EPS-TOPIK key terms

A hard hat worn to protect the head from falling objects or bumps on a construction or factory site. Inspect the shell and strap before each shift and replace it after any strong impact.

General term for personal protective equipment such as helmets, gloves, goggles, earplugs, and safety shoes. Employers must provide it free of charge, and workers must wear it where hazards exist.

Protective footwear with reinforced toes and slip-resistant soles, required on sites where heavy objects may fall or floors are wet. Ordinary sneakers or sandals are not acceptable substitutes.

Any condition, object, or behavior that could cause injury or damage, such as exposed wiring, wet floors, or unguarded machinery. Workers are expected to report such factors rather than ignore them.

A near miss: an incident that could have caused injury or damage but did not. Reporting near misses is encouraged because they reveal hazards before a real accident occurs.

Injury, illness, or death arising from work-related causes. In Korea it is compensated through industrial accident insurance, and the worker or family must apply through a formal procedure.

The formal application for industrial accident insurance benefits, filed with the labor welfare agency. It requires medical documentation and employer confirmation of the work-related cause.

A structured process of identifying hazards at a workplace, estimating how likely and how severe harm could be, and setting controls. Employers must carry it out and share the results with workers.

Instructions a supervisor gives about what task to perform, in what order, and with which safety precautions. Workers should confirm they understood, especially when instructions are given quickly in Korean.

Telling a supervisor or manager about a problem, delay, mistake, or hazard. Prompt reporting is treated as responsible behavior; hiding a mistake is considered a serious workplace fault.

The written employment contract stating wage, working hours, holidays, and workplace. Workers should receive a copy and check details such as overtime pay and contract period before signing.

Money paid for work, including base pay, overtime, and allowances. It must be paid at least once a month on a fixed date, and deductions must follow the law.

Work performed beyond agreed daily or weekly hours, generally paid at a higher rate. Workers should record their hours accurately because unpaid overtime is a common dispute.

A break during the workday that is not counted as working time. Under Korean labor rules, a break is guaranteed after a set number of continuous hours.

Following a supervisor's directions in the expected order and manner. In Korean workplaces, confirming unclear points politely is preferred over guessing and causing errors.

A coworker at the same or similar level. Good relations with colleagues involve greeting, sharing tasks fairly, and using appropriate polite speech.

A supervisor or senior person above you in the workplace hierarchy. Requests and reports to a superior usually use polite verb endings and careful wording.

Polite speech style used toward superiors, customers, and strangers. Choosing the right level is essential; using casual speech to a supervisor can sound rude.

Casual speech used with close friends, younger people, or children. Foreign workers should avoid it at work until a relationship is clearly established.

Honorific forms that raise the subject of a sentence, such as adding the infix -시- to verbs. Used when speaking about customers, supervisors, or elders.

An announcement over a loudspeaker at a factory, station, or construction site. Listeners must catch key words such as evacuation, delay, or assembly point.

Moving people away from danger to a safe place during fire, gas leak, or other emergency. Workers must know exit routes and the assembly point before an emergency happens.

A portable fire extinguisher used on small fires. Know its location, the pull-aim-squeeze-sweep steps, and never block access to it with materials.

Mandatory training on hazards, equipment use, and emergency procedures, given at hiring and periodically. Attendance is recorded, and skipping it can lead to penalties for the employer.

Running or operating machinery. Before cleaning, repairing, or clearing a jam, power must be shut off and locked out to prevent sudden startup injuries.

Commuting to and from work. Being on time is expected, and lateness or absence should be reported in advance by phone or message to the supervisor.

The approval step in which a document or request is passed to a person with authority. In Korean companies, leave requests and purchases often require formal approval before action.

A company dinner or gathering, often after work. Attendance is usually encouraged but not legally required; drinking can be declined politely and pressure to drink is increasingly discouraged.

A job interview. In Korean workplaces, candidates use polite speech, a formal greeting, and clear short answers about experience and skills.

A short self-introduction covering name, nationality, experience, and skills. A clear, practiced introduction of a few sentences is common at interviews and on the first day of work.

A resume listing education, work history, and skills. Korean resumes often include a photo and a short statement of purpose, and accuracy is checked carefully.

Housing provided or arranged by an employer for foreign workers. The contract should state whether rent and utilities are deducted from wages and what facilities are included.

Asking a question or requesting information, for example by phone about a schedule or document. Polite openings and clear, short sentences help in workplace calls.

Checking that something is correct before acting, such as repeating an instruction, reading a label, or verifying a number. It prevents costly mistakes in fast-paced workplaces.

Asking for understanding or indulgence, as in requesting a moment or explaining a delay. Expressions of 양해 are useful when interrupting a busy supervisor.