All Episodes

August 23, 2025 14 mins
Fluent Fiction - Korean: In the Ruins: A Journey from Isolation to Trust
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-08-23-22-34-02-ko

Story Transcript:

Ko: 여름이었다.
En: It was summer.

Ko: 강렬한 햇빛이 허물어져 가는 도시 위로 내리쬐고 있었다.
En: The intense sunlight was beating down on the crumbling city.

Ko: 도시 시장은 예전에 활기찼지만, 이제는 자연이 그 자리를 차지하고 있었다.
En: The city market had once been bustling, but now nature had taken over.

Ko: 덩굴이 부스 위를 덮고, 콘크리트 틈 사이에서 야생화가 피어있었다.
En: Vines covered the stalls, and wildflowers bloomed through the cracks in the concrete.

Ko: 시장 폐허 한가운데, 민준은 음식과 도구를 찾고 있었다.
En: In the middle of the market ruins, Minjun was searching for food and tools.

Ko: 그러나 그는 찾을 것이 별로 없음을 알았다.
En: However, he realized there wasn't much to find.

Ko: "거기 누구 있어요?" 희미한 목소리가 들렸다.
En: "Is anyone there?" came a faint voice.

Ko: 민준은 깜짝 놀라 고개를 들었다.
En: Minjun was startled and looked up.

Ko: 초조해 보이는 소녀가 있었다.
En: There was a girl who appeared anxious.

Ko: 그녀는 수진이었다.
En: She was Sujin.

Ko: 그녀는 지도를 들고 있었다.
En: She was holding a map.

Ko: "이거 봐요. 안전한 곳으로 가는 길이에요. 함께 갈래요?"
En: "Look at this. It's a path to a safe place. Would you like to come with me?"

Ko: 민준은 지도를 힐끗 보았다.
En: Minjun glanced at the map.

Ko: 그는 의심스러웠다.
En: He was doubtful.

Ko: 과연 이 지도가 정말로 도움이 될까?
En: Could this map really be helpful?

Ko: 이전에 같은 말을 들었지만 모두 실패했다.
En: He had heard the same words before, but they all ended in failure.

Ko: "왜 나와 함께 가자고 하지?" 민준이 물었다.
En: "Why do you want to go with me?" Minjun asked.

Ko: 수진은 미소를 지으며 대답했다.
En: Sujin replied with a smile.

Ko: "우린 서로 도와야 해요. 혼자서는 살아남을 수 없어요."
En: "We need to help each other. You can't survive on your own."

Ko: 민준은 잠시 생각에 잠겼다.
En: Minjun pondered for a moment.

Ko: 현실은 혹독했다.
En: Reality was harsh.

Ko: 그는 많은 것을 잃었다.
En: He had lost much.

Ko: 그렇지만 혼자 있는 것보다 함께하는 것이 나을지도 몰랐다.
En: Yet, perhaps being together was better than being alone.

Ko: 결국 그는 수진을 따라 나서기로 결심했다.
En: In the end, he decided to follow Sujin.

Ko: 旅 길은 쉽지 않았다.
En: The journey was not easy.

Ko: 피난민들이 버리고 간 위험한 장애물들이 사방에 널려있었다.
En: Dangerous obstacles left behind by refugees were scattered everywhere.

Ko: 그들에게 필요한 것은 협력과 신뢰였다.
En: What they needed was cooperation and trust.

Ko: 어느 날 밤, 그들은 오래된 다리를 건너야 했다.
En: One night, they had to cross an old bridge.

Ko: 다리는 구멍투성이었고, 부서질듯 위태로웠다.
En: The bridge was full of holes and looked as if it could collapse at any moment.

Ko: 수진이 먼저 나섰다.
En: Sujin stepped forward first.

Ko: 다리를 건너다가 발이 미끄러졌다.
En: As she was crossing the bridge, her foot slipped.

Ko: 민준은 재빨리 그녀를 붙잡았다.
En: Minjun quickly caught her.

Ko: 그 순간, 그들은 서로의 믿음을 느겼다.
En: In that moment, they felt trust in each other.

Ko: 몇 주 뒤, 그들은 높은 언덕에 올라갔다.
En: A few weeks later, they climbed a high hill.

Ko: 언덕 정상에서 그들이 보았다.
En: From the top of the hill, they saw it.

Ko: 멀리서 안전한 장소가 보이는 것 같았다.
En: In the distance, they seemed to see a safe place.

Ko: 더 이상 신화가 아니었다.
En: It was no longer a myth.

Ko: 민준은 처음으로 수진에게 고마움을 느겼다.
En: For the first time, Minjun felt gratitude towards Sujin.

Ko: 그들은 더이상 홀로가 아니었다.
En: They were no longer alone.

Ko: 두 사람은 생존을 위해 더욱 단단해졌다.
En: The two of them had become stronger for survival.

Ko: 민준은 깨달았다. 타인에게 마음을 여는 법을, 함께 하는 목표가 얼마나 중요한지를.
En: Minjun realized how important it was to open his heart to others, and to share a common goal.

Ko: 이제 그들은 길 위에서는 혼자가 아니었다.
En: Now they were not alone on the road.

Ko: 함께라면 그 무엇도 두렵지 않았다.
En: Together, there was nothing they were afraid of.


Vocabulary Words:
  • intense: 강렬한
  • crumbling: 허물어져 가는
  • bustling: 활기찼지만
  • vines: 덩굴
  • ruins: 폐허
  • faint: 희미한
  • startled: 깜짝 놀라
  • anxious: 초조해
  • glanced: 힐끗 보았다
  • doubtful: 의심스러웠다
  • survive: 살아남을
  • pondered: 생각에 잠겼다
  • harsh: 혹독했다
  • obstacles: 장애물
  • scattered: 널려있었다
  • cooperation: 협력
  • trust: 신뢰
  • collapse: 부서질듯
  • slipped: 미끄러졌다
  • gratitude: 고마움을
  • myth: 신화
  • reality: 현실
  • goal: 목표
  • journey: 길
  • refugees: 피난민들
  • scenery: 풍경
  • abandoned: 버리고
  • strangers: 타인
  • afraid: 두렵지
  • wildflowers: 야생화
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

Available transcripts are automatically generated. Complete accuracy is not guaranteed.
Speaker 1 (00:00):
Fluid Fluent RG.

Speaker 2 (00:09):
Welcome to Fluent Fiction Korean, the podcast where we bring
you bilingual stories to supercharge your listening comprehension. In each episode,
we'll present a short story in both English and Korean
with the aim of helping you to improve your listening comprehension.

Speaker 3 (00:25):
In this episode, we'll explore a tale of survival and
newfound trust as two strangers navigate the ruins of a
forgotten city in search of hope and companionship.

Speaker 4 (00:35):
Right after this commercial break.

Speaker 5 (00:40):
At fluent Fiction, we're not just telling stories, We're bringing
the world together by learning to understand each other. By
subscribing to Fluent Fiction Plus. At plus dot fluentfiction dot org,
you do more than just remove ads. You support a
platform bridging global language differences one story at a time.
Subscription not only guarantees you an uninterrupted narrative, it also

(01:03):
sustains our mission to bring stories in diverse languages to everyone.
It's simple visit plus dot fluentfiction dot org and become
a Plus subscriber today. When you do, you become a
champion for global language learning and enjoy an ad free experience.
So please join us at plus dot fluentfiction dot org.

(01:24):
Let's transform the way we experience the power of stories.
Your journey awaits at plus dot, fluentfiction dot org. Together,
we can keep the world's stories flowing.

Speaker 1 (01:44):
Yoru mita, kamorta, tuna, tong top go concur yai ista,

(02:05):
shiga on theta, karna, kanini, plomata, kogi, dug soil, himI
and muksuriga, toyota, kanaula, kuta, yoga ista, na, nata igo, payo,

(02:36):
anonan goes through, kanin, kio, ham kojata, kunin, him rota,
quay on tom to, mideka is kat, mariti, man petada, binta, sudan, petta,

(03:05):
urinary hair una, sara, mario, soil, binjagmata, hanshien, hut keeta,
kunin man irota grotiman, huna, mulata, kata, leo, kata, pina,

(03:34):
midriporan hman joota, kizen jota on the nightbam, kudurina, tarinen,
kumong tu, songagoota, sudini, manzo, nasota, tarikaridotta, binjunin, tipalta, kusung gan, kuduringta,

(04:09):
yatchu ti, kudrind gatta on dong sang is Kudata bolisa
and tang suga Patata, tisan shinaga Aniotta binjunin To Muruta,

(04:29):
kuduring toisan hulga Aniotta tu saramun we hereta binj Gedarata,
taege mam yon babe hampuga or manachunyuhanire ide kuduring ki
Junaga aniota hamaman Kuta.

Speaker 3 (04:55):
Let's take another listen. Listen closely to any part you
may have missed Mita.

Speaker 1 (05:02):
It was summer kangur Hihirita.

Speaker 3 (05:10):
The intense sunlight was beating down on the crumbling city
Tushi shi.

Speaker 1 (05:17):
Man Kuta.

Speaker 3 (05:23):
The city market had once been bustling, but now nature
had taken over.

Speaker 1 (05:27):
Tonguru kunim sa yezo ya seen juaga pi Ota.

Speaker 3 (05:37):
Vines covered the stalls, and wildflowers bloomed through the cracks
in the concrete.

Speaker 1 (05:42):
Shizen Pero hangon de minzunu umikua Tota.

Speaker 3 (05:49):
In the middle of the market, ruins Minjun was searching
for food and tools.

Speaker 1 (05:54):
Kurna kunin shi Perlata.

Speaker 3 (06:00):
However, he realized there wasn't much to find.

Speaker 1 (06:03):
Kogghi Dugui sail Himiyen muk Suriga tiyota.

Speaker 3 (06:09):
Is anyone, There came a faint.

Speaker 1 (06:11):
Voice binjunin kantan du la kugir Trota.

Speaker 3 (06:17):
Minjun was startled and looked up.

Speaker 1 (06:19):
To douhe bu nin sunyoga Iata.

Speaker 3 (06:23):
There was a girl who appeared.

Speaker 1 (06:25):
Anxious kunyanin Sutinyeta. She was Sujin kunyanin t siduru ti Guisata.

Speaker 3 (06:35):
She was holding a map.

Speaker 1 (06:36):
Igo payo anzunnan go surro kanin khirrieohmghe kha leo.

Speaker 3 (06:46):
Look at this, It's a path to a safe place.
Would you like to come with me?

Speaker 1 (06:50):
Binju nin tidurr jhi kut Puta. Minjun glanced at the
map kunin lushimsurota.

Speaker 3 (07:01):
He was doubtful.

Speaker 1 (07:02):
Quayan idoga to Mika, could this map really be helpful?
Kat Peta.

Speaker 3 (07:15):
He had heard the same words before, but they all
ended in failure.

Speaker 1 (07:19):
U daw ahmik kazi binzunida.

Speaker 3 (07:25):
Why do you want to go with me, Minjun.

Speaker 1 (07:27):
Asked suzinin bisur ta Peta.

Speaker 3 (07:32):
Sujin replied with a smile.

Speaker 1 (07:35):
Urin tsharu toua yahil hunza samusup soil.

Speaker 3 (07:43):
We need to help each other. You can't survive on your.

Speaker 1 (07:45):
Own Binjunin Tamshi Sengagit Tamgeta.

Speaker 3 (07:51):
Min June pondered for a moment.

Speaker 1 (07:53):
Hanshirn hutu Ka.

Speaker 3 (07:56):
Reality was harsh.

Speaker 1 (07:58):
Kunun man Unesta.

Speaker 3 (08:02):
He had lost much man Junta Na, Yet perhaps being
together was better than being alone Kunta. In the end,
he decided to follow Sujin.

Speaker 1 (08:22):
Lio Kirn Shta.

Speaker 3 (08:26):
The journey was not easy Pina Mi.

Speaker 1 (08:29):
Diri vihaman Tana.

Speaker 3 (08:35):
Dangerous obstacles left behind by refugees were scattered everywhere.

Speaker 1 (08:41):
Hansen Yota.

Speaker 3 (08:45):
What they needed was cooperation and trust. On Kudur, one night,
they had to cross an old bridge.

Speaker 1 (08:57):
Tarin kumung Tu Sonya Puta.

Speaker 3 (09:04):
The bridge was full of holes and looked as if
it could collapse at any moment.

Speaker 1 (09:08):
Susini Monza Nasata.

Speaker 3 (09:12):
Sujin stepped forward first.

Speaker 1 (09:14):
Tari kond Tari Burdata.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
As she was crossing the bridge, her foot slipped.

Speaker 1 (09:21):
Minjunin Tipi Kuna.

Speaker 3 (09:24):
Bata mining quickly caught her.

Speaker 1 (09:28):
Kusungan kudurn Saruta.

Speaker 3 (09:34):
In that moment, they felt trust in each other.

Speaker 1 (09:37):
Viatzu Ti kudurn Dunla Gatta.

Speaker 3 (09:43):
A few weeks later, they climbed a high.

Speaker 1 (09:45):
Hill ondo tong sang is kudurri Puata.

Speaker 3 (09:50):
From the top of the hill, they saw.

Speaker 1 (09:51):
It Mollisa and tang Suga Pukatata.

Speaker 3 (09:57):
In the distance. They seemed to see a safe.

Speaker 1 (09:59):
Place toisan shinaga a Niota.

Speaker 3 (10:04):
It was no longer a myth bin junin.

Speaker 1 (10:07):
To Muru suge Kumata.

Speaker 3 (10:12):
For the first time, Minjun felt gratitude towards Sujin.

Speaker 1 (10:16):
Kudurn toisan huluga a Niota.

Speaker 3 (10:20):
They were no longer alone Tu Sara.

Speaker 1 (10:23):
Mun singzunuvih to Tandazota.

Speaker 3 (10:28):
The two of them had become stronger for survival.

Speaker 1 (10:31):
Bin junin geedarata taynege mamur yonin bobu hamgehanen mukpuga ol
mana Tunnuhansire.

Speaker 3 (10:43):
Minjun realized how important it was to open his heart
to others and to share a common.

Speaker 1 (10:47):
Goal Jide kudurn ki vye honen hunzaga a Niota.

Speaker 3 (10:54):
Now they were not alone on the road hamgea.

Speaker 1 (10:56):
Miyen kubu turnata.

Speaker 3 (11:01):
Together, there was nothing they were afraid of.

Speaker 4 (11:09):
Today's vocabulary words are coming up right after this commercial break.
Here are today's vocabulary words, first in Korean, then.

Speaker 1 (11:18):
In English, Kanguran, kang Yuran, kang Uran intense, homur dokanin
homur doanin ho murro dokanin crumbling, Hi You, tetsumen, hi You,

(11:40):
tetsumenhi You, tetsu men, bustling, Tongui, Tongui, Tongui, findes peyhaul
peyhaul peyha ruins himihan himihn heimihan, faint, gamchaendu la, gamza,

(12:02):
dou la, gam zen, dou la.

Speaker 3 (12:05):
Startled Chu do he chu do he chu dou he anxious.

Speaker 1 (12:11):
Here good, puta here, good, puta he good, porta glanced
Uishima huishima uishima, doubtful, sharaame, sharaame, sharaame, survive, Singamyota, seinga, Gamyota, senga, tamata, pondered,

(12:38):
kahuk hooka hush, change, change, change obstacles, dorio ista, daio ista,
dorio ista, scattered, him yo him yok him yo out, cooperation.

Speaker 3 (13:02):
Chill le, chill le, chill le, trust, collapse, Be.

Speaker 1 (13:13):
Good Ada Da be good, Ada, da be good a
da da swept Kuma, kuma kumam gratitude, Shinha Shinha, shin
haa myth yuan shi yuan shi Yuan She Reality Book,

(13:36):
Pure Book, Pure Book, Pure Go, Kill, Kill Kill Journey,
Pina Minde, Pina Mind, Pina Mind, Refugees, Pungyong, pung Yong,
pung Yong, Scenery, Parigo, Pardigo, Pardigo, Abandoned Time, Time, Time Strangers, Tudiotzi, Tudiozi, Tudiozi,

(14:11):
Afraid Yes and Wha Yes in Wha Yesing Wha Wildflowers.

Speaker 2 (14:24):
We hope you've enjoyed this episode of Fluent Fiction Korean.
Our team works tirelessly to bring you high quality, engaging
content that will help you to reach your goals, but
we can't do it alone. Your support is crucial in
keeping our doors open and our content flowing. Please consider
becoming a Premium subscriber today. You'll get more stories, no ads,

(14:46):
custom episode requests and more. Visit www dot fluentfiction dot
org Premium Korean. Thanks for listening, and now

Speaker 4 (14:56):
A final word from our sponsors.
Advertise With Us

Popular Podcasts

Stuff You Should Know
Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2

Law & Order: Criminal Justice System - Season 1 & Season 2

Season Two Out Now! Law & Order: Criminal Justice System tells the real stories behind the landmark cases that have shaped how the most dangerous and influential criminals in America are prosecuted. In its second season, the series tackles the threat of terrorism in the United States. From the rise of extremist political groups in the 60s to domestic lone wolves in the modern day, we explore how organizations like the FBI and Joint Terrorism Take Force have evolved to fight back against a multitude of terrorist threats.

Dateline NBC

Dateline NBC

Current and classic episodes, featuring compelling true-crime mysteries, powerful documentaries and in-depth investigations. Follow now to get the latest episodes of Dateline NBC completely free, or subscribe to Dateline Premium for ad-free listening and exclusive bonus content: DatelinePremium.com

Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.