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감봉하다

A2 verb 9 min read

감봉하다

gambonghada

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips 감봉하다 in 30 Seconds

Explanation 감봉하다 in your Level:

In the beginning level (A1), you don't need to use the word '감봉하다' very often. However, it is good to know that it is about money and work. Think of it as 'minus salary.' In Korean, '감' means minus or less, and '봉' is like your monthly pay. You might see this word in a simple story about someone who made a big mistake at their job. Instead of saying '감봉하다,' A1 students usually say '월급이 작아져요' (My salary becomes small) or '돈을 덜 받아요' (I receive less money). If you see '감봉' on a sign or in a textbook, just remember: Job + Mistake = Less Money.

At the A2 level, you are learning more about daily life and work. '감봉하다' is a useful word for describing office situations. It is a verb that means a company takes away some of your salary because you did something wrong. For example, if you are late every day, the boss might say, 'I will reduce your pay.' In Korean, that is '감봉하겠습니다.' You should learn this word alongside other work words like '회사' (company), '월급' (salary), and '실수' (mistake). It is more formal than saying '돈을 깎다,' so using it makes you sound more like a professional adult. You will mostly use it in the past tense '감봉했어요' or the future '감봉할 거예요.'

For B1 learners, '감봉하다' becomes an important part of your professional vocabulary. You should understand that this is a specific type of 'pay cut.' It is a 'disciplinary action' (징계). At this level, you can start to use it in more complex sentences using connectors like '-(으)로 인해' (due to). For example, '그는 지각으로 인해 감봉당했다' (He had his pay cut due to being late). You should also distinguish between '감봉' and '삭감.' '삭감' is for general budget cuts, while '감봉' is specifically for an individual's salary as a penalty. You might hear this in news reports or see it in emails from a Human Resources department.

At the B2 level, you should be comfortable using '감봉하다' in formal discussions about labor rights and corporate policy. You should know that '감봉' is one of several levels of punishment in a Korean workplace, often sitting between a 'warning' (견책) and 'suspension' (정직). You should be able to discuss the legality of '감봉'—for instance, how the Korean Labor Standards Act limits the amount that can be reduced. You will encounter this word in business articles and high-level listening materials like documentaries or office-themed dramas. You should also be able to use the noun form '감봉 처분' (disciplinary pay reduction) correctly in a sentence.

C1 learners should understand the deep cultural and legal implications of '감봉하다.' In Korean society, being '감봉'-ed is not just about the money; it is a significant blow to one's reputation and career trajectory. It often prevents future promotions and can be a precursor to being fired. You should be able to use the word in academic or legal contexts, discussing '부당 감봉' (unfair salary reduction) and the procedures for appealing such a decision. You should also recognize its Hanja components and how they relate to other words like '봉급' (salary), '연봉' (annual salary), and '감소' (decrease). Your usage should be precise, distinguishing it from '공제' (deduction) or '감액' (reduction of amount).

At the C2 level, you have a native-like grasp of '감봉하다.' You can use it with nuanced irony or in complex legal arguments. You understand the historical evolution of the term and how it fits into the broader '징계 제도' (disciplinary system) of the Korean public and private sectors. You can analyze news reports about high-profile '감봉' cases, noting how the word is used to frame the severity of a scandal. You are also aware of similar archaic or highly technical terms that might be used in older legal documents or specific industries. Your ability to use '감봉하다' reflects a complete integration into the professional and legal linguistic landscape of South Korea.

Practice it Examples Notes & Tips

감봉하다 in 30 Seconds

A formal verb meaning to reduce an employee's salary as a disciplinary measure.
Commonly used in Korean corporate culture and labor law contexts.
Usually implies a punishment for a specific mistake or violation of rules.
Distinguished from general budget cuts by its punitive and individual nature.

The Korean verb 감봉하다 (gambong-hada) is a formal and specific term used primarily in professional, legal, and corporate environments. It translates to 'to reduce someone's salary' or 'to cut pay,' but it carries a very specific weight that distinguishes it from general pay cuts. In the South Korean labor context, 감봉 is often a form of disciplinary action taken against an employee who has violated company policy, performed poorly, or engaged in misconduct. It is not merely a budgetary adjustment but a punitive measure. Understanding this word requires looking at its Hanja roots: 감 (減) meaning 'to decrease' or 'to subtract,' and 봉 (俸) meaning 'salary' or 'stipend.' When combined with the active verb 하다, it describes the act of the employer or the institution implementing this reduction.

Professional Context: This word is most frequently encountered in human resources documents, employment contracts, and news reports regarding corporate discipline. It is rarely used in casual conversation unless discussing official work matters.
Legal Nuance: In South Korea, '감봉' is strictly regulated by the Labor Standards Act. An employer cannot simply cut pay arbitrarily; there are limits on how much and for how long a salary can be reduced as a disciplinary measure.

회사는 지각이 잦은 직원에게 1개월간 급여를 감봉하다라고 통보했습니다. (The company notified the employee, who was frequently late, that they would reduce their salary for one month.)

When you hear this word, you should immediately think of a formal reprimand. It is much more serious than a simple 'pay cut' (삭감) which might happen due to a company's financial difficulties. If a company is struggling and everyone takes a 10% cut, the word 삭감하다 is more appropriate. However, if an individual employee is being punished for a specific mistake, 감봉하다 is the precise term used. It is a word that carries a sense of shame or official record-keeping in the Korean work culture, often affecting future promotions and bonuses.

부당한 징계로 인해 월급을 감봉하다는 것은 노동법 위반일 수 있습니다. (Reducing a salary due to unfair discipline can be a violation of labor law.)

In summary, use 감봉하다 when you want to sound professional or when referring to the official act of decreasing pay as a penalty. It is a cornerstone of business Korean vocabulary and is essential for anyone looking to work in a Korean-speaking office environment or understand news related to the economy and labor rights.

Using 감봉하다 correctly involves understanding its grammatical role as an active verb and its passive counterpart, 감봉되다. Since 감봉하다 is the act performed by an authority (like a company or a boss), the subject is usually the entity doing the cutting. If you are the person whose pay is being cut, you would use the passive form or the noun form with '당하다' (to suffer/undergo).

Subject-Object Relationship: Subject (Employer) + Object (Employee/Salary) + 감봉하다. Example: 이사회는 사장의 급여를 감봉하기로 결정했다 (The board of directors decided to reduce the CEO's salary).

징계 위원회는 그의 월급을 3개월 동안 10% 감봉하다라고 결론지었습니다. (The disciplinary committee concluded to reduce his salary by 10% for three months.)

When constructing sentences, it is common to specify the duration and the amount of the reduction. This provides clarity, as 감봉 is rarely a permanent state but rather a temporary punishment. You will often see patterns like '[Amount]를 [Duration] 동안 감봉하다.' For example, '10%를 3개월 동안 감봉하다' (To reduce 10% for three months). It is also important to note that the verb is often transformed into a noun phrase like '감봉 조치' (reduction measure) or '감봉 처분' (reduction disposition) in formal writing.

그는 보안 규정 위반으로 인해 급여를 감봉당하다라는 위기에 처해 있습니다. (He is in a crisis of having his salary reduced due to a security regulation violation.)

In more complex sentences, you might see it paired with reasons using '-(으)로 인해' (due to) or '-기 때문에' (because). For instance, '실적 부진으로 인해 감봉하다' (To reduce salary due to poor performance). This allows the speaker to provide the justification for the action, which is almost always present in professional contexts. Remember that using this word implies a formal hierarchy; a friend would not '감봉하다' another friend's money; it is strictly an organizational action.

Common Verb Endings: 감봉합니다 (Formal Polite), 감봉해요 (Informal Polite), 감봉했다 (Past), 감봉할 것입니다 (Future/Formal).

정부는 공무원들의 성과가 낮을 경우 급여를 감봉하다는 방안을 검토 중입니다. (The government is reviewing a plan to reduce the salaries of civil servants if their performance is low.)

You will encounter 감봉하다 in several specific real-life scenarios in South Korea. The most common place is in the news. Whenever a high-ranking official, a celebrity athlete, or a corporate executive is involved in a scandal but not fired, the news will report on their disciplinary measures. You will hear phrases like '정직 3개월에 감봉 1개월 처분을 내렸다' (They gave a disposition of 3 months suspension and 1 month salary reduction). This is a standard way the public is informed about how an organization is holding its members accountable.

In the Media: News anchors use this term when discussing government austerity measures or corporate crackdowns on corruption. It sounds authoritative and legalistic.
In Office Dramas (K-Dramas): Characters in shows like 'Misaeng' or 'Chief Kim' often face the threat of '감봉'. It serves as a plot device to show the pressure and stakes of the corporate world.

뉴스 데스크: '해당 선수는 음주운전으로 인해 구단으로부터 6개월 감봉하다라는 징계를 받았습니다.' (News Desk: 'The player in question received a disciplinary action from the club to reduce his salary for 6 months due to drunk driving.')

Another place you will find this word is in employment law discussions or labor union meetings. If a company attempts to 감봉하다 without following the proper legal procedures (like getting consent or having a valid reason in the rules of employment), unions will use this word in their protests. It is a key term in the dialogue between labor and management. You might see it on banners or in official statements from labor representatives fighting against '부당 감봉' (unfair salary reduction).

노동조합은 회사가 일방적으로 전 직원의 급여를 감봉하다는 결정에 강력히 반발하고 있습니다. (The labor union is strongly reacting against the company's decision to unilaterally reduce the salaries of all employees.)

Finally, in academic or economic research, 감봉하다 is used to describe trends in compensation. Researchers might study how often companies use salary reductions as a tool for management during economic downturns. In these contexts, the word is used objectively to categorize a specific type of economic behavior within firms. It is a precise, clinical term that avoids the emotional weight of 'taking money away' and focuses on the structural change in compensation.

One of the most frequent mistakes learners make is confusing 감봉하다 with more general words for 'decrease' or 'cut.' While 감소하다 (to decrease) and 삭감하다 (to slash/cut) are related, they cannot always be used interchangeably. 감봉하다 is exclusively for salaries (봉급). You cannot '감봉하다' the price of a product or the number of students in a class. For those, you would use 인하하다 (for prices) or 줄이다 (for general numbers).

Mistake: Using for Prices: Incorrect: 커피 가격을 감봉하다. Correct: 커피 가격을 인하하다. (Reason: '감봉' is only for wages.)
Mistake: Confusing with '삭감': Incorrect: 예산을 감봉하다. Correct: 예산을 삭감하다. (Reason: '감봉' is for people's pay, '삭감' is for budgets.)

잘못된 표현: '회사가 이번 달에 제 월급을 감축하다.' (Wrong: The company 'reduced/downsized' my salary this month.) Correct: '회사가 제 월급을 감봉했다.'

Another common error is the misuse of the active and passive voice. Since 감봉하다 is an action an employer takes, an employee should not say '저는 감봉했어요' unless they are the boss cutting someone else's pay. Instead, the employee should say '저는 감봉당했어요' (I suffered a pay cut) or '제 월급이 감봉되었어요' (My salary was reduced). Confusing these can make it sound like you are the one punishing the company rather than the one being punished.

실수 방지: '감봉'은 징계의 의미가 강하므로, 단순히 경기가 안 좋아서 월급을 줄일 때는 삭감이라는 단어를 쓰는 것이 더 정확합니다.

Finally, learners sometimes forget the formality of the word. While it is technically possible to use it in casual settings, it often sounds overly stiff. If you are talking to a friend about a small deduction in your pay for being late, you might just say '월급 깎였어' (My pay got shaved). Using 감봉하다 in a casual chat with friends about a minor issue might make the situation sound more legally dire than it actually is. Use it when the context is official, serious, or involves corporate disciplinary procedures.

To truly master 감봉하다, you must be able to distinguish it from its synonyms. The most common alternative is 삭감하다 (sakgam-hada). While both involve reducing an amount, 삭감하다 is broader and often used for budgets, costs, or across-the-board pay cuts due to economic reasons. If a company is failing and everyone takes a hit, it is 삭감. If one person is being punished, it is 감봉.

감봉하다 vs. 삭감하다: 감봉하다 is punitive and individual-focused. 삭감하다 is financial and can be applied to budgets or collective groups.
감봉하다 vs. 인하하다: 인하하다 is strictly for prices, interest rates, or tariffs. You '인하' the price of milk, but you '감봉' a worker.

예산 삭감과 직원 감봉은 회사의 비용 절감을 위한 서로 다른 방법입니다. (Budget cuts and employee salary reductions are different ways for a company to save costs.)

Another related word is 공제하다 (gongje-hada), which means 'to deduct.' This is used for taxes, insurance, or specific expenses taken out of a paycheck. For example, '세금을 공제하다' (to deduct taxes). Unlike 감봉하다, 공제하다 is a standard administrative process and does not imply any wrongdoing or punishment. It is a neutral, expected part of receiving a salary.

급여에서 보험료를 공제하다와 징계로 급여를 감봉하다는 법적으로 큰 차이가 있습니다. (Deducting insurance premiums from salary and reducing salary as discipline have large legal differences.)

Finally, consider 감액하다 (gamaek-hada), which simply means 'to reduce an amount of money.' This is a very formal term used in accounting or legal contracts. While 감봉하다 is specific to 'pay' (봉), 감액하다 can apply to any monetary value, such as a fine, a contract price, or a settlement amount. In a professional setting, choosing the most specific word—감봉하다—shows a high level of Korean proficiency and an understanding of corporate culture.

How Formal Is It?

Fun Fact

In ancient times, '봉' (俸) specifically referred to the grain or rice given to government officials as their payment, as money was not always the primary currency.

Pronunciation Guide

UK /ɡam.boŋ.ɦa.da/

US /ɡam.boŋ.hɑ.dɑ/

The primary stress is on the first syllable '감', with secondary stress on '하'.

Rhymes With

남용하다 (namyong-hada) 남봉하다 (nambong-hada) 동참하다 (dongcham-hada) 성공하다 (seonggong-hada) 전공하다 (jeongong-hada) 제공하다 (jegong-hada) 준공하다 (jungong-hada) 항공하다 (hanggong-hada)

Common Errors

Pronouncing 'bong' as 'bang'.
Making the 'h' in 'hada' too silent.
Putting too much emphasis on 'bong' instead of 'gam'.
Pronouncing the 'g' like a hard 'k'.
Shortening the 'o' sound in 'bong' too much.

Difficulty Rating

Reading 3/5

The word itself is simple, but it appears in complex legal and business texts.

Writing 4/5

Requires knowledge of formal verb endings and organizational context.

Speaking 3/5

Pronunciation is straightforward, but usage is limited to formal situations.

Listening 4/5

Often heard in fast-paced news or high-stakes drama dialogue.

What to Learn Next

Prerequisites

월급 (Monthly salary) 회사 (Company) 실수 (Mistake) 돈 (Money) 하다 (To do)

Learn Next

정직 (Suspension) 해고 (Dismissal) 근로기준법 (Labor Standards Act) 인사과 (HR Department) 수당 (Allowance/Bonus)

Advanced

징계권 남용 (Abuse of disciplinary power) 통상임금 (Ordinary wage) 평균임금 (Average wage) 노동위원회 (Labor Relations Commission) 단체협약 (Collective agreement)

Grammar to Know

Passive form with '-당하다'

그는 징계로 감봉당했다. (He suffered a salary reduction through discipline.)

Expressing reasons with '-(으)로 인해'

실적으로 인해 감봉하다. (To reduce salary due to performance results.)

Decisions with '-기로 하다'

회사는 전 직원을 감봉하기로 했다. (The company decided to reduce the salaries of all employees.)

Nominalizing with '-음/기'

감봉함을 통지합니다. (We notify you of the salary reduction.)

Conditionals with '-(으)면'

또 지각하면 감봉할 거예요. (If you are late again, I will cut your pay.)

Examples by Level

회사가 월급을 감봉해요.

The company reduces the salary.

Present tense of 감봉하다.

그는 실수를 해서 감봉당했어요.

He had his pay cut because he made a mistake.

Past tense with the passive '당하다'.

감봉은 나빠요.

Salary reduction is bad.

Noun form used as a subject.

선생님이 학생의 용돈을 감봉해요?

Does the teacher reduce the student's allowance?

Question form (used metaphorically).

우리는 감봉을 원하지 않아요.

We do not want a salary reduction.

사장이 화가 나서 감봉했어요.

The boss was angry and cut the pay.

내 친구는 감봉을 받았어요.

My friend received a pay cut.

열심히 일하면 감봉하지 않아요.

If you work hard, they won't cut your pay.

지각을 많이 하면 회사가 감봉할 수 있어요.

If you are late a lot, the company can reduce your salary.

-(으)ㄹ 수 있다 (can/ability).

규정을 어기면 월급을 감봉합니다.

If you break the rules, we reduce your salary.

Formal polite ending -습니다.

그 직원은 1개월 동안 감봉되었어요.

That employee's salary was reduced for one month.

Passive form 감봉되다.

왜 제 월급을 감봉하셨어요?

Why did you reduce my salary?

Honorific suffix -시- added.

감봉하는 대신 경고를 주세요.

Please give a warning instead of reducing the salary.

-는 대신 (instead of).

회사는 성과가 나쁜 팀을 감봉하기로 했어요.

The company decided to reduce the pay of the team with poor results.

-기로 하다 (to decide to).

감봉당하지 않으려면 조심해야 해요.

You have to be careful if you don't want to get a pay cut.

어제 뉴스에서 사장이 감봉했다는 이야기를 들었어요.

I heard on the news yesterday that the CEO's salary was cut.

징계 위원회는 그에게 3개월 감봉 처분을 내렸다.

The disciplinary committee issued a 3-month salary reduction disposition to him.

Noun + 처분을 내리다 (to issue a disposition).

회사는 경영난을 이유로 전 직원의 급여를 감봉했다.

The company reduced the salaries of all employees citing management difficulties.

-(으)로 이유로 (citing ... as a reason).

부당하게 감봉당한 경우 노동청에 신고할 수 있습니다.

If you have your salary reduced unfairly, you can report it to the labor office.

-ㄴ 경우 (in the case of).

이번 사건으로 인해 그는 감봉과 정직의 위기에 처했다.

Due to this incident, he is at risk of salary reduction and suspension.

위기에 처하다 (to be in a crisis).

회사는 규정에 따라 그의 월급을 10% 감봉하기로 결정했다.

The company decided to reduce his salary by 10% according to the regulations.

에 따라 (according to).

감봉은 단순한 경고보다 훨씬 무거운 징계입니다.

Salary reduction is a much heavier disciplinary action than a simple warning.

그는 자신의 잘못을 인정하고 감봉 처분을 달게 받았다.

He admitted his mistake and accepted the salary reduction disposition willingly.

정부는 고위 공직자들의 급여를 감봉하여 예산을 절약했다.

The government saved the budget by reducing the salaries of high-ranking officials.

근로기준법에 따르면 사용자는 마음대로 근로자의 급여를 감봉할 수 없다.

According to the Labor Standards Act, an employer cannot reduce a worker's salary at will.

사용자 (employer) - formal term.

단체 협약에 명시되지 않은 감봉은 법적 효력이 없습니다.

A salary reduction not specified in the collective agreement has no legal effect.

명시되다 (to be specified).

회사는 징계 절차를 무시하고 일방적으로 감봉을 단행했다.

The company ignored disciplinary procedures and unilaterally implemented a salary reduction.

단행하다 (to carry out/implement).

감봉 조치는 근로자의 생계에 직접적인 타격을 줄 수 있습니다.

Salary reduction measures can deal a direct blow to a worker's livelihood.

타격을 주다 (to deal a blow).

성과급을 지급하지 않는 것과 기본급을 감봉하는 것은 법적으로 다르다.

Not paying a performance bonus and reducing the base salary are legally different.

-는 것 (nominalizing verbs).

그는 뇌물 수수 혐의로 감봉 6개월의 중징계를 받았다.

He received a heavy disciplinary action of a 6-month salary reduction on charges of bribery.

혐의로 (on charges of).

노조는 회사의 감봉안에 반대하며 파업을 예고했다.

The union announced a strike in opposition to the company's salary reduction plan.

회사는 재정 위기를 극복하기 위해 임원진의 급여부터 감봉하기로 했다.

The company decided to start by reducing the salaries of the executive team to overcome the financial crisis.

징계권의 남용으로 간주되는 감봉은 노동위원회를 통해 구제받을 수 있다.

A salary reduction considered an abuse of disciplinary power can be remedied through the Labor Relations Commission.

간주되다 (to be considered).

감봉의 폭이 근로기준법이 정한 범위를 초과할 경우 무효가 된다.

If the extent of the salary reduction exceeds the range set by the Labor Standards Act, it becomes void.

초과하다 (to exceed).

기업은 감봉 처분을 내리기 전에 반드시 소명의 기회를 부여해야 한다.

A corporation must provide an opportunity for explanation before issuing a salary reduction disposition.

소명의 기회 (opportunity for explanation).

감봉은 단순히 금전적 손실을 넘어 인사 고과에 치명적인 오점을 남긴다.

Beyond simple financial loss, a salary reduction leaves a fatal stain on one's personnel evaluation.

-를 넘어 (beyond).

이번 감봉 사태는 노사 간의 신뢰 관계를 심각하게 훼손하는 계기가 되었다.

This salary reduction incident served as an occasion that seriously damaged the trust relationship between labor and management.

훼손하다 (to damage/harm).

공무원 징계령에 따르면 감봉은 보수의 3분의 1을 감하는 것을 원칙으로 한다.

According to the Civil Service Disciplinary Decree, salary reduction in principle means reducing one-third of the compensation.

원칙으로 한다 (to make it a principle).

회사는 감봉을 통해 직원의 기강을 잡으려 했으나 오히려 사기 저하를 초래했다.

The company tried to establish discipline through salary reduction but instead caused a decrease in morale.

해당 판결은 감봉의 정당성을 판단하는 데 있어 중요한 선례가 될 것이다.

This ruling will be an important precedent in determining the legitimacy of salary reductions.

감봉이라는 징계 수단이 현대 기업 지배구조 내에서 실효성을 거두고 있는지 재검토가 필요하다.

It is necessary to re-examine whether the disciplinary tool of salary reduction is achieving effectiveness within modern corporate governance.

실효성을 거두다 (to achieve effectiveness).

징계의 형평성을 고려할 때, 동일한 과실에 대해 특정인에게만 감봉을 적용하는 것은 부당하다.

Considering the fairness of discipline, it is unfair to apply salary reduction only to a specific person for the same fault.

형평성 (equity/fairness).

감봉 처분의 소급 적용 여부를 두고 노사 양측의 팽팽한 법리적 공방이 이어졌다.

A tense legal battle between labor and management continued over whether to apply the salary reduction disposition retroactively.

소급 적용 (retroactive application).

조직 내의 권위주의적 문화가 감봉이라는 징벌적 수단을 남용하게 만드는 근본 원인이다.

The authoritarian culture within the organization is the root cause leading to the abuse of punitive measures like salary reduction.

징벌적 (punitive).

감봉은 일시적인 비용 절감 효과는 있을지언정 장기적으로는 인적 자원의 이탈을 야기한다.

While salary reduction may have a temporary cost-saving effect, in the long run, it causes the departure of human resources.

-ㄹ지언정 (even though/albeit).

피징계자의 경제적 타격을 최소화하기 위해 감봉의 상한선을 법으로 규정한 것은 타당한 조치다.

It is a reasonable measure to prescribe the upper limit of salary reduction by law to minimize the economic blow to the disciplined person.

피징계자 (disciplined person).

감봉 결정의 투명성 결여는 조직 구성원들의 냉소와 불신을 증폭시키는 결과를 낳았다.

The lack of transparency in salary reduction decisions resulted in amplifying the cynicism and distrust of organization members.

사측은 감봉이 불가피한 선택이었음을 역설하며 노조의 양해를 구했다.

The management emphasized that the salary reduction was an inevitable choice and sought the union's understanding.

Common Collocations

급여를 감봉하다

월급을 감봉하다

징계로 감봉하다

일방적으로 감봉하다

3개월간 감봉하다

10% 감봉하다

부당하게 감봉하다

감봉 조치를 취하다

감봉을 결정하다

감봉을 통보하다

Common Phrases

감봉 처분

— A disciplinary salary reduction disposition. It refers to the official decision to cut pay.

그는 이번 사건으로 감봉 처분을 받았다.

감봉 3개월

— A salary reduction lasting for three months. A common unit of punishment.

징계 수위는 감봉 3개월로 결정되었습니다.

부당 감봉

— Unfair or illegal salary reduction. Used when labor laws are violated.

부당 감봉에 맞서 싸우고 있습니다.

감봉 조치

— A salary reduction measure. Refers to the implementation of the cut.

회사는 강력한 감봉 조치를 예고했다.

감봉 대상

— A person subject to salary reduction. Used to identify who is being punished.

그는 이번 감봉 대상에 포함되었다.

감봉 통지서

— A salary reduction notice. The formal document informing the employee.

그는 오늘 아침 감봉 통지서를 받았다.

감봉 사유

— The reason for salary reduction. The justification for the punishment.

감봉 사유를 명확히 밝혀야 합니다.

감봉액

— The amount of salary reduced. The specific sum taken away.

감봉액이 생각보다 컸습니다.

감봉 기간

— The duration of salary reduction. How long the pay cut lasts.

감봉 기간이 끝나면 원래 월급을 받습니다.

감봉을 면하다

— To avoid salary reduction. Used when someone escapes punishment.

그는 다행히 이번에는 감봉을 면했다.

Often Confused With

감봉하다 vs 삭감하다

삭감 is for general budget cuts or across-the-board reductions; 감봉 is punitive for individuals.

감봉하다 vs 인하하다

인하 is only for prices or interest rates, never for individual disciplinary pay cuts.

감봉하다 vs 공제하다

공제 is a standard administrative deduction (like taxes), not a punishment.

Idioms & Expressions

"월급이 깎이다"

— To have one's salary shaved or cut. A casual way to say one was '감봉'ed.

실수 한 번에 월급이 깎였다.

Informal

"밥줄이 끊기다"

— To have one's lifeline (source of income) cut off. Usually refers to being fired, but sometimes used for severe pay cuts.

감봉까지 당하니 정말 밥줄이 끊기는 기분이다.

Casual

"허리띠를 졸라매다"

— To tighten one's belt. Used after a salary reduction to mean living frugally.

감봉 때문에 이제 허리띠를 졸라매야 해.

Neutral

"피 같은 돈을 뺏기다"

— To have money like one's own blood taken away. Expresses the pain of losing hard-earned money.

감봉으로 피 같은 돈을 뺏긴 기분이다.

Emotional/Casual

"눈앞이 캄캄하다"

— To have one's vision go dark. Used when receiving news of a major salary reduction.

감봉 통보를 받으니 눈앞이 캄캄했다.

Neutral

"마른하늘에 날벼락"

— A bolt from the blue (lightning from a clear sky). Used for an unexpected and shocking salary reduction.

갑작스러운 감봉 소식은 마른하늘에 날벼락이었다.

Neutral

"가슴이 철렁하다"

— One's heart sinks. The feeling of surprise or fear upon hearing about a pay cut.

감봉 대상이라는 말에 가슴이 철렁했다.

Neutral

"찬물을 끼얹다"

— To throw cold water on something. Used if a salary reduction ruins the mood of an office.

감봉 결정이 사무실 분위기에 찬물을 끼얹었다.

Neutral

"뼈아픈 실책"

— A bone-aching (painful) mistake. A mistake that leads to a salary reduction.

그의 뼈아픈 실책이 결국 감봉으로 이어졌다.

Formal

"울며 겨자 먹기"

— Eating mustard while crying. Accepting a salary reduction because there is no other choice.

그는 울며 겨자 먹기로 감봉안에 서명했다.

Neutral

Easily Confused

감봉하다 vs 감축하다

Both start with '감' (reduction).

감축 refers to downsizing or reducing the size/number of something (like staff or production), while 감봉 is specifically about individual salary.

회사는 인원을 감축했다 (The company downsized personnel).

감봉하다 vs 감면하다

Both involve money and '감'.

감면 means to reduce or exempt someone from a duty, tax, or penalty (a positive action), whereas 감봉 is a negative punishment.

세금을 감면해 주었다 (They reduced/exempted the taxes).

감봉하다 vs 감액하다

Both mean reducing an amount of money.

감액 is a general accounting term for any amount. 감봉 is specifically for salary (봉).

계약금을 감액했다 (The down payment was reduced).

감봉하다 vs 삭감하다

Often translated as 'cut' in English.

삭감 is used for budgets or collective pay cuts. 감봉 is a disciplinary 'penalty' cut for one person.

국방 예산을 삭감했다 (The defense budget was cut).

감봉하다 vs 공제하다

Both result in a smaller paycheck.

공제 is a neutral, legal deduction for taxes/insurance. 감봉 is a punishment for a mistake.

보험료를 공제했다 (Insurance was deducted).

Sentence Patterns

회사가 [Person]을/를 감봉해요.

회사가 김 씨를 감봉해요.

[Reason] 때문에 감봉당했어요.

지각 때문에 감봉당했어요.

[Duration] 동안 감봉 처분을 받다.

6개월 동안 감봉 처분을 받다.

[Reason]-(으)로 인해 감봉하다.

실수 실적으로 인해 감봉하다.

[Entity]은/는 [Target]의 급여를 [Amount] 감봉하기로 결정했다.

이사회는 임원진의 급여를 20% 감봉하기로 결정했다.

[Law/Rule]에 따라 감봉하다.

사규에 따라 감봉하다.

감봉은 [Negative Result]을/를 초래할 수 있다.

감봉은 직원들의 사기 저하를 초래할 수 있다.

[Concept]의 실효성을 두고 감봉 조치를 재검토하다.

징계 제도의 실효성을 두고 감봉 조치를 재검토하다.

Word Family

Nouns

감봉 (Salary reduction/Pay cut)

봉급 (Salary/Pay)

연봉 (Annual salary)

월급 (Monthly salary)

징계 (Discipline)

Verbs

감봉당하다 (To suffer a pay cut)

감봉되다 (To be pay-cut/passive)

삭감하다 (To slash/cut)

인하하다 (To lower price/rate)

견책 (Reprimand)

정직 (Suspension)

강등 (Demotion)

해고 (Dismissal)

급여 (Compensation)

How to Use It

frequency

Common in professional and legal contexts, rare in personal daily life.

Common Mistakes

Using '감봉하다' for a price discount. → 가격을 인하하다.
‘감봉’ is strictly for salaries. You cannot use it for products or services.
Saying '저는 감봉했어요' when your pay was cut. → 저는 감봉당했어요.
‘감봉하다’ is active (to cut). Use the passive ‘당하다’ or ‘되다’ if you are the recipient of the cut.
Using '감봉' for a general economic pay cut. → 급여 삭감.
‘감봉’ implies you did something wrong. If the whole company takes a cut due to bad business, use ‘삭감’.
Saying '돈을 감봉하다'. → 급여를 감봉하다 / 월급을 감봉하다.
‘감봉’ already contains the meaning of salary (봉). While ‘월급을 감봉하다’ is okay, ‘돈을 감봉하다’ sounds awkward.
Confusing '감봉' with '감면'. → 감봉 (Punishment) / 감면 (Exemption/Reduction of duty).
They sound similar, but ‘감면’ is usually a good thing (like a tax break), while ‘감봉’ is always bad.

Tips

Learn the Root

Associate '감' with '감소' (decrease) and '봉' with '봉급' (salary). This helps you remember the meaning instantly without translation.

Active vs. Passive

Remember that '감봉하다' is something the boss does. If it happens to you, use '감봉당하다' or '감봉되다'. Using the wrong one changes the meaning of who is in power.

Social Weight

Understand that '감봉' is a serious stain on a Korean resume. It’s not just about the money; it’s about the loss of face within the company.

Know the Law

If you work in Korea, know that '감봉' cannot exceed 10% of your total monthly pay. If an employer cuts more, it is legally actionable.

Formal Situations

Use '감봉' in reports, emails, or formal discussions. In a coffee shop with friends, '월급 깎이다' is much more natural.

Pair with Reasons

In professional writing, always pair '감봉하다' with a reason using '-(으)로 인해' to justify the action.

News Keywords

When you hear '징계' (discipline) on the news, listen for '감봉' right after it. They are almost always mentioned together.

Pronunciation Tip

Don't rush the 'bong' sound. A clear 'o' sound (like in 'go') makes it sound more professional than a lazy 'u' sound.

Contextual Clues

If you see the word in a contract, look for the '기간' (period) nearby. '감봉' is almost never permanent.

Don't over-use '삭감'

Many learners use '삭감하다' for everything. Remember: Individual punishment = 감봉. General budget cut = 삭감.

Memorize It

Mnemonic

Think of 'GAM' as 'Subtract' (like in 'gam-so' decrease) and 'BONG' as 'Bonus/Pay'. GAM-BONG means Subtracting your Pay.

Visual Association

Imagine a pair of scissors cutting a 'BONG' (envelope of money) in half.

Word Web

월급 (Monthly Pay) 징계 (Punishment) 회사 (Company) 실수 (Mistake) 감소 (Decrease) 봉급 (Salary) 인사 (HR) 법 (Law)

Challenge

Try to write a sentence using '감봉하다' and '지각' (tardiness) together to describe a common workplace scenario.

Word Origin

Derived from the Hanja (Chinese characters) roots 減 (감) and 俸 (봉).

Original meaning: 減 means to decrease, diminish, or subtract. 俸 refers to the salary or stipend given to an official or worker.

Sino-Korean (Hanja-based vocabulary).

Cultural Context

Be careful when using this word around Korean colleagues; it is a sensitive topic associated with shame and legal trouble.

In English-speaking countries, 'pay cut' is often used for both disciplinary and economic reasons. In Korean, '감봉' is specifically for discipline, making it more socially stigmatized.

Office dramas like 'Misaeng' (Incomplete Life) often feature '감봉' as a threat to the protagonists. News reports on the 'Hanjin Shipping' crisis often mentioned '감봉' for executives. The webtoon 'Awl' (송곳) deals with labor rights and the illegality of some '감봉' practices.

Practice in Real Life

Real-World Contexts

Human Resources Disciplinary Meeting

감봉 처분을 결정했습니다.
감봉 사유를 설명해 주세요.
감봉 기간은 언제까지입니까?
감봉 통지서를 확인했습니다.

Labor Union Protest

부당 감봉을 철회하라!
일방적인 감봉은 불법이다.
생계 위협하는 감봉 반대한다.
감봉 조치에 대해 소송하겠다.

Business News Report

임원진의 급여를 감봉하기로...
실적 부진에 따른 감봉 조치...
공무원 징계 수위가 감봉으로...
감봉을 통해 비용을 절감...

Legal Advice / Consulting

감봉의 한도가 정해져 있습니다.
법적 절차 없는 감봉은 무효입니다.
감봉당했을 때 대처 방법은?
근로기준법상 감봉 규정입니다.

Casual Office Gossip

김 대리님 감봉당했대요.
설마 우리도 감봉되는 거 아니야?
실수 한 번에 감봉이라니 너무하다.
감봉되면 생활비가 부족할 텐데.

Conversation Starters

"회사가 직원들을 감봉한다는 소식 들었어요?"

"부당하게 감봉당하면 어떻게 해야 할까요?"

"한국에서는 감봉이 아주 큰 징계인가요?"

"실수로 인해 감봉된 적이 있나요?"

"경영난으로 인해 감봉하는 것에 대해 어떻게 생각하세요?"

Journal Prompts

오늘 뉴스에서 본 감봉 사례에 대해 자신의 생각을 적어보세요.

만약 내가 사장이라면, 어떤 경우에 직원을 감봉할 것인지 기준을 세워보세요.

감봉이라는 징계가 직원의 업무 태도 개선에 도움이 될지 토론하는 글을 써보세요.

내가 부당하게 감봉을 당했다면, 누구에게 도움을 요청할 것인지 계획을 세워보세요.

직장 생활에서 감봉을 피하기 위해 가장 중요한 습관은 무엇인지 적어보세요.

Frequently Asked Questions

10 questions

Yes, in 99% of cases, '감봉하다' implies a disciplinary measure (징계). If a company reduces everyone's pay because they are losing money, they usually use the word '삭감하다' (to slash/cut) instead. Using '감봉' suggests the employee did something wrong.

Under the Labor Standards Act, a single reduction cannot exceed 50% of one day's average wage, and the total reduction in a month cannot exceed 10% of the total monthly salary. This prevents employers from leaving workers with no income.

You can use it metaphorically or jokingly to sound very strict and formal, like '용돈을 감봉하겠다!' However, '용돈을 깎다' is the natural, everyday expression for reducing an allowance.

'감봉' is a salary reduction while you continue to work. '정직' is a suspension where you are forbidden from coming to work for a period, usually without pay. '정직' is considered a much heavier punishment than '감봉'.

In a casual setting, say '월급 깎였어' (My salary got shaved). In a formal setting, say '감봉 처분을 받았습니다' (I received a salary reduction disposition).

No, '감봉' is almost always for a specified period, such as '감봉 3개월' (3 months of reduction). After the period ends, the salary returns to its original level, though the record of the discipline remains.

No, in South Korea, an employer must have a 'justifiable reason' (정당한 이유) and follow the procedures outlined in the company's employment rules. Unjustified '감봉' is illegal.

There isn't a specific single word like 'pay-cuttee,' but you can use '피징계자' (person being disciplined) or '감봉 대상자' (person subject to salary reduction).

Yes, since your pension contributions are often based on your monthly salary, a reduction in pay (감봉) can slightly decrease the amount contributed to your national pension for that period.

It is a standard part of the disciplinary system in medium to large companies and the public sector. While not 'common' in the sense that everyone experiences it, it is a well-known and feared administrative tool.