Online Shopping

Korean Basic Conversation 4

Chapter 6 · Online Shopping & Consumer Rights: Orders, Complaints & Warranty

📦 Online Shopping & Consumer Rights — 온라인 쇼핑과 소비자 권리

In this chapter you order online, follow a delivery, return an item, complain, and ask about warranty repairs. The grammar: first steps with causatives (-게 하다, 시키다 and a few suffix verbs), -아/어 버리다 ("do completely", often with regret or relief) and -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다 ("almost happened"). For the background see Korean Grammar 3 4 (Causatives) and Korean Grammar 3 6 (Auxiliary Verbs II) for 버리다. The rules and time limits here are simplified illustrations; check the shop's own policy and the current consumer rules.

① Placing an Order — 주문하기

A:이 운동화를 주문하려고 하는데, 사이즈를 어떻게 골라야 할지 모르겠어요.I'm about to order these trainers but I don't know how to choose the size.

B:리뷰를 먼저 읽어 보세요. 작게 나왔다는 사람이 많으면 한 치수 크게 사세요.Read the reviews first. If many people say it runs small, buy one size up.

A:쿠폰이 있는데 어디에서 써요?I have a coupon. Where do I use it?

B:장바구니에 담은 다음에 결제 화면에서 쿠폰을 선택하면 돼요.After you put it in the cart, choose the coupon on the payment screen.

A:배송비는 얼마예요?How much is the delivery fee?

B:삼만 원 이상이면 무료배송이에요. 이 운동화는 무료로 받을 수 있어요.Delivery is free for orders of 30,000 won or more. You can get these trainers free.

Hard words: 주문하다 ju-mun-ha-da order · 치수 chi-su size · 장바구니 jang-ba-gu-ni shopping cart · 결제 gyeol-je payment · 무료배송 mu-ryo-bae-song free delivery

② Following the Delivery — 택배 조회

A:주문한 지 사흘이 지났는데 아직 안 왔어요.It's been three days since I ordered and it still hasn't come.

B:배송 조회를 해 보세요. 지금 어디에 있는지 알 수 있어요.Try tracking it. You can see where it is now.

A:아, 오늘 오후에 도착한다고 나와 있어요.Ah, it says it will arrive this afternoon.

B:집에 없으면 문 앞에 놓아 달라고 메시지를 남기세요.If you're not home, leave a message asking them to put it at the door.

A:경비실에 맡겨 달라고 할까요?Shall I ask them to leave it with the security desk?

B:그게 더 안전하죠. 택배가 도착하면 문자로 알려 줄 거예요.That's safer. They'll text you when the parcel arrives.

Hard words: 배송 조회 bae-song jo-hoe delivery tracking · 도착하다 do-cha-ka-da arrive · 경비실 gyeong-bi-sil security desk · 맡기다 mat-gi-da leave in someone's care · 택배 taek-bae parcel delivery

③ Returning an Item — 반품과 환불

A:신발 사이즈가 너무 작아서 반품하고 싶은데요.The shoes are too small, so I'd like to return them.

B:네, 받으신 지 칠 일 안에 신청하시면 돼요. 상품을 안 쓰셨죠?Yes, you can apply within seven days of receiving them. You haven't used them, have you?

A:안 신었어요. 상자도 그대로 있어요. 환불은 언제 돼요?I haven't worn them. I still have the box. When will I get the refund?

B:상품이 도착해서 확인한 다음에 환불해 드려요. 보통 며칠 걸려요.We refund after the item arrives and we check it. It usually takes a few days.

A:반품 배송비는 누가 내요?Who pays the return delivery fee?

B:단순 변심이면 고객님이 내셔야 해요. 상품에 문제가 있으면 저희가 부담합니다.If it's just a change of mind, you pay. If there's a problem with the product, we cover it.

Hard words: 반품하다 ban-pum-ha-da return goods · 환불 hwan-bul refund · 단순 변심 dan-sun byeon-sim mere change of mind · 부담하다 bu-dam-ha-da bear (a cost)

④ A Complaint — 불만 접수

A:주문한 것과 다른 색깔이 왔어요. 검은색을 주문했는데 회색이에요.I got a different colour from what I ordered. I ordered black but it's grey.

B:정말 죄송합니다. 기다리시게 해서 죄송하고, 바로 교환해 드리겠습니다.I'm very sorry. I apologise for making you wait, and we'll exchange it right away.

A:그리고 상자가 찌그러져 있어서 제품에 흠집도 났어요.Also, the box was dented, so the product got scratched too.

B:사진을 찍어서 보내 주시겠어요? 확인한 후에 연락드리겠습니다.Could you take a photo and send it? We'll contact you after checking.

A:네, 지금 바로 보낼게요. 교환할 때 제가 또 기다려야 하나요?Yes, I'll send it right now. Will I have to wait again for the exchange?

B:새 상품을 먼저 보내 드리고, 그다음에 기존 상품을 회수하겠습니다.We'll send the new one first, and then collect the original.

Hard words: 교환하다 gyo-hwan-ha-da exchange · 찌그러지다 jji-geu-reo-ji-da be dented · 흠집 heum-jip scratch · 회수하다 hoe-su-ha-da collect back

⑤ Warranty and Repairs — 보증과 AS

A:노트북이 갑자기 안 켜져서 수리를 맡기고 싶어요.My laptop suddenly won't turn on, and I'd like to have it repaired.

B:구매하신 지 얼마나 되셨어요? 보증기간은 보통 1년이에요.How long ago did you buy it? The warranty period is usually one year.

A:여덟 달 됐어요. 영수증은 여기 있어요.Eight months. Here's the receipt.

B:그럼 보증기간 안이라서 무료로 수리받으실 수 있어요.Then it's within the warranty, so you can have it repaired for free.

A:만약 수리가 안 되면 어떻게 해요?What if it can't be repaired?

B:그럴 때는 소비자원에 상담을 신청할 수도 있어요. 먼저 AS센터 답변을 기다려 보세요.In that case you can also request advice from the consumer agency. First wait for the service centre's reply.

Hard words: 수리 su-ri repair · 보증기간 bo-jeung-gi-gan warranty period · 소비자원 so-bi-ja-won consumer agency · 상담 sang-dam consultation · 답변 dap-byeon reply

⑥ Between Friends (casual) — 또 샀어?

A:야, 나 또 사 버렸어. 세일하길래 그냥 질렀어.Hey, I bought something again. It was on sale so I just splurged.

B:너 지난달에도 그랬잖아. 그만 좀 사.You did that last month too. Stop buying things.

A:알아. 근데 중고로 사려다가 사기당할 뻔했어.I know. But when I tried to buy second-hand I almost got scammed.

B:정말? 큰일 날 뻔했네. 오늘은 치킨이나 시켜 먹자.Really? That could have been bad. Let's just order chicken today.

Hard words: 지르다 ji-reu-da splurge (slang) · 중고 jung-go second-hand · 사기당하다 sa-gi-dang-ha-da be scammed · 시켜 먹다 si-kyeo meok-da order and eat

🔑 Key Phrases — 중요한 표현

English	Polite (-요)	Casual (friends)
I'd like to return this.	이걸 반품하고 싶어요.	이거 반품할래.
When will I get the refund?	환불은 언제 돼요?	환불 언제 돼?
It's a different item from what I ordered.	주문한 것과 달라요.	주문한 거랑 달라.
Sorry to keep you waiting.	기다리시게 해서 죄송합니다.	기다리게 해서 미안해.
I ended up buying it.	결국 사 버렸어요.	결국 사 버렸어.
I almost missed it.	놓칠 뻔했어요.	놓칠 뻔했어.

🔤 Three Verbs — 동사

Verb	Dictionary	Polite present	Past	-아/어 버렸다
to order	주문하다	주문해요	주문했어요	주문해 버렸어요
to return (goods)	반품하다	반품해요	반품했어요	반품해 버렸어요
to order (food)	시키다	시켜요	시켰어요	시켜 버렸어요

🧰 Grammar Tools — 문법

1. Causatives: first steps

A causative says that someone makes or lets another person do something. The easiest form is -게 하다 after a verb stem: 기다리게 하다 ("make wait"), 먹게 하다 ("let eat"). The honorific version is polite in service: 기다리시게 해서 죄송합니다. ("I'm sorry to have kept you waiting.") Some verbs have their own causative form with a suffix (-이-, -히-, -리-, -기-, -우-): learn each as a word. The verb 시키다 means "to order (food)" or "to make someone do".

Basic verb	Causative	Example
먹다 eat	먹이다 feed	아이에게 밥을 먹여요. I feed the child.
입다 wear	입히다 dress (someone)	아이에게 옷을 입혀요. I dress the child.
자다 sleep	재우다 put to sleep	아기를 재워요. I put the baby to sleep.
알다 know	알리다 let know, inform	도착하면 알려 줄게요. I'll let you know when it arrives.
보다 see	보이다 show	사진을 보여 주세요. Please show me the photo.
(food) order	시키다	치킨을 시켰어요. I ordered chicken.

2. -아/어 버리다: "finish it off, end up doing it"

Add -아/어 버리다 to say an action is done completely, with a feeling of relief, regret or surprise: 다 먹어 버렸어요. (I ate it all up.) 결국 사 버렸어요. (I ended up buying it, after all.) After ㅏ or ㅗ use -아, otherwise -어 (and 하다 becomes 해). It usually goes with the past tense and cannot normally be used for something you merely plan.

Verb	With 버리다	Meaning
사다	사 버렸어요	I went and bought it (regretfully or impulsively)
먹다	먹어 버렸어요	I ate it all up
지우다	지워 버렸어요	I deleted it (and it's gone)
보내다	보내 버렸어요	I sent it off (by mistake)

3. -(으)ㄹ 뻔했다: "almost…"

To say something nearly happened but did not, use a stem + -ㄹ 뻔했다 (after a vowel) or -을 뻔했다 (after a consonant): 놓칠 뻔했어요. (I nearly missed it.) 넘어질 뻔했어요. (I nearly fell.) 속을 뻔했어요. (I almost got fooled.) It is always in the past tense ending 뻔했다, and what almost happened did not happen. The adverb 하마터면 ("it was close") is often added for emphasis: 하마터면 사고가 날 뻔했어요.

Almost…	Example
늦을 뻔했어요	택배가 늦게 와서 선물을 못 줄 뻔했어요. The parcel came late, so I nearly couldn't give the present.
사기당할 뻔했어요	중고 거래에서 사기당할 뻔했어요. I nearly got scammed in a second-hand deal.
잃어버릴 뻔했어요	영수증을 잃어버릴 뻔했어요. I nearly lost the receipt.

Watch out: 시키다 is for food, 주문하다 is for goods Use 시키다 for ordering food in a restaurant or for delivery (치킨을 시켰어요), but 주문하다 for goods and online orders (운동화를 주문했어요). Also, 보이다 means both "be seen" and "show", so check the particle: 사진이 보여요 ("the photo is visible") but 사진을 보여 주세요 ("show me the photo").

4. Shopping and consumer words

Korean	English
주문 / 결제 / 배송 / 도착	order / payment / delivery / arrival
반품 / 교환 / 환불	return / exchange / refund
쿠폰 / 할인 / 세일	coupon / discount / sale
후기 / 리뷰 / 별점	review / review / star rating
고객센터 / AS센터	customer centre / service centre

📰 Reading — 읽기

Read the text, then check the English and the word list. Then answer the true/false questions.

온라인 쇼핑 이야기

저는 지난주에 인터넷으로 운동화를 주문했어요. 쿠폰을 써서 싸게 샀지만 사이즈가 작아서 신을 수 없었어요. 그래서 반품을 신청했어요. 고객센터에서 칠 일 안에 신청해야 한다고 해서 하마터면 기간을 놓칠 뻔했어요. 택배 기사님이 와서 신발을 가져가셨고, 며칠 후에 돈이 환불됐어요. 이번에는 리뷰를 꼼꼼히 읽지 않고 사 버려서 실수했어요. 다음에는 후기를 먼저 보려고 해요.

English: Last week I ordered trainers on the internet. I bought them cheaply with a coupon, but the size was small and I couldn't wear them. So I applied for a return. The customer centre said I had to apply within seven days, so I nearly missed the deadline. The delivery driver came and took the shoes, and a few days later the money was refunded. This time I made a mistake because I bought without reading the reviews carefully. Next time I'll read the reviews first.

Words: 기간 period · 가져가다 take away · 꼼꼼히 carefully · 실수하다 make a mistake

1. The trainers were too big.

Show answer

False: the size was small (사이즈가 작아서).

2. The writer had to apply for the return within seven days.

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True: 칠 일 안에 신청해야 한다.

3. The money was refunded a few days later.

Show answer

True: 며칠 후에 돈이 환불됐어요.

4. The writer read the reviews carefully before buying.

Show answer

False: the writer bought without reading them carefully (꼼꼼히 읽지 않고).

📖 Vocabulary — 어휘

20 key words for online shopping.

#	Korean	Say it	English	Type
1	주문	ju-mun	order	noun
2	배송	bae-song	delivery	noun
3	택배	taek-bae	parcel delivery	noun
4	반품	ban-pum	return (goods)	noun
5	환불	hwan-bul	refund	noun
6	교환	gyo-hwan	exchange	noun
7	쿠폰	ku-pon	coupon	noun
8	리뷰	ri-byu	review	noun
9	장바구니	jang-ba-gu-ni	shopping cart	noun
10	결제	gyeol-je	payment	noun
11	배송비	bae-song-bi	delivery fee	noun
12	고객센터	go-gaek-sen-teo	customer service centre	noun
13	소비자원	so-bi-ja-won	consumer agency	noun
14	보증기간	bo-jeung-gi-gan	warranty period	noun
15	영수증	yeong-su-jeung	receipt	noun
16	주문하다	ju-mun-ha-da	order (goods)	verb
17	반품하다	ban-pum-ha-da	return (goods)	verb
18	환불받다	hwan-bul-bat-da	get a refund	verb
19	시키다	si-ki-da	order (food); make (someone) do	verb
20	수리하다	su-ri-ha-da	repair	verb

As Heard in Dramas — "또 질렀어?" Characters tease each other about shopping with 또 질렀어? ("Did you splurge again?"), from the slang verb 지르다 for an impulse purchase. You will also hear 택배 왔어 ("a parcel's come") and people opening boxes at the door.

Real Korean Tip — Delivery Culture Home delivery (택배) is very widely used in Korea and often very fast, and parcels are commonly left at your door or with the building's security desk (경비실). Delivery apps for food and shopping are part of daily life. If something goes wrong and the shop does not help, you can contact the consumer agency (소비자원) for advice.

Register — Customer Service Staff use very polite forms with customers: 고객님, -시- and -겠습니다 (확인해 보겠습니다, 죄송합니다). In a complaint, stay polite and calm: 확인 부탁드립니다 ("please check") works well in messages and chats.

✍️ Try It Yourself — 연습

Say each answer out loud first, then click to check.

1. Say "I'd like to return these shoes."

Show answer

이 신발을 반품하고 싶어요.

2. Say "I'm sorry to have kept you waiting" in a shop.

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기다리시게 해서 죄송합니다.

3. Say "I nearly missed the deadline."

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기간을 놓칠 뻔했어요.

4. Say "I ended up buying it."

Show answer

결국 사 버렸어요.

5. Tell a friend casually "Let's order chicken."

Show answer

치킨 시켜 먹자.

6. What is the difference between 사진이 보여요 and 사진을 보여 주세요?

Show answer

The first means "the photo is visible"; the second means "please show me the photo" (보이다 as a causative).