Leading a Meeting in Korean: Setting the Agenda and Managing Turns
Learn intermediate Korean phrases for opening a meeting, introducing agenda items, and handing the floor to colleagues politely.
By TheaFirst conversations · Yapr Learn
Leading a meeting in Korean is not just about knowing polite speech; it is about controlling the flow of conversation. As chair, you decide when to start, which item comes next, who speaks, and when to move on. This lesson gives you concrete phrases for those moves, all in polite formal style (합니다체, hamnida-che) that fits most workplace meetings. You will practice opening with the first agenda item, inviting a specific person to speak, and redirecting the group when time runs short.
By the end, you can…
- open a meeting and introduce the first agenda item in polite formal Korean.
- hand the floor to a specific colleague and signal whose turn it is.
- move the group to the next item or close a discussion without sounding abrupt.
Listen once. Try it slowly. Then say it without looking.
Checking available voices…
첫 번째 안건부터 시작하겠습니다.
Let's start with the first item.
cheot beonjjae angeonbuteo sijakagetseumnida
Standard opening move as chair; 합니다체 formal polite, suitable for most workplace meetings.
두 번째 안건으로 넘어가겠습니다.
Let's move on to the second item.
du beonjjae angeoneuro neomeogagetseumnida
Use when you, as chair, decide the current discussion is finished and want to advance the agenda.
김 부장님, 먼저 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Manager Kim, could you speak first?
gim bujangnim, meonjeo malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?
Directly invites a named participant; 말씀하다 is the respectful verb for 'to speak' about a superior.
다른 의견 있으신 분 계세요?
Does anyone else have a different opinion?
dareun uigyeon isseusin bun gyeseyo?
Opens the floor to the group after one person has spoken; 계세요 is the honorific form of 있다.
시간 관계상 이 안건은 여기까지 하겠습니다.
Due to time constraints, we'll stop this item here.
sigan gwangyesang i angeoneun yeogikkaji hagetseumnida
A polite way to close a discussion and move on without blaming anyone.
Pronunciation guides are approximate. Slow playback keeps the original pitch.
Make it make sense
Useful pattern
The pattern -겠습니다 (-getseumnida) expresses the chair's decision or intention in formal polite speech. It is common in meeting leadership: 시작하겠습니다 (I will start), 넘어가겠습니다 (I will move on), 정리하겠습니다 (I will wrap up). Because it presents your action as a decision, it sounds authoritative but not aggressive. For example, 첫 번째 안건부터 시작하겠습니다 means 'I will begin with the first item,' and 두 번째 안건으로 넘어가겠습니다 means 'I will move on to the second item.' Use this pattern when you, as chair, are directing the flow.
When to use it
Use these phrases when you are leading, not merely participating. If a colleague asks your opinion, you answer with -습니다/-어요 statements. But as chair, you use -겠습니다 to announce procedural moves: opening, advancing, or closing. For example, after a long discussion you can say 시간 관계상 이 안건은 여기까지 하겠습니다 (Due to time constraints, we'll stop this item here). Then immediately say 다음 안건으로 넘어가겠습니다 (We'll move to the next item). This keeps the meeting moving and signals that the decision is yours as facilitator.
Listen to each line, then take one part and reply out loud.
여러분, 시간이 되었으니 회의를 시작하겠습니다. 첫 번째 안건부터 시작하겠습니다.
Everyone, it's time, so we'll begin the meeting. Let's start with the first item.yeoreobun, sigani doeeosseuni hoeuireul sijakagetseumnida. cheot beonjjae angeonbuteo sijakagetseumnida.네, 알겠습니다. 첫 번째 안건은 신제품 출시 일정입니다.
Yes, understood. The first item is the new product launch schedule.ne, algesseumnida. cheot beonjjae angeoneun sinjepum chulsi iljeongimnida.감사합니다. 김 부장님, 이 안건에 대해 먼저 말씀해 주시겠어요?
Thank you. Manager Kim, could you speak first about this item?gamsahamnida. gim bujangnim, i angeone daehae meonjeo malsseumhae jusigesseoyo?네, 간단히 말씀드리면 일정을 일주일 연기하는 게 좋을 것 같습니다.
Yes, to put it briefly, I think it would be good to postpone the schedule by one week.ne, gandanhi malsseumdeurimyeon iljeongeul iljuil yeongihaneun ge joeul geot gatseumnida.A little context goes a long way
Korean workplace meetings often use 합니다체 (hamnida-che) regardless of how close colleagues are, because the chair's role calls for formal distance. Using 반말 (banmal, casual speech) as chair can sound dismissive even with close teammates. Also, saying someone's title plus -님 (nim), such as 김 부장님, is more natural than using a name alone when inviting a senior colleague to speak.
One thing to watch for
Using 말하다 (malhada) when inviting a senior colleague to speak: 김 부장님, 먼저 말해 주시겠어요?
Try this instead: Use the respectful verb 말씀하다 (malsseumhada) for a superior: 김 부장님, 먼저 말씀해 주시겠어요? 말하다 is fine for yourself or close peers, but 말씀하다 shows proper respect in a meeting.
Your turn
Try answering out loud before checking a possible answer.
1You are chairing a meeting and want to open with the first agenda item. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
첫 번째 안건부터 시작하겠습니다.
This uses the -겠습니다 pattern to announce your procedural decision as chair. 첫 안건부터 시작하겠습니다 is also acceptable in less formal meetings.
2A senior colleague has just finished speaking, and you want to invite others to share opinions. What phrase fits?
Show a sample answer
다른 의견 있으신 분 계세요?
This politely opens the floor to the group. 다른 의견 있으신 분 있으세요? is a common alternative, though 계세요 is more honorific.
3Time is short and you need to close the current item politely. What do you say?
Show a sample answer
시간 관계상 이 안건은 여기까지 하겠습니다.
This closes the item without blaming anyone. 시간이 없어서 이 안건은 여기까지 하겠습니다 is also possible but sounds more direct.
As chair, use -겠습니다 to announce each procedural move: start, advance, and close. It keeps you in control while staying polite.
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