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August 6, 2025 15 mins
Fluent Fiction - Korean: The Secret of Seoul: Love and Fermentation in a Hidden Lab
Find the full episode transcript, vocabulary words, and more:
fluentfiction.com/ko/episode/2025-08-06-22-34-02-ko

Story Transcript:

Ko: 서울의 작은 골목 뒤에 비밀스러운 김치 실험실이 있었다.
En: Behind a small alley in Seoul, there was a secret kimchi laboratory.

Ko: 이곳은 미세한 과학 기구들과 여러 발효 단계의 김치가 가득한, 마치 최첨단의 실험실 같았다.
En: It was filled with intricate scientific equipment and various stages of fermenting kimchi, resembling a cutting-edge laboratory.

Ko: 이 곳의 주인은 미소가 밝은 미녀 과학자, 민서였다.
En: The owner of this place was a beautiful scientist with a bright smile, Minseo.

Ko: 그녀는 최고의 김치를 만들기 위해 매일 연구에 매진했다.
En: She dedicated herself to research every day to make the best kimchi.

Ko: 민서의 가장 큰 목표는 경쟁자인 준수를 이기는 것이었다.
En: Minseo's biggest goal was to beat her rival, Junsu.

Ko: 준수는 인근의 또 다른 김치 실험실을 운영하며, 그 또한 많은 팬들이 있었다.
En: Junsu ran another kimchi laboratory nearby and also had many fans.

Ko: 민서는 신비로운 발효 법칙을 찾아내어 준수의 마음과 승리를 동시에 얻고 싶었다.
En: Minseo wanted to discover a mysterious fermentation principle to win Junsu's heart and victory at the same time.

Ko: 민서의 실험은 여름이 무르익던 어느 날 시작되었다.
En: Minseo's experiment began on a day when summer was in full swing.

Ko: 그녀는 특별한 발효 기술을 사용하기로 결심했다.
En: She decided to use a special fermentation technique.

Ko: 그 기술에는 전통적인 재료뿐만 아니라 독특한 재료도 포함되어 있었다.
En: This technique included traditional ingredients as well as unique ones.

Ko: 해진, 민서의 가장 친한 친구이자 조언자, 그녀의 흥미로운 실험을 의아해하면서도 도와주었다.
En: Haejin, Minseo's closest friend and advisor, was intrigued yet puzzled by her experiment, but lent a hand.

Ko: "정말 괜찮을까?" 해진이 물었다.
En: "Are you sure this will be okay?" Haejin asked.

Ko: "물론이지! 이건 혁신적일 거야." 민서는 확신에 차 대답했다.
En: "Of course! It's going to be revolutionary." Minseo answered confidently.

Ko: 실험이 본격적으로 시작되었을 때, 예상치 못한 일이 벌어졌다.
En: When the experiment began in earnest, something unexpected happened.

Ko: 김치가 불안정하게 발효되기 시작한 것이다.
En: The kimchi started to ferment unstably.

Ko: 김치통에서 거품이 풍부하게 올라오며 소리가 났다.
En: Bubbles rose abundantly from the kimchi jar, making noise.

Ko: 갑자기 실험실이 마치 축제장의 한복판처럼 혼란스러워졌다.
En: Suddenly, the laboratory became as chaotic as the middle of a festival.

Ko: 웃음이 터져 나왔다.
En: Laughter erupted.

Ko: 민서와 해진은 이 장면을 보며 웃음을 참을 수 없었다.
En: Minseo and Haejin couldn't hold back their laughter as they watched the scene.

Ko: 주변 사람들도 웃음소리에 끌려와 상황을 지켜보게 되었다.
En: People nearby were drawn by the sound of laughter and came to watch the situation unfold.

Ko: 준수도 그 소리에 이끌려 실험실 앞에 멈춰 섰다.
En: Junsu was also drawn by the sound and stopped at the front of the laboratory.

Ko: 준수는 그 장면을 보며 웃음을 터뜨렸다.
En: Junsu burst out laughing as he watched the scene.

Ko: "정말 유쾌한 실험이네!"라고 외쳤다.
En: "What a delightful experiment!" he exclaimed.

Ko: 불안정했던 김치는 결국 잔잔해졌고, 민서는 준수에게 다가갔다.
En: The once unstable kimchi eventually calmed down, and Minseo approached Junsu.

Ko: "사실, 당신과 함께 더 좋은 김치를 만들고 싶었어요."
En: "Actually, I wanted to make better kimchi with you."

Ko: 준수는 미소지으며 대답했다. "함께 하면 정말 멋진 김치가 될 거예요."
En: Junsu smiled and replied, "Together, it will be truly amazing kimchi."

Ko: 그날 이후로 민서와 준수는 경쟁자 대신 협력자가 되었다.
En: Since that day, Minseo and Junsu became collaborators instead of rivals.

Ko: 그들의 공동 작업은 놀라운 결과를 만들어냈고, 두 사람은 우정과 함께 더 나은 김치를 만들어나갔다.
En: Their joint work produced amazing results, and the two created better kimchi together, accompanied by their friendship.

Ko: 이제 민서는 깨달았다.
En: Now Minseo realized.

Ko: 경쟁보다는 협력과 우정이 더 큰 기쁨을 준다는 것을 말이다.
En: That cooperation and friendship bring greater joy than competition.

Ko: 그녀의 실험실은 웃음이 가득한 곳이 되었고, 새로운 이야기들이 시작될 준비가 되어 있었다.
En: Her laboratory became a place full of laughter and was ready for new stories to begin.


Vocabulary Words:
  • alley: 골목
  • intricate: 미세한
  • equipment: 기구
  • fermenting: 발효
  • resembling: 같았다
  • dedicated: 매진했다
  • rival: 경쟁자
  • mysterious: 신비로운
  • principle: 법칙
  • revolutionary: 혁신적
  • unstably: 불안정하게
  • bubbles: 거품
  • abundantly: 풍부하게
  • chaotic: 혼란스러워졌다
  • laughter: 웃음
  • erupted: 터져 나왔다
  • drawn: 끌려
  • unfold: 지켜보게
  • delightful: 유쾌한
  • eventually: 결국
  • approached: 다가갔다
  • collaborators: 협력자
  • joint: 공동
  • produced: 만들어냈고
  • accompanied: 함께
  • realized: 깨달았다
  • competition: 경쟁
  • cooperation: 협력<
Mark as Played
Transcript

Episode Transcript

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

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 discover how a bubbly Kimchi mishap
turns fierce rivals into culinary allies, unveiling the magic of
friendship in a hidden alley.

Speaker 4 (00:34):
Right after this commercial break.

Speaker 5 (00:39):
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(01:02):
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(01:26):
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dot org. Together, we can keep the world's stories flowing.

Speaker 6 (01:43):
Sore tagen, kurki, pimi and kim ti, shiromhiri, sata IGOs
bi sehan, quaha, ki yao, paru, dange, kimigakan, batsichtata ygos,
be so, pagan, vino, kaata, bnsoyota, kun chegue kimirimandi beta binso,

(02:10):
kazan kan, kanda in, sushiota jun sun in dar, kimmel,
khan manin, pendri is sata binzo, shimbir un paruban tun
Suemairi tun shie or gosh pata binzo, shiroman youmi or

(02:33):
then shidakota, kunyan parung giro kimta Kaira, took to kanu
do puhamda is sata hejin binso, kajang Singua tunda kun Uyahaman,

(02:54):
sod twa, duota, songay, quintana, Hejani, Burda, muli igon yak, Shinya,
nson Hukshina, Peta, Shirami, punday, timotaniriporata, kim tiga paruha kan goshta,

(03:19):
kim called pumio, mio suriganata, kimatiz hanbok kantaram hu larns data, usumi, totata, bensawa,
hen eat abumo, usum, tamiso, satta, chibi and saram der

(03:39):
do usum sur sangan, kota, chun sudo kusuri igrape, momosata,
chun sun kutangbumo, usum, patriota, songhay uke, shiramineh laata don
quiminin binschun, sue tagagata, sashi, tangshan ghe tor tun kimiri,

(04:09):
mande go past soil chun sunni sua petta ham to
mojin kimigael gun ivuu bin sawaun sunin kana deshmaga yotta,
kudre kundu mandrn ego tu saraman u to nan kimiri

(04:32):
mandar nagatae means garata kanaka u t marida him usumi
ka serun yatuniga toyo is sata.

Speaker 3 (04:52):
Let's take another listen. Listen closely to any part you
may have missed.

Speaker 6 (04:57):
Sore tagan kurumu to pimi kimchi hiram hiri Isata.

Speaker 3 (05:04):
Behind a small Alian soul, there was a secret kimchi laboratory.

Speaker 6 (05:09):
Igosin bi sehen Quaha ki Yoo Paru Dange Kimigakkan Battichudantata.

Speaker 3 (05:21):
It was filled with intricate scientific equipment and various stages
of fermenting kimchi, resembling a cutting edge laboratory.

Speaker 6 (05:28):
Igo Se Bisoga Pagan Mino Quahata Minshayota.

Speaker 3 (05:36):
The owner of this place was a beautiful scientist with
a bright smile.

Speaker 6 (05:39):
Into kunynin Chigue Kimchiri mandihe be Yuta.

Speaker 3 (05:48):
She dedicated herself to research every day to make the best.

Speaker 6 (05:51):
Kimchi Binshae kadankkun kong ding da Intunsuruta.

Speaker 3 (05:59):
Minsh us biggest goal was to beat her rival Jansu.

Speaker 6 (06:03):
Chunsunn Into Daren Kimchi Amo Kutohan Manin Pendari Sta.

Speaker 3 (06:13):
Janso ran another kimchi laboratory nearby and also had many fans.

Speaker 6 (06:17):
Bin Sonin Shinbun Parubo chun sue Ma tun Shipota.

Speaker 3 (06:27):
Minshio wanted to discover a mysterious fermentation principle to win
Jansu as heart and victory at the same time.

Speaker 6 (06:35):
Bin So Shiroman Yodo mi Buridan Sea.

Speaker 3 (06:41):
Minshus. Experiment began on a day when summer was in
full swing.

Speaker 6 (06:45):
Kunyan parugurung Girma.

Speaker 3 (06:52):
She decided to use a special fermentation technique.

Speaker 6 (06:55):
Kuqi tontunzo kant do puhm Deota.

Speaker 3 (07:04):
This technique included traditional ingredients as well as unique ones.

Speaker 6 (07:08):
Heijin min Zoe kazang tin Singda Tunza Kunoe mir Shu
yaj men so do tta.

Speaker 3 (07:20):
Haijen. Mintua's closest friend and adviser was intrigued yet puzzled
by her experiment, but lent a hand.

Speaker 6 (07:26):
Song Kutanka Heurda.

Speaker 3 (07:32):
Are you sure this will be okay? Heijen asked, uli.

Speaker 6 (07:37):
Igon yuk Shinzooya min Sonin Hukshinea Peta.

Speaker 3 (07:44):
Of course, it's going to be revolutionary, Mincio answered confidently.

Speaker 6 (07:49):
Shiromi Punko ste yezang Timuta.

Speaker 3 (07:57):
When the experiment began in earnest, something unexpected happened.

Speaker 1 (08:02):
Kimia.

Speaker 3 (08:07):
The kimchi started to ferment unstably.

Speaker 6 (08:10):
Kim called pumil mio Surigata.

Speaker 3 (08:17):
Bubbles rose abundantly from the kimchi jar, making noise.

Speaker 6 (08:22):
Tim Hulta.

Speaker 3 (08:28):
Suddenly, the laboratory became as chaotic as the middle of
a festival.

Speaker 6 (08:33):
Usumata laughter erupted. Minsoaa, Mincio, and Hagen couldn't hold back
their laughter as they watched the scene.

Speaker 1 (08:49):
Sam do do Usumsuri sang.

Speaker 3 (08:57):
People nearby were drawn by the sound of laughter and
came to watch the situation unfold.

Speaker 6 (09:02):
Chun Sudo kusurie Iguyo shirom shira pe mom Tsata.

Speaker 3 (09:09):
Juanso was also drawn by the sound and stopped at
the front of the laboratory.

Speaker 6 (09:13):
Chun sunin Ku Tang Minu mio u Sumatata.

Speaker 3 (09:19):
Johnso burst out laughing as he watched the scene.

Speaker 1 (09:22):
Tong ma yu ki shira mineh la go Itata.

Speaker 3 (09:28):
What a delightful experiment, he exclaimed.

Speaker 6 (09:31):
Don kim tinin Cagu Tandan mins Nin chun suege Tagagata.

Speaker 3 (09:40):
The once unstable kimchi eventually calmed down, and Minsieu approached.

Speaker 6 (09:44):
Juansu Sashi Tang shingahemgeh ta tun kim Tiri Mande passle.

Speaker 3 (09:53):
Actually, I wanted to make better kimchi with you.

Speaker 6 (09:56):
Chun sunn Misuzu Myo Teta peta ham Gehamyen Tin Kimigatko.

Speaker 3 (10:06):
Jansu smiled and replied, together, it will be truly amazing Kimchi.

Speaker 6 (10:11):
Kune ivuro minzoa tunsunn kong dingda Dejinta.

Speaker 3 (10:18):
Since that day, Vincio and Janso became collaborators instead of rivals.

Speaker 6 (10:23):
Kudre kundun Dulo and Mandrono tusaramun uzonghe to nan kim
Tiri Mandagata.

Speaker 3 (10:36):
Their joint work produced amazing results and the two created
better kimchi together, accompanied by their friendship.

Speaker 1 (10:43):
Yide min Sonindata.

Speaker 3 (10:46):
Now Minshia realized.

Speaker 6 (10:48):
Kiongding yamokua uzi Kunda.

Speaker 3 (10:56):
That cooperation and friendship bring greater joy than competition.

Speaker 6 (11:00):
Kunhi Usumi seru Yagnatoata.

Speaker 3 (11:11):
Her laboratory became a place full of laughter and was
ready for new stories to begin.

Speaker 4 (11:21):
Today's vocabulary words are coming up right after this commercial break.
Here are today's vocabulary words, first in Korean, then in English.

Speaker 3 (11:37):
Ko ko ko ali.

Speaker 1 (11:42):
Bi sehan bi sehan bi sehan intricate, kiku, kiku, kiku, equipment, pario, pario, pario, fermenting.

Speaker 6 (11:57):
Katata, katata, katada, resembling bidin Hitta Beijing, Hitta bidin hit
Da dedicated, Kuan ding Dha, Kuan ding Da, kuan jing
Da rival, shin bur run shin bi run shinbi run.

Speaker 1 (12:20):
Mysterious politic politic, politic principal huk Shinzo, huk shinzok hjuk Shinzo,
revolutionary Puran don Hage, purge Puran donghage, unstably kopum kopum, capum,

(12:43):
bubbles pu pune abundantly, Who learns, who learns? Who learns?

Speaker 3 (12:55):
Da chaotic ussim ussim u sim laughter.

Speaker 6 (13:02):
Pasta pasta pata erupted, Gilio Giglio, Gila, drawn to kibue
to koekoe unfold.

Speaker 1 (13:19):
U keihan u kihan you kihan.

Speaker 3 (13:24):
Delightful, call you go, call you go, call you go.

Speaker 1 (13:29):
Eventually, Taga Gatta, Taga Gatta, Taga Gatta approached him yog da,
Him yog da him yok da.

Speaker 3 (13:41):
Collaborators Kung Dong kung dong kung.

Speaker 1 (13:46):
Joined mand mand Mand produced humphe hmghe hmhe accompanied geta
gegarat da geeg Aratta realized kelm dng kelm zeng keln

(14:08):
zeng competition him y'all yim yoll yim y'all cooperation.

Speaker 6 (14:15):
Keep them, keep them, keep them joy Yaggy day yuggy
d yagy Day stories.

Speaker 2 (14:32):
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,

(14:54):
custom episode requests and more. Visit www dot fluent fiction
dot org Premium Korean. Thanks for listening, and now

Speaker 4 (15:04):
A final word from our sponsors.
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