"The Glory" K-Drama: Learn Korean Expressions from an Intense Scene

🎥 Introduction

The Netflix Original series “The Glory” (2022–2023) has set a new standard for revenge dramas and gained immense popularity worldwide. This gripping Korean drama follows Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo), a woman who endured extreme bullying during her school days and patiently executes her long-planned revenge.

This post analyzes a short yet intense conversation between Moon Dong-eun and Isara (Kim Hieora) to introduce Korean expressions and grammar to foreign learners. This scene touches on themes of religion, revenge, and moral dilemmas, providing valuable insights into nuanced Korean expressions. By studying this scene, Korean learners can grasp the natural conversational flow and better understand the emotional depth conveyed in Korean dialogue.

 

🎥 Short Video

[Source] YouTube, @-Redmilk

 

🎥 Meet the Characters

- Moon Dong-eun (Song Hye-kyo): A woman who endured brutal school bullying and meticulously plans her lifelong revenge.

- Isara (Kim Hieora): A wealthy artist and drug addict who was part of the group that bullied Moon Dong-eun.

 

🎥 Dialogue

문동은: “넌 진짜 신이 있다고 생각해? 정말로?”
Moon Dong-eun: "Do you really think God exists? Seriously?"

이사라: “너 방금 그 말, 신성모독이야.”
Lee Sa-ra: "What you just said is blasphemy."

이사라: “회개해 천벌 받기 싫으면.”
Lee Sa-ra: "Repent if you don’t want to be punished by heaven."

문동은: “그래?”
Moon Dong-eun: "Really?"

이사라: “응.”
Lee Sa-ra: "Yeah."

문동은: “응, 방금 하느님이랑 기도로 합의 봤어. 괜찮으시대.”
Moon Dong-eun: "Yeah, I just talked with God through prayer. He said it's fine."

이사라: “미친년이 선 넘네.”
Lee Sa-ra: "This crazy b**ch just crossed the line."

이사라: “뭐, 커서 만나니까 이판사판이다 이거야?”
Lee Sa-ra: "So now that we meet as adults, it's all or nothing?"

문동은: “큰일 나! 사라야!”
Moon Dong-eun: "You're in big trouble, Sa-ra!"

문동은: “이판사판은 원래 불교용어야.”
Moon Dong-eun: "By the way, 'all or nothing' is originally a Buddhist term."

문동은: “잠깐만.”
Moon Dong-eun: "Wait a second."

문동은: “어떡해. 너네 주님 개빡쳤어! 너 지옥행이래!”
Moon Dong-eun: "Oh no. Your Lord is seriously pissed! He says you're going to hell!"

이사라: “야!”
Lee Sa-ra: "Hey, you—!"

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. "정말로?": Used to question or express surprise at someone's statement, often to confirm if it's true.

"Really?"

📌 Example Usage
A: "내일 우리 학교에 연예인이 온대!"

- "A celebrity is coming to our school tomorrow!"

B: "정말로?"

- "Really?"

 

🌀 Synonyms

① "진짜?": The most common colloquial expression, frequently used among friends.

- Difference: More casual and light-hearted than "정말로?".

📌 Example Usage
A: "나 로또 1등 당첨됐어!"

- "I won the lottery!"
B: "진짜? 말도 안 돼!"

- "Really? No way!"

 

② "진심이야?": Used to ask if someone is being serious, not joking.

- Difference: "정말로?" is closer to simple fact-checking, while "진심이야?" involves emotion.

📌 Example Usage
A: "나 다음 달에 회사 그만둘 거야."

- "I'm quitting my job next month."
B: "진심이야?"

- "Are you serious?"

 

③ "설마?": Used when hearing something unbelievable or unexpected.

- Difference: Often conveys disbelief or shock.

📌 Example Usage
A: "너 몰랐어? 걔 사실 왕족이래."

- "You didn't know? He's actually royalty."

B: "설마?"

- "No way!"

 

④ "확실해?": Used to check if something is genuinely correct or confident.

- Difference: Stronger doubt than "정말로?".

📌 Example Usage
A: "이번 시험, 엄청 쉬울 거래!"

- "I heard the test will be super easy!"
B: "확실해? 내가 들은 건 정반대인데."

- "Are you sure? I heard the exact opposite."

 

2. "천벌을 받다.": “천벌” refers to divine retribution or punishment from the heavens for immoral or unethical actions.

"To receive divine punishment; to be punished by the heavens."

📌 Example Usage
A: "그렇게 나쁜 짓을 많이 했는데 아무 일도 없겠어?"

- "He did so many bad things; do you think nothing will happen?"

B: "언젠가 천벌을 받을 거야."

- "He will be punished by the heavens someday."

🌀 Synonyms

① "죄값을 치르다.": To pay the price for one's sins.

- Difference: "천벌을 받다" emphasizes divine punishment, while "죄값을 치르다" focuses more on social or legal consequences.

📌 Example Usage
A: "결국 도망친 범인이 잡혔대."

- "The criminal who fled was finally caught."
B: "이제 죄값을 치르게 되겠네."

- "Now he has to pay for his crimes."

 

3. "선을 넘다.": Used when someone exceeds social or moral boundaries or when they push past another person's patience.

"To cross the line; to go too far."

📌 Example Usage
A: "그 애가 회의 중에 팀장님한테 반말했어!"

- "He spoke informally to the team leader during the meeting!"
B: "와, 그건 완전 선 넘은 거지."

- "Wow, that’s totally crossing the line."

🌀 Synonyms

① "도를 넘다.": Refers to exceeding an acceptable degree of behavior or speech.

- Difference: "선을 넘다" strongly implies crossing a social or moral boundary, while "도를 넘다" focuses on going too far in general.

📌 Example Usage
A: "그냥 장난으로 시작했는데 걔가 울어버렸어."

- "It started as a joke, but he cried."

B: "야, 도 좀 넘었네."

- "Dude, you went too far."

 

4. "이판사판": Used when there is no turning back, and an extreme or desperate decision must be made.

"A do-or-die situation; desperate circumstances."

📌 Example Usage
A: "우리 팀 이번 경기 지면 강등이래."

- "If we lose this game, we’ll get relegated."
B: "그럼 이판사판으로 싸워야지!"

- "Then we have to fight with everything we’ve got!"

🌀 Synonyms

① "사생결단": A phrase meaning to fight as if one's life depends on it.

- Difference: "이판사판" conveys a reckless, all-or-nothing mindset, whereas "사생결단" implies a more determined, life-risking struggle.

📌 Example Usage
A: "우린 이번 시험에서 사생결단을 내야 해."

- "We have to give it our all in this exam."

 

5. "개빡치다.": Very severely angry. "개-" (emphasis) prefix in front of "빡치다. (I'm angry)" expresses that the intensity of anger is very high.

"To be extremely pissed off."

📌 Example Usage
A: "우리 팀원 다 일 안 하고 나한테만 떠넘겼어."

- "My team didn’t do anything and dumped all the work on me."
B: "와, 개빡치겠다."

- "Wow, that’s so infuriating."

🌀 Synonyms

① "열받다.": A more neutral and formal expression for getting angry.

- Difference: "개빡치다" is vulgar and unsuitable for formal situations, whereas "열받다" is more appropriate in professional settings.

📌 Example Usage
A: "사장님이 내 보고서 보고 제대로 검토도 안 했다고 화내셨어."

- "The boss got mad at me, saying I didn’t properly review the report."
B: "아, 나 같아도 열받겠다."

- "Ah, I’d be angry too."

🎥 Grammatical analysis of the dialogue

The following content contains a lot of grammatical explanations. If you're not an advanced Korean learner, skim through it and don’t focus too much. If you're a beginner or intermediate learner, memorizing even one more conversation from above is better.

 

문동은: "넌 진짜 신이 있다고 생각해? 정말로?"

Moon Dong-eun: "Do you really think God exists? Really?"

- "넌": "너(you)" + topic marker "-는" → In spoken Korean, "넌" is used instead of "너는."

- "진짜": "Really" or "genuinely." Used in conversation to emphasize emotions.

- "신이 있다고 생각해?": "신 (God)" + subject marker "-이" + "있다 (to exist)" + "고 (quotative marker)" + "생각하다 (to think)."

• Meaning: "Do you think God exists?"

• “생각해”: The form "생각해" can be used in the imperative (command), propositive (suggestion), and declarative (statement) endings. However, in this sentence, the intonation rises at the end, turning it into a question.

Ø  "생각하다": basic form → "think."

Ø  "생각하고": present progressive form → "thinking"

Ø  "생각했다": past tense form → "thought"

Ø  "생각하니?": interrogative form → "Do you think?"

Ø  "생각해라": imperative form → "Think!"

Ø  "생각하자": propositive form → "Let's think."

Ø  "생각해": imperative, propositive, and declarative ending → "Think!" / "Let's think." / "I think."

- "정말로?": "정말 (really)" + emphasis particle "-로." Used for emphasis and confirmation.

📌 Example Usage

- "넌 진짜 귀신이 있다고 생각해?"

- "Do you really think ghosts exist?"

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "신이 있다고" → "시니 읻따고"

 

이사라: "너 방금 그 말, 신성모독이야."

Lee Sa-ra: "What you just said is blasphemy."

- "너": Informal "you."

- "방금": "Just now," meaning something that happened recently.

- "그 말": "That word/sentence" → Refers to what someone just said.

- "신성모독이야": "신성 (sacred, holy)" + "모독 (blasphemy, insult)" → "신성모독" (blasphemy). + "이야" is the informal conjugation of "이다" (to be).

🔮 Overall Meaning: "That statement is blasphemy."

📌 Example Usage

- "방금 네 말, 완전 실례야."

- "What you just said is really rude."

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "신성모독이야" → "신성모도기야" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

이사라: "회개해 천벌 받기 싫으면."

Lee Sa-ra: "Repent if you don’t want to be punished by heaven."

- "회개해": "Repent" → "회개하다 (to repent)" + imperative form "-해."

- "천벌 받기 싫으면": "천벌 (divine punishment)" + "받다 (to receive)" → "받기" (nominalized form).

• "싫으면" (if you don’t want to): "싫다 (to dislike, to not want)" + conditional "-으면."

🔮 Overall Meaning: "If you don’t want to receive divine punishment."

📌 Example Usage

- "공부하기 싫으면 그냥 자."

- "If you don’t want to study, just sleep."

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "싫으면" → "시르면"

 

문동은: "그래?"

Moon Dong-eun: "Really?" / "Is that so?"

- "그래?": A short response indicating curiosity, doubt, or mild surprise.

- Can mean "Really?" or "Is that so?" depending on the tone.

📌 Example Usage

- "나 내일 휴가야." (I'm on vacation tomorrow.)

- "그래?" (Oh, really?)

 

이사라: "응."

Lee Sa-ra: "Yeah." / "Yes."

- "응": Informal "yes." Slightly softer than "어."

- Used in casual conversation when acknowledging or agreeing.

📌 Example Usage

- "너 밥 먹었어?" ("Did you eat?" or "Have you eaten?")

- "응." (Yes.)

 

문동은: "응, 방금 하느님이랑 기도로 합의 봤어. 괜찮으시대."

Moon Dong-eun: "Yeah, I just settled it with God through prayer. He says it's fine."

- "방금": "Just now."

- "하느님이랑": "하느님 (God)" + "-이랑" (with).

- "기도로": "기도 (prayer)" + instrumental particle "-로" ("through prayer").

- "합의 봤어": "합의 (agreement, settlement)" + "보다 (to see, to make)" → "합의 보다" = "to agree." → “합의 봤다” (past) + “-어” (ending that states a fact).

- "괜찮으시대": "괜찮다 (to be okay)" + honorific "-으시-" + hearsay ending "-대" → "괜찮으시대" (He said it's fine).
 •"괜찮다" + "-다고 해" → "괜찮대" + "-으시-" → "괜찮으시대"

📌 Example Usage

- "엄마가 가도 괜찮으시대."

- "Mom said it's fine to go."

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "하느님이랑" → "하느니미랑" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

이사라: "미친년이 선 넘네."

Lee Sa-ra: "This crazy girl is crossing the line."

- "미친년": "Crazy woman" (strongly offensive).

- "선 넘네": "선 (line, boundary)" + "넘다 (to cross)" + informal "-네" (expressing realization or emphasis).

🔮 Overall Meaning: "You’re going too far."

📌 Example Usage

- "야, 그 말은 선 넘었어."

- "Hey, that’s crossing the line."

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips: "미친년이" → "미친녀니" (linked pronunciation occurs).

 

이사라: "뭐, 커서 만나니까 이판사판이다 이거야?"

Lee Sa-ra: "What, now that we met as adults, it’s do-or-die?"

- "뭐": Interjection meaning "What?" or "So?"

- "커서": "크다 (to grow up)" + "-서" (connecting form) → "커서 (after growing up)."

- "만나니까": "만나다 (to meet)" + "-니까" (because, since).

- "이판사판이다": "이판사판" (do-or-die situation) + "-이다 (is)."

- "이거야?": Colloquial phrase emphasizing the point.

📌 Example Usage

- "이제 와서 다 포기하자고? 이판사판이야?"

- "Now you want to give up? It’s do-or-die?"

문동은: "큰일 나! 사라야!"

Moon Dong-eun: "This is bad! Sarah!"

- "큰일 나!": "큰일 (big trouble, serious matter)" + "나다 (to happen)."
• "큰일나다" is a fixed expression meaning "Something bad is happening!" Therefore, it should be used without spacing.

• "큰일" + "나": "A serious problem is occurring." In this case, you should use "큰일" (big things) and "나" (I). “큰일 나”

- "사라야!": Calling someone named Sarah with the vocative "-야."

📌 Example Usage

- "야, 빨리 도망쳐! 큰일 나!" = “야, 큰일난다! 빨리 도망쳐!”

- "Hey, run away! This is bad!"

 

문동은: "이판사판은 원래 불교용어야."

Moon Dong-eun: "‘Ipan-sapan’ is originally a Buddhist term."

- "원래": "Originally."

- "불교용어야": "불교 (Buddhism)" + "용어 (terminology)" + "-야" (casual statement).

📌 Example Usage

- "사바세계는 불교 용어야."

- "‘Saba world’ is a Buddhist term."

 

문동은: "잠깐만."

Moon Dong-eun: "Wait a moment."

- "잠깐만": "Just a moment," commonly used for brief pauses.

📌 Example Usage

- "잠깐만 기다려!"

- "Wait a moment!"

 

문동은: "어떡해. 너네 주님 개빡쳤어! 너 지옥행이래!"

Moon Dong-eun: "Oh no. Your Lord is super pissed! He says you’re going to hell!"

- "어떡해": "Oh no, what should I do?"

- "너네": As a spoken expression of "너희", it is a pronoun that refers to many people, including the listener. "너희" is the plural form of the second-person pronoun "너," used for emphasis, and it is the counterpart of "우리."

- "주님": "Lord" (refers to God in a religious context).

- "개빡쳤어": Slang for "super pissed off."

• "개" + "빡쳤다" (past) + "-어"

• "개": A slang prefix commonly used by younger people to intensify adjectives. Similar to "very" or "extremely."

• "빡쳤다": "빡치다" (a slang term for "to be angry") → "빡쳤다" (past tense).

• "어": Sentence-ending suffix.

- "지옥행이래": "지옥 (hell)" + "행 (bound for)" + hearsay ending "-이래."

📌 Example Usage

• "야, 너네 선생님 개빡쳤어!"
• "Dude, your teacher is super pissed!"

 

이사라: "야!"

Lee Sa-ra: "Hey! You."

- "야": Used to call someone’s attention informally.

• Commonly used among friends, family, and colleagues.

• Can also be used when angry or annoyed, often with a louder or harsher tone.

• If used aggressively, it may offend the listener, so context matters.

양식의 맨 위

The Glory (2022~2023)

🎥 Final Thoughts

In this post, we analyzed the short conversations of “The Glory” and looked at the strong emotions, moral concepts, and religious expressions that are often used in Korean.

 

🎯 Key Points Summary:

- When confirming the other person’s words, expressions like "정말로?", "진짜?", and "설마?" can be used.

- To express strong anger, phrases such as "빡치다", "개빡치다", and "열받다" are used.

- Expressions like "선을 넘다" and "도를 넘다" describe crossing moral boundaries.

- Extreme situations can be expressed with phrases like "이판사판" and "사생결단".

 

In this way, Koreans have many vivid expressions that convey various emotions and situations. Korean dramas, in particular, are an excellent resource for learning these expressions naturally.

If this post helps you learn Korean, we encourage you to explore more drama scenes in the future!

 

🏆 Next Steps:

- Try using the expressions you learned in this post!

- Learn more by analyzing other conversations in dramas.

- Don't miss other content that helps with Korean learning!

 

💬 What are your thoughts? How did you feel about this scene?
Use the expressions you’ve learned and share your thoughts in the comments!