Key Facts
- Hangul: 이력서; Revised Romanization: iryeokseo (pronounced [i-ryeok-sseo])
- Part of speech: noun
- Origin: Sino-Korean, hanja 履歷書 (履 experience + 歷 history + 書 document)
- Register: Neutral, standard term used in job applications.
Resume in Korean: What Does 이력서 Mean?
이력서 is the standard term on job applications and recruiting sites. Three verbs go with it: 이력서를 쓰다 (to write one), 이력서를 보내다 (to send one) and 이력서를 내다 (to submit one). Korean applications often ask for two documents, the 이력서 and a 자기소개서, a cover letter or self-introduction statement, so both words appear together on job ads. Korean resumes traditionally often include a photo, though this is changing.
How Do You Pronounce 이력서?
Written iryeokseo, three syllables. In speech the last syllable is tensed, so you hear about [i-ryeok-sseo], with a doubled s. The ㄹ at the start of ryeok is a light flap, and the ㄱ that closes it is held without release before the s.
Example Sentences with 이력서
저는 이력서를 써요.
Jeoneun iryeokseoreul sseoyo.
I am writing my resume.
A plain statement of what you are doing. 이력서를 is the object and 써요 is the polite form of "write".
이력서를 이메일로 보내 주세요.
Iryeokseoreul imeillo bonae juseyo.
Please send your resume by email.
A request, as an employer would write. 이메일로 means "by email", and 보내 주세요 asks politely for the resume to be sent.
회사에 이력서를 냈어요.
Hoesae iryeokseoreul naesseoyo.
I submitted my resume to the company.
A report of an action already done. 회사에 means "to the company", and 냈어요 is the past of "submit".
Common Phrases and Collocations
Job-hunting steps use these three verbs.
| Korean | Meaning |
|---|---|
| 이력서를 쓰다 | write a resume |
| 이력서를 내다 | submit a resume |
| 이력서를 보내다 | send a resume |
The Mistake to Avoid
The spelling stays 이력서, while the pronunciation follows the regular tensification rule after ㄱ.
Wrong: Pronouncing the last syllable with a plain s, as in "seo".
Correct: Tense the s: say [i-ryeok-sseo], with the spelling unchanged.
A plain s makes the word sound slightly foreign, while the tense one matches how it is spoken.
이력서 Compared with 자기소개서
A job advertisement may ask for this companion document alongside the resume.
| Word | Meaning | How it differs |
|---|---|---|
| 자기소개서 | cover letter | A cover letter or self-introduction statement; Korean applications often require both 이력서 and 자기소개서. |
Where Does the Word Come From?
이력서 is written 履歷書 in hanja: 履 (experience), 歷 (history) and 書 (document). Put together, it is a "document of your history".
Asking How to Send an Application
An applicant checks the submission method with a recruiter before sending the documents.
Applicant
이력서를 어디로 보내면 될까요?
Iryeokseoreul eodiro bonaemyeon doelkkayo?
Where should I send my resume?
Recruiter
이메일로 보내 주세요.
Imeillo bonae juseyo.
Please send it by email.
Applicant
자기소개서도 필요한가요?
Jagisogaeseodo piryohangayo?
Do I need a self-introduction statement too?
Recruiter
네. 같이 보내 주세요.
Ne. Gachi bonae juseyo.
Yes. Please send them together.
어디로 asks for the destination. 이메일로 in the reply gives the method, so the applicant may still need the actual address. The dialogue separates two practical questions: how to send the application and which documents to include.
도 after 자기소개서 means “also” or “too”. The applicant already knows about the 이력서 and is checking whether the second document is needed as well.
What Do Application Labels Mean?
이력서 양식 means “resume form” or “resume template”. 양식 names the format to fill in, rather than your completed work history. If an employer provides one, the phrase tells you that there is a particular document format associated with the application.
제출 서류 means “documents to submit”. 이력서 may be one item under this heading, alongside a 자기소개서 or other requested material. 제출 방법 means “submission method”, and 제출 기한 means “submission deadline”. Reading these as separate labels helps you find the document list, delivery instructions and timing without assuming that sending a resume covers every requirement.
이력서 작성 uses 작성, “preparation/writing”, for the act of creating the document. It is more typical of forms and instructions than a friend's everyday 이력서를 쓰다. Both concern writing the same document; the written label uses a more administrative word.
Which Verb Matches Your Next Step?
이력서를 쓰다 focuses on composing the resume. 이력서를 보내다 focuses on sending it somewhere. 이력서를 내다 focuses on submitting it as an application. You could write a resume today and send it tomorrow, so choosing the verb tells the listener which stage you have reached.
이력서를 수정하다 means “revise a resume”. 수정하다 is useful when correcting a date, changing contact details or updating a job description. A revised document is still an 이력서; Korean does not need a new document name for an updated version.
English “resume” can also be a verb meaning to start again after a pause. 이력서 only names the application document. When reading an English instruction such as “resume the interview”, the Korean document word would not fit.
Reading the Contents of an 이력서
| Korean | Meaning | Useful note |
|---|---|---|
| 학력 | educational background | Names the education section. |
| 경력 | work experience / career history | Describes past professional experience. |
| 연락처 | contact details | Tells the employer how to reach you. |
| 자격증 | qualification certificate | Names a credential, rather than a previous job. |
| 면접 | interview | A different stage from submitting documents. |
The office vocabulary lesson gives you the wider workplace set. These labels help you recognize the sections of a resume, but the employer's own instructions determine which fields and documents are requested. A 자기소개서 gives you space to explain motivation and experiences in connected writing; an 이력서 presents the history itself.
Quick Self-Test
- Which phrase means a resume template?
- Which verb emphasizes submission: 쓰다 or 내다?
- Does 이력서 translate the English verb “resume”, meaning “start again”?
Show answers
- 이력서 양식.
- 내다, as in 이력서를 내다.
- No. It names a resume or CV document.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do you say "resume" in Korean?
Say 이력서 (iryeokseo). It is neutral and standard on job applications.
How do you say "submit a resume"?
Say 이력서를 내다. To send one by email, 이력서를 보내다.
What is 자기소개서?
It is the cover letter or self-introduction statement that Korean applications often require beside the 이력서.
How is 이력서 pronounced?
About [i-ryeok-sseo], with the last syllable tensed.
Related Words and What to Learn Next
- Workplace nouns are grouped in the office vocabulary list.
- Browse Korean words A to Z for more work vocabulary.
- Add the application documents to your vocabulary flashcard decks.
- The next topic in a job search is pay, on the salary page.