-할게요 vs -할 거예요: Promise or Plan?

When it’s the right choice

You reach for -할게요-halgeyo when someone’s words trigger a response from you: a request, suggestion, or a situation where you’re volunteering on the spot.

Think of it as a small promise you’re making in real time.

A tiny cultural note: in Korean service settings (cafés, salons, delivery calls), you’ll hear this a lot because it sounds responsive and responsible—like you’re actively taking care of the next step.

Minimal pairs (vs -할 거예요)

• Request → commitment now:

  • 제가 할게요.jega halgeyo.
    • EN: I’ll do it (I’ll take this one).
  • 제가 할 거예요.jega hal geoyeyo.
    • EN: I’m going to do it (as a plan), but it can sound less like “I’m taking it right now.”

• Suggestion → quick agreement:

  • 그럼 내일 제가 전화할게요.geureom naeil jega jeonhwahalgeyo.
    • EN: Then I’ll call tomorrow (I’m committing).
  • 그럼 내일 전화할 거예요.geureom naeil jeonhwahal geoyeyo.
    • EN: Then I’m going to call tomorrow (plan statement; less “I’m responding to you”).

Examples

When it’s the right choice

Use -할 거예요-hal geoyeyo when you’re describing a future intention, schedule, or prediction—especially when nobody just asked you to do it, or you’re explaining what will happen.

It’s great for:

• personal plans (what you intend to do)
• forecasts (what you think will happen)
• explaining a timeline (what’s planned)

Minimal pairs (vs -할게요)

• Reporting a plan (not a live acceptance):

  • 내일 병원 갈 거예요.naeil byeowon gal geoyeyo.
    • EN: I’m going to the hospital tomorrow.
  • 내일 병원 갈게요.naeil byeowon galgeyo.
    • EN: I’ll go to the hospital tomorrow (can feel like you’re responding/agreeing to a suggestion).

• Prediction:

  • 비 올 거예요.bi ol geoyeyo.
    • EN: It’ll probably rain.
  • 비 올게요.bi olgeyo.
    • EN: (Wrong/odd) “I’ll rain.”

Examples