1. Introduction to the text
This reading lesson is about a tragic accident that occurred when a 60-year-old man, who was known as a skilled crane operator, was killed while working on a job site. The article discusses the details of the accident and the aftermath for the man’s family.
2. Vocabulary
| Korean Word | Romanization | English Meaning | Contextual Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 씨는 | ssi-neun | Mr./Ms. | 조 모 씨는 정년까지 크레인을 다뤘습니다. |
| 합니다 | hamnida | to do | 가족과 조 씨는 주말에 만나 “추석에 무엇을 할까”, “손녀에게 자전거를 사주겠다”며 미래에 대한 이야기를 나누었다고 합니다. |
| 직접 | jikjeok | directly, in person | 가족들의 걱정에도 다시 현장으로 나선 겁니다. |
| 사고 | sago | accident | 11시 반에 돌아가셨는데 그 시간 동안 저희한테는 설명 자체가 없고…엄청 답답했죠. |
| 크레인 | keurein | crane | 조 모 씨는 정년까지 크레인을 다뤘습니다. |
3. The main text in both Korean and English
60대 남성 조 모 씨는 정년까지 크레인을 다뤘습니다. 기술이 좋아 현장에서는 ‘기감(기계감독)님’이라는 별명으로 불렸습니다.
Mr. Jo, a 60-year-old man, operated cranes until his retirement. He was highly skilled and was known on the job site as “Gisamnimm” (a nickname for a machinery supervisor).
가족들의 걱정에도 다시 현장으로 나선 겁니다. 가족과 조 씨는 주말에 만나 “추석에 무엇을 할까”, “손녀에게 자전거를 사주겠다”며 미래에 대한 이야기를 나누었다고 합니다.
Despite his family’s concerns, he returned to the job site. On the weekends, Mr. Jo and his family would meet and discuss their plans for the upcoming Chuseok holiday and his plan to buy a bicycle for his granddaughter.
윈치의 무게는 6톤가량이었습니다. 11시 반에 돌아가셨는데 그 시간 동안 저희한테는 설명 자체가 없고…엄청 답답했죠.
The winch he was operating weighed around 6 tons. He passed away at 11:30 am, but during that time, his family received no explanation from the company… it was incredibly frustrating for them.
NOV 사장은 유가족들에게 ” 어떻게 하라고 본사로부터 얘기 나온 게 없다 , 해줄 수 있는 말 자체가 없다”는 식으로 말했다고 합니다.
The NOV president reportedly told the bereaved family, “I haven’t received any instructions from the headquarters on how to handle this, and I don’t have anything to say to you.”
가족들은 안타깝게도 조 씨의 죽음 이후에도 회사로부터 충분한 설명과 지원을 받지 못했습니다. 이 사고로 인해 가족들은 큰 충격과 슬픔을 겪고 있습니다.
Sadly, the family did not receive adequate explanation or support from the company even after Mr. Jo’s death. This accident has caused immense shock and grief for his family.
현장에서 일하는 근로자들의 안전과 회사의 책임에 대한 사회적 관심이 필요해 보입니다.
There seems to be a need for greater social attention on the safety of workers on job sites and the responsibilities of companies.
4. Reading comprehension questions
- Who was Mr. Jo, and what was his role at the job site?
- What were Mr. Jo and his family discussing on the weekends?
- What was the weight of the winch that Mr. Jo was operating when the accident occurred?
- How did the NOV president respond to the bereaved family after the accident?
- What challenges did the family face after Mr. Jo’s death?
5. Cultural and historical notes
Chuseok is one of the most important traditional holidays in Korea, a time when families gather to celebrate the autumn harvest and honor their ancestors. The story highlights the tragic loss of a family member during this significant cultural event, and the lack of support from the company, which is a concerning issue that deserves greater attention in Korean society.