Korean Grammar Point
~기로 되다 [giro dweda] (It is decided/settled)

Used to express that something has been officially decided or settled.

Formation

Verb stem + 기로 되다

Examples

우리는 다음 주에 여행 가기로 되었어요. 날짜는 이미 정해졌어요.

Urineun daeum ju-e yeohaeng gagiro doeeosseoyo. Naljja-neun imi jeonghaejyeosseoyo.

It's been decided that we'll travel next week. The date has already been set.

그녀는 자세한 계획을 세우기로 되었어요. 다음 달에 결혼식을 준비 중이에요.

Geunyeoneun jasehan gyehoekeul seugiro doeeosseoyo. Daeum dale gyeolhonsigeul junbi jungieyo.

It was settled that she would make a detailed plan. She’s preparing for a wedding next month.

우리는 매주 목요일마다 회의를 하기로 되었어요, 모든 팀원이 참석할 수 있는 시간이에요.

Urineun maeju mogyoil-mada hoeuireul hagiro doeeosseoyo, modeun timweon-i chamseokhal su itneun siganieyo.

It has been decided that we’ll hold meetings every Thursday, as that’s a time everyone can attend.

누구를 팀 리더로 선발할지는 이미 결정되었고, 그가 그 역할을 맡기로 되었어요.

Nugureul tim lideoro seonbalhaljineun imi gyeoljeongdoeeotgo, geuga geu yeokhareul matgiro doeeosseoyo.

Who would be chosen as the team leader was already decided, and he was settled to take on that role.

Long Explanation

'~기로 되다 [giro dweda]' is used when a decision has been made—often collectively or officially—and is now settled. It is akin to ‘It has been decided that...’ in English.

Detailed Grammar Notes

Processing keyword: ~기로 되다 [giro dweda] (It is decided/settled)

Korean Grammar Point: ~기로 되다 [giro dweda] (It is decided/settled)

1. Introduction

In Korean, expressing decisions or arrangements that have been made often involves specific grammatical constructions. One such construction is ~기로 되다, which is used to indicate that something has been decided or settled, usually by external factors or mutual agreement. This lesson will delve into the usage of ~기로 되다, helping you understand its formation, meaning, and how it differs from similar expressions.


2. Core Grammar Explanation

Meaning and Usage

~기로 되다 is attached to the verb stem to express that it has been decided or arranged for something to happen. The decision is often beyond the speaker's control or is a result of a mutual agreement.

  • 기로: A grammatical particle that means "decide to" when combined with verbs.
  • 되다: Means "to become" or "to be done." Combined, ~기로 되다 translates to "it has been decided to..." or "it is arranged that..."

Structure

The structure of ~기로 되다 is straightforward:

  1. Verb Stem + -기로 되다

Formation Diagram

[Verb Stem] + 기로 되다
  • 가다 (to go) → 가기로 되다 (It is decided to go)
  • 회의하다 (to have a meeting) → 회의하기로 되다 (It is decided to have a meeting)

Visual Aid: Conjugation Table

Verb (Dictionary Form) Verb Stem ~기로 되다 Form Meaning
가다 (to go) 가기로 되다 It is decided to go
만나다 (to meet) 만나 만나기로 되다 It is decided to meet
시작하다 (to start) 시작하 시작하기로 되다 It is decided to start
끝나다 (to end) 끝나 끝나기로 되다 It is decided to end

3. Comparative Analysis

~기로 하다 vs. ~기로 되다

  • ~기로 하다: Indicates a personal decision or intention. The subject decides to do something.
    • Example: 저는 내일부터 운동하기로 했어요. (I decided to exercise from tomorrow.)
  • ~기로 되다: Indicates that something has been decided or arranged, often by external factors or agreement.
    • Example: 회의는 다음 주에 열기로 되었습니다. (It has been decided that the meeting will be held next week.) Key Difference: ~기로 하다 implies the subject's own decision, while ~기로 되다 suggests that the decision has been made by others or as a result of circumstances.

4. Examples in Context

Formal Context

  1. 회의는 월요일에 열기로 되었습니다.
    • It has been decided that the meeting will be held on Monday.
  2. 새로운 정책은 다음 달부터 시행되기로 되었다.
    • It has been settled that the new policy will be implemented starting next month.

Informal Context

  1. 우리 내일 만나기로 됐어.
    • It's been decided that we'll meet tomorrow.
  2. 영화는 취소되기로 됐다고 들었어.
    • I heard that the movie has been decided to be canceled.

Written Context

  1. 공사는 이번 주말에 시작되기로 되었다.
    • It has been arranged that the construction will start this weekend.

Spoken Context

  1. 파티는 저녁 7시에 시작하기로 됐어요.
    • It's been decided that the party will start at 7 PM.

5. Cultural Notes

Levels of Politeness and Formality

In Korean, politeness levels are crucial. ~기로 되다 can be used in both formal and informal situations, but the verb 되다 can be conjugated accordingly.

  • Formal Polite: 되었습니다, 되었다
  • Informal Polite: 됐어요, 됐다
  • Informal: 됐어

Cultural Relevance

Using ~기로 되다 reflects a passive stance, indicating that the speaker is referring to a decision made by a group or external factors, which aligns with the collectivist nature of Korean society where group decisions are common.

6. Common Mistakes and Tips

Error Analysis

  • Mixing up with ~기로 하다: Learners often confuse ~기로 되다 with ~기로 하다. Remember that ~기로 하다 is for personal decisions, while ~기로 되다 is for external or agreed-upon decisions.
  • Incorrect Verb Stem Usage: Ensure you attach 기로 되다 directly to the verb stem without any additional particles.

Learning Strategies

  • Mnemonic Device: Associate 되다 with "become" or "be done" to remember that ~기로 되다 implies the decision has been made by others or circumstances.
  • Practice with Common Verbs: Use frequently used verbs to form sentences, which will help internalize the structure.

7. Summary and Review

Key Takeaways

  • ~기로 되다 is used to express that it has been decided or arranged for something to happen.
  • The decision is typically made by external factors or mutual agreement, not solely by the speaker.
  • It differs from ~기로 하다, which indicates personal decision or intention.

Quick Recap Quiz

  1. How do you express "It has been decided to travel next month" using ~기로 되다?
  2. What is the key difference between ~기로 하다 and ~기로 되다?
  3. Fill in the blank: 회의는 오후 3시에 시작_______.

Answers:

  1. 다음 달에 여행하기로 되었어요.
  2. ~기로 하다 indicates a personal decision; ~기로 되다 indicates a decision made by others or by agreement.
  3. 시작되기로 되었습니다.

By mastering ~기로 되다, you'll be able to accurately describe decisions or arrangements that have been made, enhancing both your understanding and communication in Korean.


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