전담하다

The Korean verb 전담하다 (jeondam-hada) is a sophisticated term that translates to 'taking full and exclusive charge' or 'being solely responsible' for a specific task, role, or duty. It is composed of two Hanja (Chinese characters): 專 (전 - jeon), meaning 'solely' or 'exclusively,' and 擔 (담 - dam), meaning 'to carry' or 'to shoulder.' When you use this word, you are emphasizing that the responsibility is not shared; it rests entirely on one person or one specific entity. This is distinct from the more common word '담당하다' (to be in charge of), which can imply being part of a team or handling a routine task. '전담하다' carries a heavier nuance of specialized focus and absolute accountability.

Professional Context

In a corporate environment, this word is used to describe dedicated teams or specialists. For example, a '전담팀' (dedicated team) is a task force created to handle one specific project exclusively.

Beyond the office, you will hear this word in sports, specifically regarding defense. When a player is assigned to 'mark' an opponent exclusively throughout the game, it is called '전담 마크' (exclusive marking). This highlights the 'one-to-one' nature of the word. In domestic life, if one parent stays at home to look after the children while the other works, they might say they '육아를 전담하다' (take full charge of childcare). This implies that the entire burden and joy of that specific role fall upon them. It is a word that suggests expertise, focus, and a lack of distraction from other duties. Using '전담하다' instead of '맡다' (to take on) elevates your speech, making it sound more professional and precise. It signals that you understand the boundary of the responsibility being discussed. Whether it is a lawyer handling a specific case or a chef in charge of only the desserts, '전담하다' defines the perimeter of their professional world. It is also used in governmental contexts, such as a '전담 기구' (specialized agency) that deals only with environmental issues or national security. The word implies a level of trust and authority given to the person or group in charge. If you are '전담'-ing something, you are the final word on that matter. There is no 'passing the buck' because the buck stops entirely with you.

Domestic Use

Used when one family member takes over a specific household chore entirely, like cooking or cleaning.

In summary, '전담하다' is used when the scope of work is clearly defined and assigned to a single entity. It is a B1-level word because while it is common in news and business, it requires an understanding of Hanja-based nuances to use correctly. It conveys a sense of 'specialization' (전문) and 'responsibility' (책임). When you hear this word, imagine a person standing alone with a specific heavy bag—they are the only ones carrying it, and they have been chosen specifically for that task. This word is often paired with nouns like '업무' (business/work), '수사' (investigation), '마크' (marking/defense), and '교육' (education). It is more formal than '도맡다,' which also means to take on everything but has a more colloquial, sometimes slightly burdened feel. '전담하다' is the clinical, professional version of taking it all on.

Using '전담하다' correctly involves understanding its grammatical placement and the types of objects it typically takes. As a transitive verb, it requires an object marked by the particles ~을 or ~를. The object is usually a task, a project, a person (in defensive contexts), or a specific field of work. Because it is a '하다' verb derived from a noun (전담), it follows standard conjugation rules for such verbs.

One of the most common ways to see this word is in the form of a modifying adjective: 전담하는 (who/which is in charge) or as a compound noun 전담 ○○. For example, '전담 의사' (dedicated doctor/personal physician) or '전담 요리사' (private chef). In these cases, the 'exclusive' nature is built into the title itself. If you are a VIP at a department store, you might have a '전담 쇼퍼' (personal shopper) who only looks after your needs during your visit. This usage highlights the 'service' aspect of the word, where one person's professional output is directed entirely toward one client or goal.

Active vs. Passive Nuance

While '전담하다' is active, the passive '전담되다' is rarely used. Instead, we use '전담하게 되다' (to come to be in charge of) to describe a change in status or an assignment from a higher-up.

When constructing sentences, consider the 'scope.' If the scope is too broad, '전담하다' might sound strange. You wouldn't say 'I 전담 life'; you would say 'I 전담 the financial planning for our family.' The specificity is key. In academic writing or news reports, you will often see it used with '부처' (government department) or '기관' (organization). '여성가족부가 이 사업을 전담하기로 했습니다' (The Ministry of Gender Equality and Family has decided to take full charge of this project). Here, it clarifies jurisdictional boundaries, which is a very common use case for the word.

Another interesting usage is in the negative or questioning form. '누가 이 업무를 전담하고 있나요?' (Who is exclusively in charge of this task?). This is a common question in business to find the exact person responsible for a specific outcome. If you are learning Korean for business, mastering '전담하다' will help you navigate corporate hierarchies and understand who does what. It is also useful for expressing your own boundaries: '제가 이 부분은 전담하겠습니다' (I will take full responsibility for this part). This shows initiative and clear leadership. In summary, use it when the responsibility is focused, exclusive, and clearly defined.

You will encounter '전담하다' in several specific spheres of Korean life. The most frequent is the news and media. Whenever the government creates a new task force to deal with a crisis—be it a pandemic, a financial fraud case, or an environmental disaster—the news will report that a specific agency or '전담팀' (dedicated team) has been established to '전담하다' the investigation or the response. This gives the public a sense that the issue is being handled with specialized focus.

Sports Commentary

In soccer or basketball, commentators often say, 'A 선수가 B 선수를 전담 마크하고 있습니다' (Player A is exclusively marking Player B). It implies a shadow-like defense.

In the workplace, you will hear this during onboarding or reorganization. A manager might say, '이 프로젝트는 박 대리가 전담할 거예요' (Assistant Manager Park will be in exclusive charge of this project). This tells other employees not to interfere and establishes Park as the sole point of contact. It is also common in job descriptions. A company might look for a '회계 전담 직원' (an employee in charge of accounting exclusively). This differentiates the role from a general administrative assistant who might do many things. In medical dramas, you might hear about a '전담의' (attending physician or dedicated doctor) who is the only one authorized to treat a high-profile patient.

In daily life, it appears in discussions about household labor. Modern Korean society frequently discusses '독박 육아' (sole childcare - a slangier, more negative term), but in a formal or polite interview, someone might say '아내가 가사를 전담하고 있습니다' (My wife is in exclusive charge of the housework). While the sentiment is the same, '전담하다' sounds respectful and organized. You might also hear it in the context of legal representation. If a celebrity is in trouble, their agency will state that a '전담 법무법인' (dedicated law firm) is handling the case. This signals to the public and the media that there is a single, authoritative source for information and legal action. Essentially, anywhere there is a need for clear division of labor, '전담하다' is the word of choice.

Education

In schools, '교과 전담 교사' refers to a teacher who only teaches one specific subject (like PE or Music) across multiple grades, rather than being a homeroom teacher.

The most frequent mistake learners make with '전담하다' is confusing it with 담당하다 (damdang-hada). While they share the same '담' (responsibility), '담당하다' is much broader. You can '담당' a small part of a project alongside others, but you can only '전담' something if you are the *only* one doing it. For example, if three people are cleaning a house, they each '담당' a room. If one person cleans the whole house alone, they '전담' the cleaning. Using '전담하다' when the work is shared sounds like you are taking too much credit!

Mistake 1: Overuse in Shared Tasks

Incorrect: '우리 팀원 모두가 이 프로젝트를 전담해요.' (Everyone in our team takes exclusive charge of this project - Paradoxical! Use '담당해요' instead).

Another mistake is confusing it with 책임지다 (chaegim-jida). '책임지다' means 'to be responsible for' or 'to take responsibility for' (often when something goes wrong). '전담하다' is more about the *execution* and *role* rather than the moral or legal accountability. If a vase breaks, you '책임지다' the damage. You don't '전담하다' the broken vase. '전담하다' is about the ongoing process of being the sole operator of a task.

Learners also sometimes misuse the particle. Because it's a '하다' verb, they might try to use '에' or '에게' incorrectly. Always use the object particle ~을/를 for the task being handled. Also, avoid using '전담하다' for negative burdens unless you are being formal. If you want to complain about doing all the work, '도맡다' (to take it all on) or '독차지하다' (to hog/monopolize) might fit the emotional tone better. '전담하다' sounds very neutral and professional, so using it while crying about housework might sound a bit like a robot complaining!

Register Confusion

Using '전담하다' in a very casual setting with close friends might sound overly stiff. In casual speech, '내가 다 해' (I do it all) is more natural.

To truly master '전담하다,' you must understand where it sits among its synonyms. The most common alternative is 담당하다 (damdang-hada). As discussed, this is the general term for being in charge. If you are a waiter, you '담당' a section of tables. If you are the only waiter in the whole restaurant, you '전담' the service. '담당하다' is the 'what,' while '전담하다' is the 'how much' (all of it).

전담하다 vs. 담당하다

전담하다: Exclusive, sole charge. (100% responsibility).
담당하다: General charge. (Can be 10% or 100%).

Another close synonym is 도맡다 (domatda). This is a pure Korean (native) word. It means to take on a task entirely by oneself. The difference is largely in register. '전담하다' is formal and Hanja-based, often used in business and news. '도맡다' is more common in daily speech and can sometimes carry a nuance of 'having to do everything' (perhaps with a bit of a sigh). If you say '제가 일을 도맡아 했어요,' it might sound like you worked really hard and did everything. If you say '제가 전담했습니다,' it sounds like a professional assignment.

Then there is 독점하다 (dokjeom-hada), which means 'to monopolize.' While '전담하다' is about responsibility, '독점하다' is about *possession* or *rights*. You '전담' a job, but you '독점' a market or someone's attention. If you '전담' the cooking, you are the only one working. If you '독점' the food, you are the only one eating! Finally, 주관하다 (jugwan-hada) means 'to host' or 'to supervise' an event or process. This is used for big events like weddings or conferences. An agency might '주관' a festival, meaning they are the main organizers, but they might '전담' only the safety management of that festival.

Other Related Terms

맡다: The most basic word for 'to take on/handle.'
분담하다: To divide and share the responsibility (the opposite of 전담하다).