective date, then check whether a newer notice changes it. “Tomorrow” belongs to the original message’s time frame. 것으로 보인다 should remain as “appears” or a similar expression of inference; the sentence does not simply state that an increase has been confirmed.
A small listening check
Pronunciation help: Track evidence before action
Listen for 공식 원문/게시 날짜/확인한 뒤 versus 댓글 수/사진만/생각했어요.
Listen and choose
Play the sound, then select the Korean you heard. The answer buttons unlock after playback. This is one short practice item, not a pronunciation assessment.
Listen before choosing.
References and useful next steps
- Korean–English Learners’ Dictionary — Check meanings, usage labels, conjugated examples and human recordings for the lesson vocabulary.
Reviewed September 4, 2026. Found a mistake? Send a correction.