"Mr. Sunshine" Shorts #2: Iconic Lines & Key Expressions to Speak Korean Like a Native

🎥 Mr. Sunshine: Introduction

Mr. Sunshine is a historical K-drama set in the late Joseon Dynasty, a period of great turmoil and change in Korea. The drama follows the story of Eugene Choi (played by Lee Byung-hun), a Korean-born American officer who returns to his homeland and becomes entangled in the struggles of the people fighting for their country’s future. With stunning cinematography, intricate storytelling, and a stellar cast, Mr. Sunshine captures themes of love, patriotism, and identity against Korea's resistance against foreign forces.

This short clip showcases historical Korean expressions and cultural nuances that help learners grasp native-like speech. By analyzing this dialogue, you'll pick up key expressions, understand sentence structures, and gain insight into how Korean was spoken in a historical setting.

 

🎥 "Mr. Sunshine": Short Video

[Source] YouTube @중꺾업

 

🎥 "Mr. Sunshine" Shorts: Meet the Characters

쿠도 하나 (Kim Min-jung)

Kudo Hina is a strong-willed, intelligent businesswoman who owns the Glory Hotel in Hanseong (modern-day Seoul). As a woman navigating a male-dominated society, she plays a crucial role in gathering intelligence and influencing key events in the drama. Her sharp wit and mysterious charm make her one of the most captivating characters in Mr. Sunshine.

 

🎥 "Mr. Sunshine" Shorts: Dialogue

쿠도 하나: “궁에 있는 내관과 궁녀들이 궁으로만 들어오는 귀한 것들을 몰래 빼돌려 파는데 그걸 이이한테만 살 수 있답니다.”

Kudo Hana: "The eunuchs and court ladies in the palace secretly smuggle out rare goods that are only brought into the palace, and you can only buy them from her."

쿠도 하나: “구경들 하셔요.”

Kudo Hana: "Take a look around."

여인 1: “세상에 세상에 이리 예쁜 물건들이 한 곳에 들어 있으니 보기 좋습니다. 그래.”

Woman 1: "Oh my, oh my! Seeing such beautiful things gathered in one place is quite a sight. Indeed."

할멈: “이 비환은 처 멀리 희랍이라는 곳에서 건너온 물건인데 이 비환을 지니고 있으면 마법처럼 염원하던 일을 이룰 수 있다 합니다.”

Old Woman: "This bead ring comes from a faraway land called Greece, and they say that if you carry it, it will magically grant your deepest wish."

여인 2: “할멈이 지어낸 거 아니야?”

Woman 2: "Didn't the old woman merely make that up?"

할멈: “아휴.”

Old Woman: "Oh dear."

여인 1: “부인께서도 염원하는 것이 있으셔요?”

Woman 1: "Madam, do you also have a wish?"

여인 1: “혹 멋진 사내인가? 큭.”

Woman 1: "Could it be... a handsome man? Heh."

여인 1: “부인, 참~ 흐하하하”

Woman 1: "Oh, madam, really~ Haha!"

여인 2: “내 염원이야 늘 로티플 아니면 삼팔광땡이지요. 하하하”

Woman 2: "My wish? It's always a royal straight flush win or a bright pair of 3 and 8. Haha!"

🐾 bright pair of 3 and 8: "Seotda" is a traditional Korean card game played with a deck of Hanafuda cards (also known as Korean "Hwatu" cards). The game is typically played with two or more players, and the goal is to create the most substantial hand based on specific card combinations. The game involves strategy, bluffing, and luck, making it highly engaging and competitive. Sam-pal-gwang-ttaeng" (3-8 Bright Pair) is the most powerful hand in Seotda. It consists of the March Bright Card (3 광) and the August Bright Card (8 광). This combination beats all other hands and allows the player holding it to win the round, taking all the bets placed by other participants.

 

쿠도 하나: “이이의 말솜씨에 얼마를 쓰나 모르겠습니다.”

Kudo Hana: "I wonder how much they'll spend on his smooth talking."

쿠도 하나: “이건 내가 사 할멈, 과연 제가 찾는 것이 찾아지려나요?"”

Kudo Hana: "I'll buy this, old woman. Do you think what I'm searching for will truly be found?"

여인2: (웃는다.)

Woman 2: (laughs.)

 

🎯 Key Takeaways

1. 몰래 빼돌리다 (Secretly Divert, Embezzle)

This phrase means secretly taking away something, often implying illicit or sneaky behavior.

 

📌 Example Usage

"회계 담당자가 회사 돈을 몰래 빼돌렸다."

"The accountant secretly embezzled the company’s money."

"그는 증거를 몰래 빼돌리려다 발각되었다."

"He was caught trying to remove the evidence secretly."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

슬쩍 가져가다 (To Sneak Something Away) – Implies taking something stealthily.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 남의 물건을 슬쩍 가져가는 습관이 있다."

"He has a habit of sneaking away other people’s belongings."

 

2. 살 수 있다 (Can Buy, Be Able to Purchase)

This phrase indicates the ability to buy something due to financial means or availability.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이제는 내가 원하는 차를 살 수 있다."

"Now I can buy the car I want."

 

"할인을 받아서 더 저렴하게 살 수 있다."

"I can buy it cheaper with a discount."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

구매 가능하다 (Available for Purchase) – More formal, often used in business contexts.

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 제품은 온라인에서만 구매 가능합니다."

"This product is available for purchase only online."

 

3. 구경하다 (To Look Around, To Sightsee)

This phrase means to observe something out of curiosity, often referring to sightseeing or browsing.

 

📌 Example Usage

"시장에서 다양한 물건을 구경했다."

"I looked around at the various goods in the market."

 

"관광객들은 명동에서 밤늦게까지 구경한다."

"Tourists browse around Myeongdong late into the night."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

둘러보다 (To Look Around) – More general, can be used for checking places or items.

 

📌 Example Usage

"새로 오픈한 카페를 둘러봤다."

"I looked around the newly opened café."

 

4. 보기 좋다 (Looks Good, Appealing)

This phrase expresses that something or someone looks good or is pleasant to see.

 

📌 Example Usage

"정원이 깔끔하게 정리되어 있어서 보기 좋다."

"The garden is neatly arranged, so it looks good."

 

"두 사람이 함께 있는 모습이 보기 좋다."

"They look good together."

 

🎨 Expressions

잘 어울리다 (Looks Good Together) – Often used for fashion or relationships.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그 옷이 너한테 정말 잘 어울려."

"That outfit looks pretty good on you."

 

5. 염원하다 (To Earnestly Wish, To Aspire)

This phrase means sincerely wishing or hoping for something, often used in severe or heartfelt situations.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그들은 세계 평화를 염원했다."

"They earnestly wished for world peace."

 

"오랫동안 염원하던 일이 드디어 이루어졌다."

"The long-held wish has finally come true."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

소망하다 (To Hope for Something) – A softer and more common way to express hope.

 

📌 Example Usage

"행복한 삶을 소망합니다."

"I hope for a happy life."

 

6. 지어내다 (To Make Up, To Fabricate)

This phrase means to create a story or a lie that isn’t true.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 핑계를 지어내는 데 능숙하다."

"He is skilled at making up excuses."

 

"그 이야기는 완전히 지어낸 것이다."

"That story is completely fabricated."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

꾸며내다 (To Invent a Story) – Emphasizes creativity or deception in storytelling.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 자기가 겪은 일처럼 꾸며내서 이야기했다."

"He told the story as if he had experienced it himself."

 

7. 부인 (Wife)

As a noun meaning "wife," it is a formal term for someone's spouse.

 

📌 Example Usage

“회장의 부인이 자선 행사에 참여했다."

"The chairman’s wife attended the charity event."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

아내 (Wife) - More commonly used in casual speech.

 

📌 Example Usage

"내 아내는 요리를 아주 잘한다."

"My wife is very good at cooking."

 

8. 멋진 사내 (A Cool/Great Man)

This phrase describes an admirable, attractive, or respectable man.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 정말 멋진 사내다."

"He is a very cool guy."

 

"그 멋진 사내가 우리 회사의 CEO다."

"That great man is the CEO of our company."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

훌륭한 남자 (An Excellent Man) – Focuses more on virtues than appearance.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 훌륭한 남편이자 아버지다."

"He is an excellent husband and father."

 

9. 말솜씨 (Speaking Skills, Eloquence)

This phrase refers to a person’s ability to speak well, convincingly, or eloquently.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그의 말솜씨가 좋아서 협상이 잘됐다."

"His eloquence helped the negotiation go smoothly."

 

"말솜씨가 좋은 사람은 어디서든 환영받는다."

"People with good speaking skills are welcomed anywhere."

 

🌀 Similar Expressions

화술 (Art of Speaking) – More refined, often used for professional speaking skills.

 

📌 Example Usage

"그는 뛰어난 화술을 가지고 있다."

"He has excellent speaking skills."

🎥 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.

 

쿠도 하나: “궁에 있는 내관과 궁녀들이 궁으로만 들어오는 귀한 것들을 몰래 빼돌려 파는데 그걸 이이한테만 살 수 있답니다.”

🔍 Analysis

- "궁에 있는": "궁 (palace)" + "-에 (location particle, at/in)" + "있는 (present participle of '있다', meaning 'existing in')."

- "내관과 궁녀들이": "내관 (eunuch)" + "과 (and)" + "궁녀들 (court ladies, female attendants)" + "-이 (subject marker)."

- "궁으로만 들어오는": "궁 (palace)" + "으로만 (only into, exclusively for)" + "들어오다 (to enter, to come in)" + "는 (adnominal ending)."

- "귀한 것들을": "귀한 (precious, valuable)" + "것들 (things, items)" + "을 (object marker)."

- "몰래 빼돌려 파는데": "몰래 (secretly)" + "빼돌리다 (to divert, to smuggle out)" + "-어 (sequential action)." + "팔다 (to sell)" + "-는데 (providing context)."

• “빼돌리다” → “빼돌려”

- "그걸 이이한테만 살 수 있답니다.": "그걸 (that, referring to the stolen goods)" + "이이 (this person, a specific individual)" + "-한테만 (only to this person)" + "살 수 있다 (can buy)" + "-답니다 (hearsay ending, indicating reported speech)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"궁에서만 들어오는 귀한 물건을 몰래 빼돌려서 특정한 사람만 살 수 있어."

"They secretly smuggle out rare goods that only come into the palace, and only certain people can buy them."

 

☀️ Meaning

"내관과 궁녀들이 궁에서만 볼 수 있는 귀한 물건들을 몰래 빼돌려서 파는데, 오직 특정한 사람만 그걸 살 수 있다."

"Eunuchs and court ladies secretly smuggle out rare goods that only enter the palace, and only certain people can buy them."

 

쿠도 하나: “구경들 하셔요.”

🔍 Analysis

- "구경들 하셔요.": "구경 (sightseeing, looking around)" + "들 (plural emphasis, inviting a group)" + "하시다 (honorific verb for 'to do')" + "-어요 (polite ending)."

• "하다" → "하시다" → "하시어요" → "하셔요" (abbreviation).

 

📌 Example Usage

"여기 있는 물건들 마음껏 구경하세요."

"Please take your time and look around these goods."

 

☀️ Meaning

"자유롭게 물건들을 구경하세요."

"Feel free to look around."

 

여인1: “세상에 세상에 이리 예쁜 물건들이 한 곳에 들어 있으니 보기 좋습니다. 그래.”

🔍 Analysis

- "세상에 세상에": An exclamation expressing surprise, shock, or disbelief.

- "이리 예쁜 물건들이 한 곳에 들어 있으니": "이리 (this way, like this)" + "예쁜 (pretty, adjective)" + "물건들 (things)" + "-이 (subject marker)" + "한 곳에 (in one place)" + "들어 있다 (to be contained, to be gathered in)" + "-으니 (since, because)."

• "-으니": A connective ending that indicates the preceding clause is the reason or basis for the following clause.

- "보기 좋습니다.": "보다 (to see)" + "-기 (nominalization)" + "좋다 (to be good)" + "-습니다 (formal polite ending)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"이렇게 예쁜 물건들이 한 곳에 모여 있어서 정말 보기 좋아."

"Seeing such beautiful things gathered in one place is so nice."

 

☀️ Meaning

"예쁜 물건들이 한 곳에 모여 있어서 보기가 참 좋다."

"These beautiful things gathered in one place look very nice."

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"보기 좋습니다" → "보기 조씀니다."

 

할멈: “이 비환은 처 멀리 희랍이라는 곳에서 건너온 물건인데 이 비환을 지니고 있으면 마법처럼 염원하던 일을 이룰 수 있다 합니다.”

🔍 Analysis

- "이 비환은": "이 (this)" + "비환 (jade ring, special item)" + "은 (topic marker)."

- "저 멀리 희랍이라는 곳에서": "저 멀리 (far away)" + "희랍 (Greece, old Korean term)" + "-이라는 (called, indirect quote)" + "곳에서 (from a place)."

- "건너온 물건인데": "건너오다 (to come over)" + "-ㄴ 물건 (thing that came over)" + "-인데 (but, explanatory ending)."

- "이 비환을 지니고 있으면": "이 (this)" + "비환 (jade ring)" + "을 (object marker)" + "지니다 (to possess, to keep)" + "-고 있다 (continuous state)" + "-으면 (if…)."

- "마법처럼 염원하던 일을 이룰 수 있다 합니다.": "마법처럼 (like magic)" + "염원하던 (long-desired)" + "일을 (a matter, something)" + "이루다 (to achieve)" + "-ㄹ 수 있다 (can do)" + "합니다 (hearsay, reporting speech)."

• "염원하다" + "-던" (past tense descriptive auxiliary ending) → "염원하던" (something that was long desired).

• "이루다" → "이룰 수 있다" (to be able to achieve).

 

📌 Example Usage

"이 반지는 먼 나라에서 온 것이고, 소원을 들어준다고 해."

"This ring came from a distant country, and they say it grants wishes."

 

☀️ Meaning

"이 비환은 먼 그리스에서 온 물건이고, 가지고 있으면 마법처럼 소원을 이룰 수 있다고 전해집니다."

"This jade ring came from distant Greece, and they say that if you have it, you can achieve your wishes as if by magic."

 

여인2: “할멈이 지어낸 거 아니야?”

🔍 Analysis

- "할멈이 지어낸 거 아니야?": "할멈 (old lady, affectionate term for elderly woman)" + "-이 (subject marker)" + "지어내다 (to make up, to fabricate)" + "-ㄴ 거 (thing that…)" + "아니야? (isn't it?)."

• "지어내다" + "-ㄴ" (adnominal ending) → "지어낸" + "것" (noun, meaning 'thing' or 'matter') → "지어낸 것"

• "아니다" + "-야" → "아니야" (casual question ending)

 

📌 Example Usage

"그거 그냥 꾸며낸 이야기 아니야?"

"Isn't that just a made-up story?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"할멈이 꾸며낸 이야기 아니야?"

"Isn't the old lady making it up?"

할멈: “아휴.”

🔍 Analysis

"아휴": An exclamatory expression conveying fatigue, frustration, or a sighing emotion.

📌 Example Usage

"아휴, 정말 힘들다."

"Sigh, this is very exhausting."

 

☀️ Meaning

"아휴, 진짜 답답하네."

"Sigh, this is very frustrating." 

여인1: “부인께서도 염원하는 것이 있으셔요?”

🔍 Analysis

- "부인께서도 염원하는 것이 있으셔요?": "부인 (madam, wife, respectful term)" + "-께서 (honorific subject marker)" + "-도 (additive particle, ‘also, too’)" + "염원하다 (to earnestly wish for)" + "-는 (adnominal ending for present tense, topic marker in some cases)" + "것이 (thing that…)" + "있으셔요? (honorific form of '있어요' - do you have?)."

• "있다" → "있어요" → "있으셔요"

 

📌 Example Usage

"부인도 간절히 바라는 것이 있으신가요?"

"Do you also have something you deeply wish for?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"부인께서도 간절히 원하는 것이 있으신가요?"

"Do you also have something you earnestly wish for?"

 

여인1: “혹 멋진 사내인가? 큭.”

🔍 Analysis

- "혹": "혹시 (perhaps, by any chance)"의 줄임말로, 가능성을 암시하는 표현.

- "멋진 사내": "멋진 (cool, handsome, admirable)" + "사내 (man, fellow)" → "멋진 사내" ("a great man").

- "인가?": "이다 (to be)" + "-ㄴ가? (question form, wondering)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"혹시 멋진 남자를 꿈꾸시는 건가요?"

"Perhaps you're dreaming of a great man?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"혹시 원하시는 것이 멋진 남자인가요?"

"Is what you wish for perhaps a great man?"

 

여인1: “부인, 참~ 흐하하하”

🔍 Analysis

- "부인": "부인 (madam, wife, respectful address to a woman)."

- "참~": An exclamatory expression conveying nuances of 'really' or 'being dumbfounded'.

- "흐하하하": Used as a laughing sound, typically for lighthearted or playful laughter.

 

📌 Example Usage

"부인, 정말 재미있으시네요! 하하하."

"Madam, you’re really funny! Hahaha."

 

☀️ Meaning

"부인, 정말 웃기네요! 하하하."

"Madam, you’re really funny! Hahaha."

  

여인 2: "내 염원이야 늘 로티플 아니면 삼팔광땡이지요. 하하하."

🔍 Analysis

- "내 염원이야": "내 (my)" + "염원 (wish, desire)" + casual copula "-이야 (is, it's)."

- "늘": "항상 (always)," an adverb indicating consistency or repetition.

- "로티플": A shortened form of "로열 스트레이트 플러시 (royal straight flush)," one of the highest hands in card games.

- "아니면": "or, if not."

- "삼팔광땡이지요": "삼팔광땡 (a high-ranking card combination in hwatu)" + emphatic and friendly ending "-이지요."

 

📌 Example Usage

"내 소원은 늘 1등 아니면 꽝이지."

"My wish? It's always first place or nothing."

 

☀️ Meaning

"내 바람은 항상 최고의 패를 받는 거야."

"My wish is always to get the best hand."

 

쿠도 하나: "이이의 말솜씨에 얼마를 쓰나 모르겠습니다."

🔍 Analysis

- "이이의": "이이 (this lady)" + possessive marker "-의 (of)."

🐾 "이이": "이이" is an old Korean term meaning "this person," originally used without gender distinction.

- "말솜씨에": "말 (speech, words)" + "솜씨 (skill, ability)" + dative "-에 (on, regarding)."

- "얼마를 쓰나": "얼마 (how much)" + object marker "-를" + "쓰다 (to spend, to use)" + speculative "-나 (wondering, uncertain)."

- "모르겠습니다": "모르다 (to not know)" + polite deferential ending "-겠습니다 (formal, polite)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"그 사람 말솜씨에 사람들이 얼마를 쓰는지 모르겠어."

"I don't know how much people spend on his smooth talking."

 

☀️ Meaning

"이 사람의 말솜씨에 얼마나 많은 돈이 들어가는지 모르겠어요."

"I have no idea how much is spent on her eloquence."

 

쿠도 하나: "이건 내가 사 할멈, 과연 제가 찾는 것이 찾아지려나요?"

🔍 Analysis

- "이건 내가 사": "이것 (this)" + topic marker "-은" + "내가 (I, subject)" + verb "사다 (to buy)" in present tense.

• "이것은" → "이건" (contracted form).

• "사다" + vocative ending "-아" → "사."

- "할멈": A colloquial term for "할머니 (old woman, elderly lady)."

- "과연": An adverb meaning "indeed, truly, really," often used for emphasis.

- "제가 찾는 것이": "저 (I, formal)" + subject marker "-가" + "찾다 (to search for)" + adnominal "-는" + "것 (thing, object)." + “-이” (topic marker)

- "찾아지려나요?": "찾다 (to find)" + passive "-아지다 (to become found, to be discovered)" + speculative "-려나요? (I wonder, will it?)."

 

📌 Example Usage

"내가 원하는 게 과연 찾아질까?"

"Will what I want truly be found?"

 

☀️ Meaning

"내가 찾는 것이 정말로 발견될까요?"

"Will what I'm looking for really be found?"

 

🗣️ Pronunciation Tips

"찾아지려나요" → "차자지려나요" (connected pronunciation due to phonetic flow).

여인2: (웃는다.)

Woman 2: (laughs.)

Mr. Sunshine (2018)

 

🎥 Mr. Sunshine Shorts: Wrap-up

Through this short scene, we've explored essential Korean expressions like “몰래 빼돌리다” (to divert secretly) and “말솜씨” (eloquence, speaking skills), gaining insight into how these phrases were used. Whether you're a beginner or an advanced learner, studying honest dialogue from dramas like Mr. Sunshine enhances your listening comprehension and understanding of natural speech patterns.

To reinforce your learning, repeat the lines aloud, mimic the characters' tones, and incorporate the expressions into your conversations. Want to master more K-drama expressions? Stay tuned for the next Mr. Sunshine Shorts breakdown!