The wonderful thing about Korea is that they give you a laundry machine in your very own apartment. The downfall? It looks like a machine from outer space. My co-teacher went as far as to tell me “Press this, then this, and then this.” To which I wanted to reply, “But what if I only have a few clothes, what do I press?” Translating a washing machine is something I’m sure isn’t in her job description so I cut her some slack and thanked her for the beginning steps. Here are the buttons for you to translate:
전원: Turn on/off
WASHING MACHINE
동작/일시정지: Start/Pause
세탁: Wash
헹굼: Rinse
탈수: Spin Dry
최강: Stronger
강: Strong
중: Normal
약: Weak
탈수안함: No spin-dry
탈취: Air Freshener
문잠김: Door lock
절전: Energy Saving Mode (save electricity)
불림: Soak
예비세탁: Pre-wash
헹굼: Rinse
물온도: Water Temperature
표준: Regular Wash
울: Wool
이불: Blankets/Bedding
침구류: Sheets/Linens
외투: Overcoat
니트: knitwear
급속: Quick Wash
조용조용: Silent Mode Wash
에어워시: Air wash
어린이보호: Safety lock
진드기제거: Dust Mite Removal- Allergy Reduction
MAINTENANCE FUNCTIONS
통살균: disinfecting the drum (inside of washer)
통세척: cleaning the drum (inside of washer)
찌든때: encrusted dirt (on washer drum)
탈취: removing bad smells
CLOTHES DRYER
건조: Dry
저온: Drying at low-temperature
강력: High Heat
다림질: Damp Dry (for ironing)
표준: Regular dry
예약: Timer
시간설정: Set timer
세탁물추가: Add more clothes
DIAL:
동작/일시정지: Start/Pause
타올: Towels
이불: Bedding
절약삶음: Energy Saving / Boiling Temperature Wash
삶음: Boiling Temperature Wash
찌든때: Stain removal
표준: Regular wash
급속: Quick wash
울: Wool
란제리: Undergarments/Lingerie
If that is too much, I found this blogger’s picture and explanation that lays it all out. Here is the main pic, followed by a link to her entry.
Can’t figure it out yet? You can alway find a way to buy these robots Korea invented to do your laundry. Seriously, no joke. Mahru-Z (R), a robot developed by the Korea Institute of Science and Technology picked up a sandwich in Seoul on January 15, 2010. South Korean scientists have developed a walking robot maid which can clean a home, dump clothes in a washing machine and even heat food in a microwave. The institute took two years to develop Mahru-Z, which is 1.3 metres (4.3 feet) tall and weighs 55 kilograms (121 pounds).
- Cross your fingers, this is hopefully the future.
From Korea With Love 
Thank you SOOOOOOOOOO much! I could kiss you! I searched for one of the Korean terms on my boyfriend’s washing machine (he’s in Korea, I’m in the US), and I found this website. Thank you a million times!
Glad to help 🙂 I wish I had it from the beginning but was too nervous of a wreck to ask my coteacher ha
This is awesome!!! I just arrived in Yeongcheon and have figured most things out fine but am totally lost on the washing machine so thank you!! 🙂
Super glad you posted this! Gamsa!
This was super helpful! Seriously, I was dreading doing laundry – my machine looks so modern and intimidating, but I was able to figure out the different settings with this. So kamsa hamnida!
sweet! glad it helped, I still use it to understand my machine to this day haha ^_^
Thank you so much for posting!! You are a lifesaver!
Glad to help ^^
I figured out how to use my machine – but which detergent or additive would you recommend? No matter which brand I use (US- and european) – it seems the (hard?) water here is destroying my clothes. Any suggestion what detergent to use or what else should be added to keep the quality?