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Korean workplace signs are short. Most signs are one noun plus one key word, such as 금지 (prohibited), 주의 (caution), 착용 (wear) or 엄금 (strictly prohibited). If you learn these key words, you can understand what kind of rule a sign shows, even when you do not know every word on it. This guide groups the most common signs by type and shows how they appear in test-style questions.
Four key words that tell you the rule
| Key word | Meaning | What it tells you | Example |
|---|---|---|---|
| 금지 (geumji) | Prohibited | Do not do this. | 출입 금지 — No entry |
| 엄금 (eomgeum) | Strictly prohibited | Never do this. It is very dangerous. | 화기 엄금 — No open flames |
| 주의 (juui) | Caution | Be careful. There is a danger. | 미끄럼 주의 — Caution: slippery |
| 착용 (chagyong) | Wearing | You must wear this. | 안전모 착용 — Wear a safety helmet |
The word in front of the key word tells you the thing or the action. In 출입 금지, 출입 means "going in and out" and 금지 means "prohibited".
Prohibition signs: 금지 and 엄금
These signs tell you what you must not do.
| Korean | Meaning | Note |
|---|---|---|
| 금연 | No smoking | One short word: 금 (prohibit) + 연 (smoke) |
| 흡연 금지 | No smoking | Same meaning as 금연 |
| 출입 금지 | No entry | |
| 관계자 외 출입 금지 | Authorised staff only | 관계자 = people in charge, 외 = except |
| 사용 금지 | Do not use | Often on a broken machine |
| 촬영 금지 | No photos or filming | |
| 화기 엄금 | No open flames | 화기 = fire, flames |
엄금 is stronger than 금지. You often see it near fuel, gas or chemicals.
Warning signs: 주의, 조심 and 위험
These signs tell you there is a danger and you must be careful.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 위험 | Danger |
| 미끄럼 주의 | Caution: slippery floor |
| 손 조심 | Watch your hands |
| 끼임 주의 | Caution: hands or clothes can get caught |
| 머리 조심 | Watch your head |
| 감전 주의 | Caution: electric shock |
| 추락 위험 | Danger: risk of falling |
| 낙하물 주의 | Caution: falling objects |
| 지게차 주의 | Watch out for forklifts |
주의 and 조심 both mean "be careful". 조심 is more everyday. 주의 is more formal and very common on printed signs.
Mandatory signs: 착용
착용 signs tell you what you must wear. When a supervisor says the same rule out loud, the verb changes with the item.
| Sign | Meaning | Spoken instruction |
|---|---|---|
| 안전모 착용 | Wear a safety helmet | 안전모를 쓰세요. |
| 안전화 착용 | Wear safety shoes | 안전화를 신으세요. |
| 장갑 착용 | Wear gloves | 장갑을 끼세요. |
| 보안경 착용 | Wear safety glasses | 보안경을 쓰세요. |
| 마스크 착용 | Wear a mask | 마스크를 쓰세요. |
| 귀마개 착용 | Wear earplugs | 귀마개를 하세요. |
You may also hear 착용하세요 for any of these items. For more words like these, see the workplace safety vocabulary list.
Information and emergency signs
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 비상구 | Emergency exit |
| 소화기 | Fire extinguisher |
| 소화전 | Fire hose cabinet (fire hydrant) |
| 구급함 | First-aid kit |
| 대피로 | Evacuation route |
| 휴게실 | Break room |
| 탈의실 | Changing room |
| 흡연실 | Smoking room |
Common traps
Some signs look similar but mean very different things.
- 금연 vs 흡연실: 금연 means no smoking. 흡연실 is a room where smoking is allowed.
- 화기 vs 소화기: 화기 is fire or flames. 소화기 is the fire extinguisher that puts fire out.
- 출입 금지 vs 출입구: 출입 금지 is a rule (no entry). 출입구 is just a door: the entrance or exit.
- 비상구 vs 비상벨: 비상구 is the emergency exit. 비상벨 is the emergency bell or alarm button.
How to answer a sign question
In practice questions, you may see a sign and four sentences. The correct sentence usually explains the rule in full words. Follow three steps:
- Find the key word: 금지, 엄금, 주의, 착용, or a place word like 비상구.
- Read the word in front of it.
- Choose the sentence with the same rule, even if it uses different words.
| Sign | Sentence with the same meaning |
|---|---|
| 금연 | 담배를 피우면 안 됩니다. (You must not smoke.) |
| 출입 금지 | 들어가면 안 됩니다. (You must not go in.) |
| 안전모 착용 | 안전모를 써야 합니다. (You must wear a safety helmet.) |
| 미끄럼 주의 | 바닥이 미끄러우니까 조심하세요. (The floor is slippery, so be careful.) |
| 화기 엄금 | 불을 사용하면 절대 안 됩니다. (You must never use fire here.) |
Many of these sentences use instruction patterns like -(으)면 안 됩니다 and -아/어야 합니다. You can learn them in understanding workplace instructions.
Mini self-check
Match each sign to its meaning. Answers are below.
| Sign | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 1. 안전화 착용 | A. Smoking room |
| 2. 감전 주의 | B. Wear safety shoes |
| 3. 금연 | C. No smoking |
| 4. 소화기 | D. Fire extinguisher |
| 5. 흡연실 | E. Caution: electric shock |
Answers: 1-B, 2-E, 3-C, 4-D, 5-A.
Next step
Try the sign and short passage questions in the EPS reading practice set. After signs, the next step is longer text: understanding short notices shows you how to find who, when, where and what. More lessons are on the grammar and reading topic page. For official test information, check the EPS official portal.
Sources
- EPS (Employment Permit System) official portal (checked 1 October 2026)
Next scheduled review: 1 January 2027. Found an error? Request a correction.
