Korean Academic Writing: Posing the Question with -는가, 이라든가
Korean essays open by posing the problem in written register: -는가 frames a formal question (왜 교육이 중요한가 — why does education matter?), 이라든가 lists examples (교육이라든가 복지라든가 — things like education or welfare), and -음 jots the outline. The launchpad for TOPIK II writing question 54.
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Written by Alvin Lim Certified Korean Language Teacher (Level 2)
Korean academic writing opens by posing the problem in a written register the spoken language never uses: -는가 frames the essay’s central question (왜 교육이 중요한가 — why does education matter?), 이라든가 lists representative examples (교육이라든가 복지라든가 — fields such as education or welfare), and the clipped -음 jots your outline before you write full sentences. This is Chapter 4 — the launchpad for TOPIK II writing question 54, the 600–700-character argumentative essay.
This chapter is a reinforced four-lesson thread: pose the question (here), generalize your argument, analyze cause and effect, then counter the other side. You already write formal -습니다 Korean and can present with structure; now we move from speaking formally to writing an argument. Start with the vocabulary of the essay itself.
Ten words for building an argument
The scaffolding of any 논술 (argumentative essay).
Posing the essay’s question — -는가
To frame a question in written register — to the reader, or to no one in particular — attach -는가 (verbs) or -(으)ㄴ가 (adjectives, 이다). This is how an essay states the problem it will answer.
왜 교육이 그토록 중요한가? = why is education so important? (adjective) 무엇이 진짜 문제인가? = what is the real problem? (이다) 우리는 이 위기를 어떻게 해결하는가? = how do we solve this crisis? (verb) 과연 성장은 행복을 보장하는가? = does growth really guarantee happiness?
Notice it never addresses a specific listener — 중요한가? is not 중요해요?. It opens an essay or editorial by putting the question in the air. Pair it with 과연, 왜, or 무엇이 for a crisp 서론 hook.
Listing examples — 이라든가
To gesture at a category with a couple of representative examples (implying others exist), use N(이)라든가.
교육이라든가 복지라든가 하는 분야 = fields such as education or welfare 세금이라든가 규제라든가 여러 수단이 있다 = there are tools such as taxes or regulations 유튜브라든가 블로그라든가 새 매체 = new media like YouTube or blogs 속도라든가 비용이라든가, 따질 게 많다 = there’s a lot to weigh — speed, cost, and so on
Unlike 와/과 (which joins a closed set — 교육과 복지 = those two) or -거나 (which picks between options), 이라든가 says “for example, A or B” and leaves the list open. Attach 라든가 after a vowel, 이라든가 after a consonant.
The outline before the sentences — -음
When you plan, jot each point in the clipped -음/-ㅁ noun style. It’s real written Korean for notes, headings, and outlines — but you expand it into full sentences for the essay body.
주제: 청년 실업 — 무엇이 문제인가? 서론: 실업률이 매년 상승함 · 교육이라든가 일자리 정책이라든가 대책이 필요함 본론 1: 원인 — 일자리가 부족함, 미스매치가 심함 본론 2: 영향 — 결혼·출산이 미뤄짐 결론: 단기 지원보다 구조 개혁이 시급함
Plan in -음 (감소함, 필요함, 시급함), then write the real paragraphs with full endings. Never hand in the outline as the essay.
Planning a 54-번 essay with a study partner
Two test-takers sketching an introduction — every tool from this lesson, live:
There’s your 서론: pose the question with -는가, gesture at the field with 이라든가, sketch the plan in -음. The next lesson turns the plan into argued generalizations.
FAQ
How is the written question -는가 different from a normal spoken question? -는가/-(으)ㄴ가 is the impersonal, written-register question used in essays, editorials, and rhetorical framing — it poses a question to the reader (or to no one in particular) rather than asking a specific listener. 왜 교육이 중요한가 = why is education important (the essay’s question), versus the spoken 교육이 왜 중요해요? addressed to someone. Verbs take -는가 (해결하는가), adjectives and 이다 take -(으)ㄴ가 (중요한가, 문제인가). It often pairs with 과연/왜/무엇이 to open an essay. Don’t use it to ask a real person across the table — that’s what -아요/-습니까 are for.
When do I use 이라든가 instead of just 하고 or -거나? (이)라든가 lists representative examples of a category and implies the list isn’t exhaustive — ‘such as / things like.’ 교육이라든가 복지라든가 (정책 분야) = policy areas such as education or welfare (and others). 하고/와 simply joins items (교육과 복지 = education and welfare, the two of them), and -거나 offers alternatives to choose between (교육하거나 복지하거나 = either do education or welfare). In essay introductions, 이라든가 is handy for gesturing at a field with a couple of examples before you narrow down. Use it on nouns: vowel-final → 라든가 (복지라든가), consonant-final → 이라든가 (교육이라든가).
What is the -음 outline style, and is it real grammar I can write? -음/-ㅁ nominalizes a clause into a compact noun phrase — the ‘memo’ style you use for outlines, headings, and notes: 출산율이 감소함 (birth rate declining), 대책이 필요함 (countermeasures needed). It’s genuine written Korean, common in reports, bullet outlines, and the planning stage of a 54-번 essay, but you do NOT write the final essay body entirely in -음 — that reads as note fragments. Use -음 to plan (서론: 문제 제기함 / 본론: 원인 분석함 / 결론: 대안 제시함), then expand each point into full sentences with proper endings. This lesson launches the TOPIK II writing thread; the next lessons build the body.
Next: generalizing your argument — -기 마련이다, -는 법이다. Previous: business emails — -을 테지만, 를 가지고. Full path: curriculum hub.