1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson discusses a woman’s experience with her long-term boyfriend who was having an affair with a married woman from his workplace. The woman sought advice from an online community about how to handle the situation.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 동거 | dongeo | to live together | We have been living together for 6 years. |
| 바람 | balam | an affair | My boyfriend is having an affair with a married woman from his company. |
| 유부녀 | yubunnyeo | a married woman | The woman he is having an affair with is a married woman from his company. |
| 박살내다 | baksalneda | to destroy, to smash | I want to destroy my boyfriend and the woman he is having an affair with. |
| 입버릇 | ipbureos | a habit | It became a habit for him to stay out late or come home after work. |
| 핑계 | pinggyae | an excuse | He made excuses about having a lot of work or spending time with family. |
| 스트레스 | seuteuleseu | stress | I didn’t want to add more stress by confronting him. |
| 캡처 | kapcheol | to capture, to screenshot | I found screenshots of photos he had taken with the married woman. |
| 연락 | yeonlak | contact, communication | Their communication started last July and became more frequent around the new year. |
| 벌벌 | beolbeol | shivering, trembling | My hands and feet were ice cold and I was trembling. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
한 여성은 온라인 커뮤니티에 자신의 남자 친구가 회사 유부녀와 바람을 피우고 있다고 토로했다. 그녀는 6년째 남자 친구와 동거 중이었지만, 최근 들어 남자 친구의 행동이 의심스러웠다고 한다.
A woman posted on an online community that her boyfriend of 6 years was having an affair with a married woman from his company. She said that her boyfriend’s behavior had become suspicious lately.
남자 친구는 종종 야근을 하거나 다음 날 퇴근 후에 들어오는 일이 잦아졌다. 그는 집안일이나 가족들과의 약속을 핑계로 늦은 귀가를 정당화했다. 하지만 여성은 그의 변명이 이해되지 않았다. 그녀는 남자 친구에게 스트레스를 주고 싶지 않아 그저 걱정만 할 수밖에 없었다.
Her boyfriend would often work late or come home after work the next day. He would make excuses about household chores or family obligations to justify his late returns. However, the woman did not find his excuses convincing. She did not want to add more stress to the situation, so she could only worry.
나중에 여성은 남자 친구가 회사 여직원들과 술자리와 모임에 다녔다는 사실을 알게 되었다. 그녀는 남자 친구의 핸드폰에서 그 여직원과의 사진들을 발견했다. 사진들을 보면서 여성은 몸서리치며 떨었지만, 증거를 확보할 수 있었다.
Later, the woman found out that her boyfriend had been going to drinking parties and gatherings with female coworkers. She discovered photos of him with the married woman on his phone. Seeing the photos made the woman shiver and tremble, but she was able to gather evidence.
지난해 7월부터 남자 친구와 그 여직원의 연락이 시작되었고, 연말연시에는 더욱 친밀해진 것으로 보였다. 여성은 자신의 남자 친구가 회사 유부녀와 바람을 피우고 있다는 사실에 충격을 받았다.
Their communication started last July, and it seemed to have become more intimate around the new year. The woman was shocked to find out that her boyfriend was having an affair with a married woman from his company.
이제 여성은 어떻게 해야 할지 고민하고 있다. 그녀는 남자 친구와 그 여직원을 “박살내고 싶다”고 토로했다. 하지만 그녀는 어떤 조치를 취해야 할지 잘 모르겠다고 말했다.
Now the woman is struggling with what to do. She expressed that she wants to “destroy” her boyfriend and the married woman. However, she is unsure of what actions to take.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- How long had the woman been living with her boyfriend?
- What kind of excuses did the boyfriend make for his late returns home?
- What did the woman find on her boyfriend’s phone?
- When did the boyfriend’s communication with the married woman start?
- What does the woman want to do to her boyfriend and the married woman?
5. Cultural and historical notes
The situation described in this text reflects some common relationship issues in South Korean society, such as infidelity and the pressure to maintain appearances. The woman’s dilemma of how to handle the discovery of her boyfriend’s affair is a sensitive and complex issue that many people may face.