Korean Lessons ᚛ Level 8 - Advanced Korean #1 (Lessons 211 to 240) ᚛ Lesson 234 - In a situation where in Korean [-는 가운데] [-는 마당에]
In a situation where in Korean [-는 가운데] [-는 마당에]
Two nouns of place serve in Korean to set a situation: 가운데, "the middle", and 마당, "the yard". Preceded by an adjectival form, they become connectors: -는 가운데, "in the midst of, while (as a backdrop)…", neutral and rather written, and -는 마당에, "in a situation where… / now that things have come to this", which carries a judgment: the situation is already such that what follows is called for, or a reproach is in order.
"While, in the midst of" with -는 가운데
[Verb]-는 가운데 / [Adjective]-(으)ㄴ 가운데 / [Verb in the past]-(으)ㄴ 가운데 / [Noun] 가운데 [Main event]
-는 가운데 describes the situation that serves as the setting for the main event: "while all eyes were on…, (this happened)". It is the structure of news reports and narratives: the backdrop is set in the present (-는 가운데), as a state (-(으)ㄴ 가운데 after an adjective, 바쁜 가운데) or as an established result (-(으)ㄴ 가운데 after a verb, 선언한 가운데). After a noun, 가운데 is used on its own: 위급한 상황 가운데, "in a critical situation". Unlike -는 동안, which measures a duration, -는 가운데 stresses the coexistence of two facts, often in contrast (busy, yet he found the time).
재현이는 회사 업무로 눈코 뜰 사이 없이 바쁜 가운데 여자친구와 틈틈이 연락하고 만나려고 노력했어요.
→ While he was swamped with work, Jaehyun made an effort to keep in touch with his girlfriend and see her whenever he could.
모든 하객의 시선이 신랑 신부에게 집중되는 가운데 새하얀 웨딩드레스를 입은 신부와 멋지게 차려입은 신랑이 식장 안으로 입장했어요.
→ While all the guests' eyes were fixed on the couple, the bride in a pure white wedding dress and the smartly dressed groom made their entrance into the hall.
가족과 친척들이 오랜만에 다 같이 모여 있는 가운데 재현이는 조심스럽게 결혼 발표를 했어요.
→ While the whole family was finally gathered together, Jaehyun cautiously announced his marriage.
공항이 여행객들로 붐비는 가운데, 태풍으로 인해 많은 항공편이 지연됐습니다.
→ While the airport was crowded with travelers, many flights were delayed due to the typhoon.
그 축구 선수의 거취에 많은 사람이 주목하는 가운데 오늘 중으로 기자회견이 있을 예정입니다.
→ While many people are watching closely to see what that footballer will do, a press conference is scheduled for later today.
길에서 사람이 갑자기 쓰러진 위급한 상황 가운데 한 청년이 침착하게 나서서 심폐소생술을 하기 시작했어요.
→ In that critical situation where someone had suddenly collapsed in the street, a young man calmly stepped forward and began CPR.
모두의 이목이 쏠리는 가운데 그 연예인의 결혼식은 매우 성대하게 진행됐습니다.
→ With everyone's eyes upon it, that celebrity's wedding was held in grand style.
"Now that things have come to this" with -는 마당에
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