Korean Honorifics and Forms of Address

There is no universal label

Names, 님, job titles, family terms, and polite sentence endings each fit different contexts. The best choice is often the one the person asks you to use.

Role can be clearer than age

At work or in service settings, a role title may be more useful than guessing someone’s age or closeness.

Match the sentence to the address

A respectful title does not make an otherwise casual command polite. Pay attention to both the word used for the person and the sentence ending. In a new setting, listen to how colleagues address the same person and use a neutral, polite sentence until the local pattern is clear.

Repair is normal

If you use the wrong form, a short apology and adjustment is enough. Respect grows through attention, not perfection.