성장동력 (Seong-jang-dong-ryeok) is a difficult word for beginners. It means 'something that makes growth happen.' Think of it like a 'big engine' for a country or a company. '성장' means growing up or getting bigger, like a child growing tall. '동력' means the power that makes a car move. So, it is the 'power to grow.' You might hear it on the news when people talk about new technology like robots or electric cars. These things are the 'engines' that make the economy bigger. At this level, just remember that it is a very important word for 'growth power.'
At the A2 level, you can start to understand that '성장동력' is a compound word. '성장' (growth) is a word you see often, and '동력' (motive power) is used in science. Together, they mean the 'driving force of growth.' Koreans use this word to talk about what will make their country rich in the future. For example, 'K-pop is a growth engine for Korea.' It is a formal word, so you will see it in newspapers or hear it in speeches. You can use it when you want to talk about something very important that helps a business or a country succeed and get bigger.
성장동력 is a B1-level word because it is abstract and used in professional settings. It refers to a core factor or industry that drives and sustains growth. It is not just about growing once, but about having the 'power' (동력) to keep growing. In Korea, people are always looking for 'new growth engines' (새로운 성장동력) because they want the economy to stay strong. You will often see it used with verbs like '발굴하다' (to find/discover) or '확보하다' (to secure). For example, a company might say, 'We are looking for a new growth engine in the green energy market.' It is a key word for understanding Korean business culture.
At the B2 level, you should be able to use '성장동력' in complex sentences and understand its nuances. It is a metaphorical 'engine' that powers structural development. It is distinct from '원동력' (driving force), which is more general. '성장동력' is specifically used for economic, industrial, or organizational expansion. You should recognize common collocations like '성장동력을 확충하다' (to expand growth engines) or '성장동력이 약화되다' (growth engines are weakening). This word is essential for discussing social issues, such as how a shrinking population might cause a country to lose its '성장동력.' It appears frequently in TOPIK II reading and listening materials.
For C1 learners, '성장동력' is a tool for sophisticated analysis. It represents the strategic pillars of an entity's future. You should be able to discuss the 'Next-Generation Growth Engines' (차세대 성장동력) policy of the Korean government and how it relates to global trends like the 4th Industrial Revolution. The word implies a systematic and sustainable force. In a C1 context, you might analyze how 'creative economy' or 'digital transformation' acts as a '성장동력' to overcome economic stagnation. You should also be aware of the phonetic changes (nasalization) and be able to use the word naturally in formal debates or academic essays.
At the C2 level, '성장동력' is part of your professional lexicon. You understand its historical context in Korea's development and its role in modern policy-making. You can use it to critique economic structures, perhaps arguing that a certain industry is no longer a viable '성장동력' due to global competition. You are comfortable using it alongside other high-level terms like '혁신 역량' (innovation capability) or '지속 가능한 발전' (sustainable development). You can also use it metaphorically in literature or philosophy to describe the internal forces that drive human progress or societal change, demonstrating a complete mastery of its semantic range and cultural weight.

성장동력 30秒了解

  • 성장동력 means 'growth engine' or 'driving force of growth.'
  • It is a formal word used in business, economics, and politics.
  • It describes the core factor that ensures future success and expansion.
  • Commonly paired with verbs like 'secure' (확보하다) and 'discover' (발굴하다).

The term 성장동력 (Seong-jang-dong-ryeok) is a cornerstone of Korean economic and strategic discourse. At its heart, it is a metaphorical expression that combines '성장' (growth) and '동력' (motive power or driving force). Imagine a massive ship or a high-speed train; without a powerful engine, it remains stationary regardless of how well-designed its hull or tracks are. In the context of a nation, a corporation, or even a personal career, 성장동력 refers to that 'engine'—the specific industry, technology, or core competency that provides the necessary energy to propel development forward and sustain it over the long term.

Literal Breakdown
성장 (成長): Growth, expansion, or maturation. Often used in economic contexts (GDP growth) or biological contexts.
동력 (動力): Power, motive force, or the energy that drives a machine. In physics, it refers to dynamic force.
Strategic Context
In South Korea, this word is famously associated with the government's 'Next-Generation Growth Engines' (차세대 성장동력) initiatives. Since the country lacks natural resources, it must constantly identify and 'excavate' (발굴) new technologies like semiconductors, secondary batteries, or AI to ensure future survival. It is a word born out of a sense of urgency and the need for constant evolution.

대한민국은 반도체 이후의 새로운 성장동력을 찾아야 합니다.

— "South Korea must find a new growth engine after semiconductors."

You will encounter this word most frequently in news headlines, business reports, and political speeches. It carries a weight of authority and professional foresight. When a CEO speaks to shareholders, they don't just talk about 'making money'; they talk about 'securing growth engines.' This implies a structural shift or a long-term investment rather than a one-time profit. It is also used in social contexts to describe the demographic factors that drive a country, such as a young and educated workforce being the 성장동력 of a developing nation.

콘텐츠 산업은 한류의 핵심적인 성장동력으로 자리 잡았습니다.

— "The content industry has established itself as a core growth engine of the Korean Wave."

Ultimately, 성장동력 is about sustainability. It answers the question: "What will keep us moving forward tomorrow?" It is about identifying the 'future food' (미래 먹거리) of an organization. If a company's current products are selling well but they have no research and development for new products, a Korean analyst would say the company has 'lost its growth engine' (성장동력을 잃었다). This is a dire warning in a competitive market.

Using 성장동력 correctly requires understanding its common verbal pairings (collocations). Because it is a noun representing a 'force' or an 'engine,' it is typically treated as something that is found, built, or maintained. It is rarely used in casual slang; instead, it populates the realms of 'Hanja-eo' (Sino-Korean) vocabulary, giving it a formal and sophisticated tone.

Common Verb Pairings
확보하다 (To secure): Often used when a company acquires a new technology or market share. "신기술을 통해 미래 성장동력을 확보했다."
발굴하다 (To discover/excavate): Used when looking for new opportunities. "정부는 유망 스타트업을 새로운 성장동력으로 발굴하고 있다."
상실하다 (To lose): Used when an industry becomes obsolete. "전통 제조업이 경쟁력을 잃으며 성장동력을 상실할 위기에 처했다."

인공지능 기술은 4차 산업혁명의 가장 강력한 성장동력입니다.

— "AI technology is the most powerful growth engine of the 4th Industrial Revolution."

The word can also be applied to personal growth, though it sounds quite formal. If you are explaining your motivation in a job interview, saying "배움에 대한 열정이 저의 성장동력입니다" (My passion for learning is my growth engine) would impress an interviewer with your professional vocabulary. It suggests that your motivation is internal and powerful enough to drive your career forward.

우리 회사는 해외 시장 진출을 새로운 성장동력으로 삼고 있습니다.

— "Our company is taking overseas market expansion as its new growth engine."

In grammatical structures, 성장동력 often appears in complex sentences involving causation. For example, "규제 완화가 기업들의 성장동력을 되살리는 계기가 되었다" (Deregulation became the catalyst for reviving companies' growth engines). Here, the word is the recipient of the action '되살리다' (revive), showing its role as a vital but potentially fragile force that needs maintenance and the right environment to function.

If you turn on the Korean news (like KBS, MBC, or SBS) or read economic newspapers like 'Maeil Business Newspaper' (매일경제), you will hear 성장동력 almost daily. It is the 'bread and butter' of economic reporting. Journalists use it to summarize complex economic shifts into a single, powerful concept. When the Bank of Korea discusses interest rates or when the Ministry of Economy and Finance announces the yearly budget, the phrase '성장동력 확충' (expanding growth engines) is inevitably included in their press releases.

Common Contexts
Corporate Vision Announcements: During New Year's addresses, CEOs use this word to inspire employees. "올해 우리는 바이오 산업에서 새로운 성장동력을 찾아야 합니다."
Political Debates: Politicians argue over which policies will provide the best 'growth engines' for the nation, often debating between welfare-led growth and investment-led growth.
Academic Lectures: In economics or business administration classes, professors discuss the 'source of growth' using this term.

저출산 문제는 국가의 성장동력을 약화시키는 심각한 요인입니다.

— "The low birth rate is a serious factor weakening the national growth engine."

Beyond the news, you might hear this word in documentaries about South Korea's history or future. Documentaries often highlight how 'education' was the primary 성장동력 that transformed the country from a war-torn nation into a global economic power. In this sense, the word carries a historical weight, connecting the past efforts of the people to the future potential of the country.

창의적인 인재야말로 기업의 지속 가능한 성장동력입니다.

— "Creative talent is indeed the sustainable growth engine of a company."

In a more modern setting, tech YouTubers or financial influencers often use this word when analyzing stocks. They might say, "이 주식은 현재 성장동력이 충분합니다" (This stock currently has sufficient growth engines/momentum). This usage bridges the gap between high-level macroeconomics and individual investment strategies, making the word relevant to anyone interested in the Korean economy.

While 성장동력 is a powerful word, it is easy to misuse if you don't understand its specific scope. The most common mistake is using it for small, personal, or static situations where 'growth' (성장) isn't the primary focus. Because the word is so formal, using it in a casual setting can make you sound like you're giving a press conference instead of talking to a friend.

Mistake 1: Confusing with '원동력' (Won-dong-ryeok)
Learners often use '성장동력' when they should use '원동력'. While '원동력' means 'driving force' in a general sense (e.g., "My family is the driving force of my life"), '성장동력' specifically implies future-oriented structural growth. You wouldn't say your family is your 'growth engine' unless you mean they are literally making your economic value grow.
Mistake 2: Overly Casual Usage
Avoid saying "오늘 커피가 제 공부의 성장동력이에요" (Today's coffee is the growth engine of my studies). This sounds humorous because the word is too 'big' for a cup of coffee. Instead, use '힘' (strength) or '에너지' (energy).

❌ 이 비타민은 제 건강의 성장동력입니다.
✅ 이 비타민은 제 건강의 원동력입니다.

— "Vitamins are the driving force (원동력) of my health, not a 'growth engine' in the economic sense."

Another mistake involves the verb '만들다' (to make). While grammatically correct, native speakers prefer '확보하다' (secure) or '삼다' (make/adopt as). Saying "성장동력을 만드세요" sounds a bit simple. Using "성장동력을 확보하십시오" sounds more professional and natural in the contexts where this word usually appears.

Finally, don't use 성장동력 to describe something that has already finished growing. The word is forward-looking. If a project is over, you wouldn't call it a growth engine; you would call it a '성공 요인' (success factor). A growth engine is what you use to reach the next level, not what got you to the current one.

Depending on the level of formality and the specific nuance you want to convey, there are several alternatives to 성장동력. Understanding these will help you choose the right word for the right situation and avoid repetitive language in your writing.

Direct Comparisons
원동력 (Motive Force): The most common synonym. It is broader and can be used for emotions, people, and abstract concepts. If 성장동력 is the engine of a specific car, 원동력 is the concept of power itself.
기반 (Foundation): This refers to the 'base' rather than the 'engine.' While a growth engine moves you forward, a foundation keeps you stable. You need a solid 기반 before you can find a 성장동력.
미래 먹거리 (Future Food): A very common idiomatic expression in Korean business. It literally means 'food for the future,' referring to the industries that will feed the nation or company in the years to come. It is slightly less formal than 성장동력 but used in similar contexts.

정부는 미래 먹거리 산업을 육성하기 위해 투자하고 있습니다.

— "The government is investing to foster future 'food' (growth) industries."

In academic writing, you might use 성장 요인 (growth factor) or 발전의 토대 (foundation of development). These are more descriptive and less metaphorical. If you are talking specifically about the 'core' of a business, 핵심 역량 (core competency) is a great alternative that focuses on the internal skills of the organization rather than the external market force.

Finally, the English loanword 엔진 (Engine) is sometimes used directly, as in '성장 엔진'. This is quite common in modern marketing and startup culture. However, 성장동력 remains the standard and most respected term in formal Korean society. Knowing when to switch between these words shows a high level of linguistic mastery.

按水平分级的例句

1

이것은 새로운 성장동력입니다.

This is a new growth engine.

이것 (This) + 은 (topic particle) + 새로운 (new) + 성장동력 (growth engine) + 입니다 (is).

2

성장이 필요합니다.

Growth is needed.

성장 (growth) + 이 (subject particle) + 필요합니다 (is needed).

3

동력은 힘입니다.

Motive power is strength.

동력 (motive power) + 은 (topic particle) + 힘 (strength/power) + 입니다 (is).

4

한국의 성장동력은 무엇입니까?

What is Korea's growth engine?

한국의 (Korea's) + 성장동력 + 은 + 무엇 (what) + 입니까 (is it?).

5

우리는 성장하고 싶습니다.

We want to grow.

우리는 (We) + 성장하고 (growing) + 싶습니다 (want to).

6

새로운 힘을 찾아요.

Find new power.

새로운 (new) + 힘 (power) + 을 (object particle) + 찾아요 (find/look for).

7

이 회사는 커요.

This company is big.

이 (This) + 회사 (company) + 는 + 커요 (is big).

8

미래를 생각해요.

Think about the future.

미래 (future) + 를 + 생각해요 (think).

1

관광 산업은 이 도시의 성장동력입니다.

The tourism industry is the growth engine of this city.

관광 산업 (tourism industry) + 은 + 이 도시의 (this city's) + 성장동력 + 입니다.

2

우리는 새로운 성장동력을 찾아야 해요.

We must find a new growth engine.

찾아야 해요 (must find) uses the -아/어야 하다 (must/have to) grammar.

3

수출은 한국의 중요한 성장동력이었어요.

Exports were an important growth engine for Korea.

수출 (export) + 은 + 중요한 (important) + 성장동력이었어요 (was a growth engine).

4

교육이 우리의 성장동력이라고 생각해요.

I think education is our growth engine.

-라고 생각해요 (I think that...) is used for opinions.

5

이 기술은 회사의 성장동력이 될 거예요.

This technology will become the company's growth engine.

-이/가 될 거예요 (will become) is the future tense of 되다.

6

성장동력을 잃으면 안 돼요.

We must not lose our growth engine.

-면 안 돼요 (must not/should not) is used for prohibition.

7

많은 사람들이 성장동력에 대해 말해요.

Many people talk about growth engines.

-에 대해 (about) is used to indicate the topic.

8

성장동력을 만드는 것은 어려워요.

Making a growth engine is difficult.

-는 것 (the act of doing) turns a verb into a noun.

1

정부는 인공지능을 국가의 새로운 성장동력으로 육성하고 있습니다.

The government is fostering AI as the nation's new growth engine.

육성하고 있다 (is fostering) shows a continuous action.

2

기업들은 미래 성장동력을 확보하기 위해 R&D 투자를 늘리고 있습니다.

Companies are increasing R&D investment to secure future growth engines.

-하기 위해 (in order to) expresses purpose.

3

이 산업은 과거에 우리 경제의 핵심 성장동력이었습니다.

This industry was the core growth engine of our economy in the past.

핵심 (core) acts as a prefix to emphasize importance.

4

지속 가능한 성장동력을 발굴하는 것이 경영진의 목표입니다.

Discovering sustainable growth engines is the management's goal.

지속 가능한 (sustainable) describes long-term viability.

5

신재생 에너지는 환경 보호와 성장동력 확보를 동시에 가능하게 합니다.

Renewable energy makes environmental protection and securing growth engines possible at the same time.

동시에 (at the same time) connects two goals.

6

기술 혁신 없이는 새로운 성장동력을 찾기 어렵습니다.

Without technological innovation, it is hard to find new growth engines.

-없이는 (without) creates a conditional negative.

7

스타트업의 창의성이 경제의 새로운 성장동력이 될 수 있습니다.

The creativity of startups can become a new growth engine for the economy.

-ㄹ 수 있습니다 (can) expresses possibility.

8

회사는 수익성이 낮은 사업 대신 새로운 성장동력에 집중하기로 했습니다.

The company decided to focus on new growth engines instead of low-profit businesses.

-기로 했습니다 (decided to) shows a firm decision.

1

고령화 사회로의 진입은 국가 성장동력을 약화시키는 주요 원인 중 하나입니다.

Entering an aging society is one of the main causes of weakening national growth engines.

-로의 진입 (entry into) describes a societal shift.

2

규제 개혁을 통해 기업의 성장동력을 되살려야 한다는 목소리가 높습니다.

There are strong voices saying that companies' growth engines must be revived through regulatory reform.

-해야 한다는 목소리가 높다 is a common idiom for 'there is a strong demand for...'

3

문화 콘텐츠는 단순한 오락을 넘어 국가의 전략적 성장동력으로 평가받고 있습니다.

Cultural content is being evaluated as a strategic growth engine for the nation, beyond simple entertainment.

-를 넘어 (beyond) indicates a transition in perception.

4

글로벌 시장에서의 경쟁력을 유지하려면 끊임없이 성장동력을 보완해야 합니다.

To maintain competitiveness in the global market, growth engines must be constantly supplemented.

끊임없이 (constantly) emphasizes the need for continuous effort.

5

디지털 전환은 모든 산업 분야에서 새로운 성장동력을 창출하고 있습니다.

Digital transformation is creating new growth engines in all industrial sectors.

창출하다 (to create/generate) is a formal word used for value or engines.

6

과거의 성공 방식에 안주하면 새로운 성장동력을 찾을 기회를 놓칠 수 있습니다.

If you settle for past success methods, you may miss the opportunity to find new growth engines.

안주하다 (to settle/be complacent) warns against stagnation.

7

정부는 지역 경제의 성장동력을 확보하기 위해 특구 지정을 추진하고 있습니다.

The government is pushing for special zone designations to secure growth engines for the local economy.

추진하고 있다 (is pushing forward/promoting) is used for policies.

8

성장동력이 고갈된 기업은 시장에서 도태될 위험이 큽니다.

Companies whose growth engines are depleted are at high risk of being weeded out of the market.

고갈되다 (to be depleted) and 도태되다 (to be weeded out) are high-level verbs.

1

4차 산업혁명의 파고 속에서 데이터는 '21세기의 원유'이자 핵심 성장동력으로 부상했습니다.

Amid the waves of the 4th Industrial Revolution, data has emerged as the 'crude oil of the 21st century' and a core growth engine.

-이자 (and also) connects two noun roles for a single subject.

2

성장동력의 다변화는 대외 의존도가 높은 한국 경제의 필수적인 과제입니다.

Diversification of growth engines is an essential task for the Korean economy, which has high external dependence.

다변화 (diversification) and 대외 의존도 (external dependence) are academic terms.

3

기초 과학에 대한 투자는 당장의 이익보다는 장기적인 성장동력을 마련하는 과정입니다.

Investment in basic science is a process of preparing long-term growth engines rather than immediate profit.

-보다는 (rather than) compares immediate vs. long-term goals.

4

탄소 중립 달성을 위한 녹색 기술이 미래 경제의 주도적인 성장동력이 될 전망입니다.

Green technology for achieving carbon neutrality is expected to become the leading growth engine of the future economy.

-될 전망입니다 (is projected/expected to be) is a formal forecast phrase.

5

혁신적인 생태계 조성이야말로 새로운 성장동력이 자생적으로 생겨날 수 있는 토양입니다.

Creating an innovative ecosystem is the very soil where new growth engines can emerge spontaneously.

-이야말로 (indeed/the very) emphasizes the subject.

6

기존 산업의 고도화와 신산업 발굴 사이의 균형이 성장동력 유지의 관건입니다.

The balance between advancing existing industries and discovering new ones is the key to maintaining growth engines.

고도화 (advancement/sophistication) and 관건 (key/pivotal point) are C1 terms.

7

인적 자본의 질적 향상 없이는 기술적 성장동력도 그 한계를 드러낼 수밖에 없습니다.

Without qualitative improvement in human capital, technological growth engines are bound to reveal their limits.

-을 수밖에 없다 (have no choice but to) expresses inevitability.

8

성장동력을 잠식하는 각종 규제들을 철폐하여 기업가 정신을 고취해야 합니다.

We must abolish various regulations that eat away at growth engines and inspire entrepreneurship.

잠식하다 (to eat away/encroach) and 철폐하다 (to abolish) are formal verbs.

1

한국 경제가 중진국 함정을 탈피하고 선진국으로 도약하기 위해서는 근본적인 성장동력의 패러다임 전환이 요구됩니다.

In order for the Korean economy to escape the middle-income trap and leap into an advanced nation, a paradigm shift in fundamental growth engines is required.

중진국 함정 (middle-income trap) and 패러다임 전환 (paradigm shift) are highly academic.

2

성장동력의 상실은 단순히 수치상의 하락을 넘어 국가적 정체성과 미래 비전의 위기를 초래할 수 있습니다.

The loss of growth engines can lead to a crisis of national identity and future vision, beyond a simple decline in numbers.

초래하다 (to cause/bring about) is used for negative consequences.

3

지식 집약적 산업으로의 이행은 자원 빈국인 한국이 선택할 수 있는 가장 유효한 성장동력 확보 전략입니다.

The transition to knowledge-intensive industries is the most effective strategy for securing growth engines that Korea, a resource-poor country, can choose.

지식 집약적 (knowledge-intensive) and 자원 빈국 (resource-poor country) are professional terms.

4

글로벌 공급망 재편이라는 거대한 조류 속에서 독자적인 성장동력을 구축하는 것이 생존의 열쇠입니다.

Building independent growth engines amidst the massive tide of global supply chain restructuring is the key to survival.

공급망 재편 (supply chain restructuring) and 거대한 조류 (massive tide) are metaphorical.

5

성장동력 확충을 위한 정부의 마중물 역할이 민간 부문의 역동성을 이끌어내는 기폭제가 되어야 합니다.

The government's role as a 'pump-primer' for expanding growth engines must serve as a catalyst for drawing out the dynamism of the private sector.

마중물 (pump primer) and 기폭제 (catalyst/detonator) are advanced metaphors.

6

포스트 코로나 시대의 성장동력은 비대면 기술과 바이오 산업의 융합에서 찾아볼 수 있습니다.

The growth engines of the post-COVID era can be found in the convergence of non-face-to-face technology and the bio-industry.

융합 (convergence/fusion) is a key word in modern industry.

7

잠재 성장률의 하락을 방어하기 위해 혁신적인 성장동력의 발굴이 그 어느 때보다 절실한 시점입니다.

To defend against the decline in the potential growth rate, the discovery of innovative growth engines is more urgent than ever.

절실한 시점 (urgent/desperate time) emphasizes importance.

8

사회적 자본과 신뢰 역시 보이지 않는 성장동력으로서 경제 발전에 중추적인 역할을 담당합니다.

Social capital and trust also play a pivotal role in economic development as invisible growth engines.

중추적인 역할 (pivotal role) is a common high-level expression.

近义词

발전 동력 추진력 경제 지표

反义词

쇠퇴 원인 장애물

常见搭配

성장동력을 확보하다
성장동력을 발굴하다
성장동력을 확충하다
성장동력이 약화되다
새로운 성장동력
핵심 성장동력
차세대 성장동력
성장동력을 잃다
성장동력으로 삼다
성장동력을 창출하다

常用短语

미래 성장동력

— Growth engines for the future. Often used in long-term planning.

미래 성장동력을 찾는 것이 시급합니다.

국가 성장동력

— The industries driving a whole country's economy.

국가 성장동력을 보호해야 합니다.

성장동력 육성

— Fostering or nurturing growth engines through support.

정부의 성장동력 육성 정책이 발표되었습니다.

성장동력 부재

— The absence or lack of

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