~에 따르면

The Korean phrase '~에 따르면' is an essential grammatical structure used to indicate the source of information, translating directly to 'according to' or 'as stated by' in English. This phrase is fundamental for anyone looking to achieve intermediate to advanced fluency in Korean, as it allows speakers to distance themselves from the information they are presenting, attributing it instead to an external source. Whether you are watching the morning news, reading a newspaper, discussing the weather forecast with a friend, or writing an academic paper, you will encounter this phrase constantly. It is formed by taking a noun—representing the source of the information—and attaching the particle '~에' (which typically indicates location or direction, but here serves to link the noun to the verb) followed by '따르면', which is the conditional form of the verb '따르다' (to follow). Literally, it means 'if one follows [the source]'.

Core Meaning

The primary function is to cite a source. It tells the listener or reader exactly where you got your information, which adds credibility to your statement and clarifies that you are not the original author of the claim.

In everyday conversation, people use this phrase to share news they have heard without taking personal responsibility for its accuracy. For instance, if you tell your friend that a new restaurant is opening, and you want to clarify that you heard this from a mutual acquaintance, you would use this structure. It is highly versatile and can be attached to almost any noun that can provide information: people, documents, organizations, media outlets, and even abstract concepts like rumors or statistics.

Formality Level

This phrase is neutral in its formality. It can be used in highly formal news broadcasts, academic papers, and business presentations, as well as in casual conversations with friends. The formality of the overall sentence is determined by the verb ending used at the end of the sentence, not by the phrase itself.

Understanding the cultural context of this phrase is also important. In Korean society, presenting information objectively and respecting authority or established sources is highly valued. By using '~에 따르면', the speaker shows that they have done their research or are relying on a trusted source, which makes their communication more persuasive and polite. It is a way of showing deference to the original source of the information.

Common Subjects

The most common nouns attached to this phrase include 뉴스 (news), 일기예보 (weather forecast), 통계 (statistics), 연구 (research), 조사 (survey), and 전문가 (expert). Memorizing these collocations will drastically improve your fluency.

In summary, mastering '~에 따르면' unlocks a vast array of communicative possibilities. It bridges the gap between simple, subjective statements and complex, objective reporting. As you continue to study Korean, you will find that your ability to read news articles, understand broadcasts, and participate in intellectual discussions relies heavily on your comfort with this specific grammatical structure. Practice attaching it to various nouns and pairing it with different quoting verbs to fully internalize its usage and nuance.

Using '~에 따르면' correctly in a sentence requires an understanding of Korean sentence structure, specifically the relationship between the source of information and the reported speech endings. The fundamental rule is that because you are stating information 'according to' a source, the end of your sentence must reflect that this is reported information, not your own direct observation or original thought. This is a crucial aspect of Korean grammar that English speakers often overlook, as English simply uses 'according to' without necessarily changing the verb tense or mood at the end of the sentence. In Korean, failing to use a quoting ending makes the sentence sound unnatural or grammatically incomplete.

Basic Structure

The formula is: [Noun/Source] + 에 따르면 + [Reported Fact] + [Quoting Verb Ending]. The noun is the source. The reported fact is what the source said. The quoting verb ending is usually ~고 하다, ~대요, ~래요, or ~단다.

Let us break down the quoting endings. If you are speaking in a formal setting, such as giving a presentation or writing a report, you will use '~고 합니다' or '~다고 합니다'. For adjectives, it is '~다고 합니다'. For verbs, it is '~ㄴ/는다고 합니다'. For nouns, it is '~(이)라고 합니다'. When you use '~에 따르면' at the beginning of the sentence, you are setting up an expectation for the listener that one of these endings will appear at the conclusion of your thought.

Placement in the Sentence

The phrase '[Noun]에 따르면' usually comes at the very beginning of the sentence. It acts as an introductory clause that sets the stage for the main information. However, it can occasionally be placed after the subject of the main clause for stylistic variation, though this is less common for beginners.

Another important detail is how to handle human sources versus non-human sources. While '~에 따르면' can be attached directly to a person's title or name (e.g., 의사에 따르면 - according to the doctor), it is often more natural in Korean to add the word '말' (words/speech) when referring to people. So, '의사 선생님의 말씀에 따르면' (according to the doctor's words) sounds slightly more polished and respectful than just '의사에 따르면'. For non-human sources like news, statistics, or books, you attach it directly without '말'.

Using with Pronouns

You can use this with pronouns like '그' (he/that) or '그녀' (she), resulting in '그에 따르면' (according to him/it). This is very common in written texts to avoid repeating the source's name multiple times in a paragraph.

To truly master this phrase, practice writing sentences where you first identify a source, then state the information, and finally ensure the verb ending matches the reported nature of the sentence. This three-step process will help you internalize the grammar. Read Korean news articles and highlight every instance of '~에 따르면'; you will quickly see how consistently it is paired with specific verb endings, reinforcing your understanding of its mechanical function in the language.

The phrase '~에 따르면' is ubiquitous in Korean society, bridging the gap between formal media and everyday gossip. If you spend any amount of time consuming Korean content or living in Korea, you will hear this phrase daily. Its most prominent and formal domain is in journalism and news broadcasting. Korean news anchors use this phrase constantly to cite their sources, whether they are referring to government press releases, police reports, foreign news agencies, or statistical data. In a typical five-minute news segment, you might hear '~에 따르면' half a dozen times. It is the backbone of objective reporting in the Korean language, allowing journalists to present facts without injecting personal bias.

News and Media

This is the most common place to hear the phrase. Anchors will say '기상청에 따르면' (According to the Meteorological Administration) or '통계청에 따르면' (According to Statistics Korea) to validate the data they are presenting to the public.

Beyond the news, you will frequently hear this phrase in academic and professional settings. University students use it in their essays and presentations to cite research papers, books, and professors. In corporate environments, employees use it during meetings to reference market research, sales data, or competitor analysis. It adds a layer of professionalism and evidence-based reasoning to any argument. If you are preparing for the TOPIK (Test of Proficiency in Korean) exam, especially the writing and reading sections of levels 3 through 6, recognizing and actively using '~에 따르면' is absolutely mandatory for achieving a high score.

Everyday Conversations

Despite its formal origins, it is heavily used in casual chats. People use it to talk about the weather, share rumors, or relay messages from friends and family members.

In casual settings, the usage shifts slightly in tone but remains structurally the same. Imagine sitting in a cafe with a friend, discussing a mutual acquaintance or a popular celebrity. You might lean in and say, '소문에 따르면...' (According to rumors...). This usage adds a sense of intrigue and gossip to the conversation. Similarly, checking the weather app on your phone and telling your family, '일기예보에 따르면...' is a daily ritual in many Korean households. The phrase seamlessly transitions from the anchor desk to the dinner table.

Pop Culture and Dramas

In Korean dramas, you will often hear this in medical, legal, or police procedural shows where characters are constantly citing reports, autopsies, or witness testimonies to advance the plot.

In conclusion, '~에 따르면' is not a niche grammatical construct reserved for textbooks; it is a living, breathing part of the Korean language that you will encounter in every facet of life in Korea. From the highest levels of government broadcasting to the whispers of schoolyard gossip, this phrase is the standard vehicle for transmitting information that originated from somewhere else. Paying attention to how native speakers use it in different contexts will greatly enhance your listening comprehension and your ability to speak Korean naturally and persuasively.

While '~에 따르면' is a relatively straightforward phrase to translate, English speakers frequently make specific grammatical and pragmatic errors when trying to use it in Korean. The most glaring and common mistake is failing to use the correct reported speech ending at the conclusion of the sentence. In English, you can say 'According to the news, it is raining.' The verb 'is' remains in a standard indicative form. However, in Korean, if you start with '뉴스에 따르면', you cannot simply end the sentence with '비가 와요' (it is raining). Doing so sounds abrupt and grammatically disjointed to a native speaker, as the introductory clause promises a reported statement, but the ending delivers a direct observation.

Missing the Quoting Ending

Incorrect: 뉴스에 따르면 비가 와요. (According to the news, it is raining.)
Correct: 뉴스에 따르면 비가 온대요. / 온다고 합니다. (According to the news, they say it is raining.)

Another frequent mistake involves attaching the wrong particle to the noun before '따르면'. Because '따르다' can mean 'to follow' in a physical sense, some learners mistakenly use the object particle '~를/을' instead of the location/direction particle '~에'. They might write '뉴스를 따르면' instead of '뉴스에 따르면'. While '뉴스를 따르다' could technically mean 'to follow the news' (as in, to obey it or track it), it does not mean 'according to the news'. The fixed grammatical structure for citation absolutely requires the '~에' particle.

Using it for Personal Opinions

A more subtle pragmatic error is using '~에 따르면' with '나' (I) or '내 생각' (my thought). You cannot say '내 생각에 따르면' (According to my thoughts). This sounds very awkward in Korean. For your own opinions, you should use '내 생각에는' (In my opinion).

Learners also sometimes confuse '~에 따르면' with '~에 대해서' (about/regarding). If you want to say 'I read an article about the economy', you use '~에 대해서'. If you want to say 'According to the article, the economy is bad', you use '~에 따르면'. Mixing these up changes the entire meaning of the sentence and causes confusion. Furthermore, when quoting people, learners often forget to add '말' (words) or '말씀' (honorific words). While '의사에 따르면' is acceptable, '의사 선생님 말씀에 따르면' is much more natural and polite. Forgetting the honorifics when citing an elder or a respected professional is a common cultural mistake.

Pronunciation Errors

When speaking quickly, learners sometimes mispronounce the double consonant '따' as a single '다', saying '다르면' (which means 'if it is different') instead of '따르면'. This completely changes the meaning of the sentence.

By being aware of these common pitfalls—especially the necessity of reported speech endings, the correct use of the '~에' particle, avoiding personal pronouns, adding honorifics for people, and ensuring crisp pronunciation of the double consonant—you can elevate your Korean from sounding like a direct, clunky translation to natural, fluent discourse. Always review your sentences to ensure the beginning (the source) matches the end (the quoting verb).

In Korean, there are several ways to express the idea of 'according to' or to cite a source, and choosing the right one depends heavily on the formality of the situation and the nuance you wish to convey. While '~에 따르면' is the most versatile and widely used option, expanding your vocabulary to include its synonyms will greatly improve your reading comprehension, especially for advanced texts, and make your speaking sound more sophisticated. The most direct synonym is '~에 의하면'. This phrase means exactly the same thing as '~에 따르면' but is derived from Chinese characters (Hanja) rather than native Korean verbs. Because of its Hanja origins, '~에 의하면' sounds more formal, academic, and literary.

~에 의하면

This is the formal twin of '~에 따르면'. You will see this constantly in newspapers, legal documents, and academic journals. '경찰 발표에 의하면' (According to the police announcement) sounds highly professional.

Another alternative, specifically used when quoting people, is simply using the person's name or title followed by the topic particle '~은/는' and a quoting verb. For example, instead of saying '선생님에 따르면 내일 시험이 있대요' (According to the teacher, there is a test tomorrow), you can just say '선생님이 내일 시험이 있대요' (The teacher says there is a test tomorrow). This is much more common in casual, everyday speech. The phrase '~에 따르면' can sometimes feel a bit too heavy or formal for a simple chat with friends, so using the subject particle + quoting verb is a natural alternative.

~말로는 / ~말에 의하면

When specifically citing what someone said, '~말로는' (from what [someone] says) is a very natural, slightly less formal alternative. '친구 말로는' (From what my friend says / According to my friend).

You might also encounter the phrase '~을/를 바탕으로', which translates to 'based on'. While similar, it has a distinct nuance. '통계에 따르면' means 'According to the statistics' (you are just reporting the numbers). '통계를 바탕으로' means 'Based on the statistics' (you are actively using the numbers to form a conclusion or take an action). Understanding this subtle difference is key to advanced Korean writing. You use '따르면' to report, and '바탕으로' to build an argument or create something new from the source material.

Summary of Alternatives

Use '~에 의하면' for highly formal writing. Use '~말로는' for casual conversations about what people said. Use '~을/를 바탕으로' when you mean 'based on' rather than just 'according to'.

By familiarizing yourself with these alternatives, you can add variety to your Korean expression. While '~에 따르면' will remain your go-to phrase for citation, knowing when to swap it out for '~에 의하면' in an essay, or '~말로는' when chatting with a friend, demonstrates a deep, nuanced understanding of Korean pragmatics and register. This flexibility is a hallmark of an advanced speaker.