고문관

Korean

Etymology

Sino-Korean word from 顧問 (“advice”) + 官 (“official”). According to the Standard Korean Language Dictionary, the slang usage derives from American military advisors during the American occupation after World War II, who were unable to speak Korean and generally perceived as incompetent.

Pronunciation

• (SK Standard/Seoul) IPA^(key): [ko̞munɡwa̠n]
• Phonetic hangul: [고문관]

Romanizations
Revised Romanization?	gomun'gwan
Revised Romanization (translit.)?	gomungwan
McCune–Reischauer?	komun'gwan
Yale Romanization?	komunkwan

Noun

고문관 • (gomun'gwan) (hanja 顧問官)

1. (military slang) a maladapted conscript, a conscript who cannot adapt to army life

   Synonym: 폐급(廢級) (pyegeup)

2. (original meaning) a consulting official, an official advisor

   Synonym: 고문(顧問) (gomun)

See also

• 관심병사(關心兵士) (gwansimbyeongsa)