소송

§ What does 소송 (sosong) mean and when do people use it?

Let's dive into a practical Korean word that you might encounter in news, dramas, or even everyday conversations if things get a bit serious: 소송 (sosong).

Korean Word

소송 (sosong)

Meaning

Lawsuit, litigation; a case brought to a court of law.

CEFR Level

A2

Basically, 소송 (sosong) refers to a lawsuit. It's what happens when people or organizations have a dispute that they can't resolve on their own, so they take it to court to have a judge or jury decide. Think of it as a formal legal fight.

You'll hear or read 소송 (sosong) when talking about any situation where legal action is being taken. This could be:

• A person suing another person for damages.
• A company suing another company over a contract dispute.
• A group of people suing the government.

It's a serious word for serious situations. While the concept is the same as 'lawsuit' in English, understanding when and how it's used in Korean helps you grasp the nuance.

Let's look at some examples to make it clearer:

Translation Hint

That company (그 회사) filed (제기했습니다) a lawsuit (소송) for (으로) new technology (새로운 기술) patent (특허) infringement (침해).

Translation Hint

They (그들은) are (중입니다) in (동안) a divorce (이혼) lawsuit (소송) for several years (몇 년).

As you can see, 소송 (sosong) is combined with other words to specify the type of lawsuit. For example, 이혼 소송 (ihon sosong) means 'divorce lawsuit', and 민사 소송 (minsa sosong) means 'civil lawsuit'.

Translation Hint

The victim's (피해자) family (가족들은) is proceeding (진행하고 있습니다) with a lawsuit (소송) against (을 상대로) the perpetrator (가해자를).

Understanding 소송 (sosong) is a step towards understanding more formal and legal contexts in Korean. It's a fundamental term if you're trying to follow news or legal dramas.

§ Understanding 소송 (sosong)

The Korean word 소송 (sosong) means 'lawsuit' or 'litigation.' It refers to a legal case brought to a court of law. It's a noun and is commonly used when discussing legal disputes or court proceedings.

DEFINITION

Lawsuit, litigation; a case brought to a court of law.

§ Basic Usage with Verbs

You'll often see 소송 (sosong) paired with verbs like 하다 (hada - to do) or 걸다 (geolda - to file/bring). Let's look at some common combinations.

• 소송을 하다 (sosong-eul hada): To file a lawsuit, to litigate.

  그는 회사에 소송을 했어요. (Geuneun hoesa-e sosong-eul haesseoyo.)

  He filed a lawsuit against the company.

• 소송을 걸다 (sosong-eul geolda): To file a lawsuit (often implies initiating the legal action).

  피해자가 가해자에게 소송을 걸었습니다. (Pihaeja-ga gahaeja-ege sosong-eul georeotseumnida.)

  The victim filed a lawsuit against the assailant.

• 소송에 휘말리다 (sosong-e hwimallida): To get caught up in a lawsuit.

  저희 가족은 불필요한 소송에 휘말렸어요. (Jeohi gajok-eun bulpiryo-han sosong-e hwimallyeosseoyo.)

  Our family got caught up in an unnecessary lawsuit.

§ Prepositions and Particles with 소송 (sosong)

When using 소송 (sosong) in a sentence, you'll often need to attach particles to indicate its role. Here are some key particles:

• ~을/를 (eul/reul): Object particle. Used when 소송 is the direct object of a verb. This is common with verbs like 하다 (hada) or 걸다 (geolda).

  그들은 그 문제에 대해 소송을 준비 중입니다. (Geudeul-eun geu munje-e daehae sosong-eul junbi jungimnida.)

  They are preparing a lawsuit regarding that issue.

• ~과/와 (gwa/wa): 'With' or 'and'. Used to indicate who is involved in the lawsuit.

  회사는 전 직원과 소송 중이다. (Hoesaneun jeon jigwongwa sosong jungida.)

  The company is in a lawsuit with the former employee.

• ~에 (e): 'In' or 'at'. Can be used to indicate what the lawsuit is about, or if someone is involved in a lawsuit.

  그는 현재 몇 건의 소송에 연루되어 있습니다. (Geuneun hyeonjae myeot geonui sosong-e yeolludoeeo itseumnida.)

  He is currently involved in several lawsuits.

§ Common Phrases and Expressions

Here are some useful phrases that include 소송 (sosong):

• 민사 소송 (minsa sosong): Civil lawsuit

  그것은 단순한 민사 소송이 아니었습니다. (Geugeos-eun dansunhan minsa sosong-i anieotseumnida.)

  It wasn't just a simple civil lawsuit.

• 형사 소송 (hyeongsa sosong): Criminal lawsuit

  변호사가 형사 소송을 담당하고 있습니다. (Byeonhosa-ga hyeongsa sosong-eul tamdanghago itseumnida.)

  The lawyer is handling the criminal lawsuit.

• 소송을 제기하다 (sosong-eul jegihada): To bring/file a lawsuit (more formal).

  정부는 그 회사에 소송을 제기할 예정입니다. (Jeongbu-neun geu hoesa-e sosong-eul jegihal yejeongimnida.)

  The government plans to file a lawsuit against that company.

• 소송에서 이기다/지다 (sosong-eseo igida/jida): To win/lose a lawsuit.

  결국 그들은 소송에서 이겼습니다. (Gyeolguk geudeul-eun sosong-eseo igyeotseumnida.)

  In the end, they won the lawsuit.

§ What is 소송 (sosong)?

The Korean word 소송 (pronounced 'so-song') is a noun that means 'lawsuit' or 'litigation.' It refers to a legal case brought to a court of law. When someone feels their rights have been violated or a contract has been broken, they might file a 소송 to seek justice or compensation.

DEFINITION

Lawsuit, litigation; a case brought to a court of law.

§ Examples of 소송 (sosong) in context

Let's look at some examples to help you understand how to use 소송 in real sentences.

Translation hint: 'The company was sued (had a lawsuit filed against it) for patent infringement of new technology.'

Translation hint: 'He is preparing for a divorce lawsuit.'

Translation hint: 'An environmental group filed a lawsuit against the government.'

§ Where you actually hear this word — work, school, news

You'll frequently encounter 소송 in a few key areas. It's not an everyday word for casual conversation, but it's very common in certain contexts.

• News and Media: This is probably the most common place. Any time there's a legal dispute, you'll hear about a 소송. Think about corporate disputes, celebrity divorces, or public interest cases. News headlines and articles use this word constantly.
• Work (especially business and legal fields): If you work in business, especially in a legal or corporate strategy department, you will definitely come across 소송. Companies are often involved in lawsuits over contracts, patents, or intellectual property.
• Legal Dramas/TV Shows: Just like in English, Korean legal dramas use this term all the time. If you enjoy watching shows about lawyers and courtrooms, you'll hear 소송 frequently.
• Discussions about current events: When people talk about major social issues, consumer rights, or government actions, the word 소송 will often come up, especially if legal action is involved.

Understanding 소송 is important for anyone who wants to follow current events in Korea or understand legal discussions. It's a foundational term in the legal vocabulary.

§ Don't Confuse 소송 (Lawsuit) with 법 (Law) or 재판 (Trial)

Many learners, especially at the A2 level, tend to mix up similar-sounding or related legal terms. While all three words are connected to the legal system, they refer to different concepts. Let's break it down:

DEFINITION

소송 (so-song): This is the legal action itself, the lawsuit you file or are involved in. It's the process of bringing a case to court.

DEFINITION

법 (beop): This simply means 'law' in general. It refers to the rules and regulations that govern a society.

DEFINITION

재판 (jae-pan): This is the trial, the court proceeding where a judge or jury hears evidence and makes a decision. A lawsuit often leads to a trial.

Here's how to use them correctly:

• 소송 (lawsuit):

  그는 회사에 소송을 제기했어요. (He filed a lawsuit against the company.)

• 법 (law):

  모든 시민은 법을 지켜야 합니다. (All citizens must obey the law.)

• 재판 (trial):

  다음 주에 재판이 시작될 예정입니다. (The trial is scheduled to begin next week.)

§ Using the Correct Verb with 소송

When talking about a lawsuit, there are specific verbs that naturally go with 소송. The most common one is '제기하다' (je-gi-ha-da).

DEFINITION

소송을 제기하다 (so-song-eul je-gi-ha-da): To file a lawsuit, to bring a lawsuit.

You might also hear:

• 소송에 휘말리다 (so-song-e hwi-mal-li-da): To get entangled in a lawsuit, to be involved in a lawsuit against your will.

  그는 불필요한 소송에 휘말리고 싶지 않았어요. (He didn't want to get entangled in an unnecessary lawsuit.)

• 소송에서 이기다/지다 (so-song-e-seo i-gi-da/ji-da): To win/lose a lawsuit.

  결국 그들이 소송에서 이겼어요. (They eventually won the lawsuit.)

Avoid using general verbs like '하다' (to do) directly with 소송 in the sense of 'doing a lawsuit.' While '소송하다' exists, '소송을 제기하다' is much more common and natural for 'filing a lawsuit.'

§ Context is Key: Formal vs. Informal Language

While 소송 itself is a formal term, understand that legal discussions often occur in formal settings. However, you might hear people informally talk about 'getting sued' or 'suing someone.' In such informal contexts, while 소송 will still be used, the surrounding sentence structure might be less rigid.

For example, instead of always saying the very formal '저는 소송을 제기했습니다' (I filed a lawsuit), in a slightly less formal but still appropriate context, you might say '소송 걸었어요' (I filed a lawsuit / I sued) which uses '걸다' (to hang/to start) in an idiomatic way for legal actions. However, for A2 learners, sticking with '소송을 제기하다' is a safer and more widely applicable approach.

Remember, while direct translations can be helpful, understanding the nuances and common collocations (words that often go together) is crucial for sounding natural. Practice using 소송 with '제기하다' and pay attention to how it's used in different contexts.