발급하다

The Korean verb 발급하다 (bal-geup-ha-da) means to officially issue something. This usually refers to documents, certificates, licenses, cards, or permits that are given out by an authorized body, such as a government office, a company, or an institution.

Core Meaning

To grant or provide an official document or authorization.

Contexts

Commonly used in administrative, legal, and official settings. You'll encounter it when talking about obtaining or processing things like passports, driver's licenses, student IDs, visas, certificates of completion, or even stock certificates.

Imagine you are at a government office to get a new driver's license. The official behind the counter is the one who will 발급하다 your license. You, as the applicant, will 발급받다 it. The process involves the office officially issuing the document to you. This verb emphasizes the official and formal nature of the transaction. It's not just handing something over; it's a formal act of authorization and distribution by an authority. Therefore, you won't typically use 발급하다 for everyday items like giving a friend a pen or a teacher handing out homework papers. It's reserved for official documents and permissions.

Examples of Use

- The immigration office will issue your visa. (이민국에서 비자를 발급합니다.)

- The university issued a certificate of graduation. (대학교에서 졸업 증명서를 발급했다.)

- Please issue a receipt for the payment. (결제에 대한 영수증을 발급해 주세요.)

The verb 발급하다 is conjugated like any other Korean verb. Its basic form is 발급하다. When conjugated, the 하 often changes to 해 in informal polite speech (발급해). The object of the verb is typically the document or item being issued, and it is marked with the object particle 을/를.

Basic Sentence Structure

[Subject (often an organization)] + [Object (document/card)] + 을/를 + 발급하다.

In formal settings, you'll see the -ㅂ니다/-습니다 ending. For example, 'The bank issues credit cards' would be '은행은 신용카드를 발급합니다.' In everyday polite conversation, the -아요/-어요 ending is common. Since 발급하다 ends in '하', it becomes 발급해요. So, 'The school issues student IDs' could be '학교에서 학생증을 발급해요.' In past tense, it becomes 발급했습니다 or 발급했어요.

Examples with Conjugations

- Present Formal: 이민국에서 비자를 발급합니다. (The immigration office issues visas.)

- Present Informal Polite: 회사에서 명함을 발급해요. (The company issues business cards.)

- Past Formal: 병원에서 진단서를 발급했습니다. (The hospital issued a medical certificate.)

- Past Informal Polite: 지난주에 운전면허증을 발급받았어요. (I received my driver's license last week. - Note: used 발급받았어요 here for receiving.)

- Future: 곧 새로운 신분증을 발급할 예정입니다. (We plan to issue new ID cards soon.)

You can also use it with auxiliary verbs or in different grammatical structures. For instance, to express inability, you might say 'We cannot issue this document': '이 문서를 발급할 수 없습니다.' To ask someone to issue something, you would use a request form like 발급해 주십시오 (formal) or 발급해 주세요 (polite).

You will most frequently encounter 발급하다 in official announcements, government websites, application forms, and conversations related to administrative procedures. If you are interacting with Korean institutions, whether for immigration, education, or business, this word will be a staple.

Government and Public Offices

This is where 발급하다 is most prevalent. Think of applying for or renewing a passport, driver's license, resident registration card (주민등록증), or visa. The announcements and forms will use this term. For example, 'The city hall will issue new ID cards' would be '시청에서 새 신분증을 발급합니다.' You might also hear about issuing certificates of residence (거주 증명서) or business licenses (사업자 등록증).

Educational Institutions

Universities and schools issue various documents. This includes student IDs (학생증), graduation certificates (졸업 증명서), transcripts (성적 증명서), and certificates of enrollment (재학 증명서). A professor might say, 'We will 발급해 your certificates next week.' or 'The university 발급했습니다 the diplomas.'

Financial Institutions

Banks and other financial institutions issue documents like credit cards (신용카드), debit cards (체크카드), loan approval certificates (대출 승인서), and investment certificates. A bank announcement might read, 'We 발급 new credit cards with enhanced security features.' or 'The bank 발급했어요 my new ATM card.'

Companies and Businesses

Companies might issue employee ID cards (사원증), business cards (명함), or certificates of employment (재직 증명서). In a corporate setting, an HR representative might state, 'We will 발급해 your company ID by the end of the week.' or 'The company 발급했다 a certificate for my service.'

In legal contexts, it might refer to issuing court orders or legal documents. For example, 'The court 발급한 a warrant' (법원에서 영장을 발급한). Essentially, any situation where an official entity formally provides a document or authorization is a place where 발급하다 is used.

Learners of Korean might make a few common mistakes when using 발급하다. These often stem from confusion with similar concepts or incorrect application of the verb's specific meaning.

Confusing Issuer and Receiver

The most frequent mistake is using 발급하다 when you mean to say you *received* something. Remember, 발급하다 is for the entity that *issues* the document. If you are the one receiving it, you should use 발급받다. For example, saying 'I issued a driver's license' when you mean 'I received a driver's license' is incorrect. The correct sentence for receiving is '저는 운전면허증을 발급받았습니다.' The office issued it, and you received it.

Using it for Non-Official Items

발급하다 is specifically for official documents, certificates, or authorizations. It is not used for simply giving or handing over everyday items. For instance, you wouldn't say 'I issued a pen to my friend' (친구에게 펜을 발급했다 - incorrect). For such actions, verbs like 주다 (to give) or 건네주다 (to hand over) are appropriate.

Incorrect Conjugation

Like any verb ending in '하', 발급하다 can be tricky. In informal polite speech, it conjugates to 발급해요, not 발급하요. Similarly, the past tense is 발급했어요 or 발급했습니다.

Overusing the Noun Form

While the noun form 발급 (issuance) is common, don't use it as a verb. For example, instead of saying 'The office 발급 the license' (incorrect), you must use the verb form: 'The office 발급했습니다 the license.' The noun form is used in phrases like '신청 후 발급까지 일주일 걸립니다' (It takes a week from application to issuance).

While 발급하다 is specific, other Korean words can be used in contexts that might seem similar, depending on the nuance. It's important to understand the distinctions.

교부하다 (gyo-bu-ha-da)

Meaning: To deliver or hand over something, often officially.
Comparison: 교부하다 is very similar to 발급하다 and is often used interchangeably in official contexts, especially when referring to the act of handing over the document after it has been prepared or issued. 발급하다 emphasizes the act of creation and authorization by an authority, while 교부하다 focuses more on the physical act of giving it to the recipient. However, in many practical situations, they overlap significantly. For instance, a government office might 발급 a passport and then 교부 it to the applicant.

내주다 (nae-ju-da)

Meaning: To give out, to provide, to issue (less formal).
Comparison: 내주다 is a more general term for giving something out. It can be used for official documents but also for less formal items. While a university might 발급하다 a diploma, a teacher might 내주다 a worksheet. 발급하다 carries a stronger sense of official authorization and formal process.

발행하다 (bal-haeng-ha-da)

Meaning: To issue (especially for currency, securities, publications, tickets).
Comparison: 발행하다 is used for things that are printed or created in large quantities and distributed, such as money (화폐), stocks (주식), bonds (채권), tickets (티켓), newspapers (신문), and magazines (잡지). While a stock certificate might be 발급 to an individual investor, the company 발행 millions of shares. You would 발행하다 tickets for a concert, but 발급하다 a parking permit.

허가하다 (heo-ga-ha-da)

Meaning: To permit, to authorize, to grant permission.
Comparison: 허가하다 is about granting permission or approval, which is often a prerequisite for issuing a document. For example, the government might 허가하다 a business, and then the business can 발급하다 licenses or permits. 발급하다 is the act of issuing the physical or digital document based on that authorization.