확인 부탁드립니다, 답변 부탁드립니다: Follow-up Korean

A 3-step nudge ladder (gentle→firm→deadline) with subject-line swaps teaches follow-ups that don’t sound pushy or passive-aggressive.

This is a workplace-safe follow-up template for when you sent a message (email or KakaoTalk) and got no reply. In my first Korean office, I once wrote 확인하세요hwaginhaseyo to a senior by accident; it was grammatically fine but sounded like an order. These two phrases let you nudge without sounding cold.

The safe default sentence

지난번에 보내드린 자료 확인 부탁드립니다.jinanbeone bonaedeurin jaryo hwagin butakdeuripnida. — Could you please check the file I sent earlier?

Next steps

• Start with 가능하실 때ganeunghasil ttae if you’re unsure about hierarchy.
• Match the ask to the action: “check” → 확인 부탁드립니다hwagin butakdeuripnida, “reply/decision” → 답변 부탁드립니다dapbyeon butakdeuripnida.
• Add one detail to reduce back-and-forth: what they should check, and by when.
• Avoid guilt or sarcasm (even if you feel ignored); keep it factual.
• If you must set a deadline, name the reason neutrally (meeting, cutoff) and offer the next step.

Mini quiz

1. Fill the blank: 지난번에 보내드린 자료 _____.jinanbeone bonaedeurin jaryo _____.
2. Fill the blank: 가능 여부만 _____.ganeung yeobuman _____.
3. Choose a softener for “when you can”: _____ 확인 부탁드립니다._____ hwagin butakdeuripnida.
4. Fill the blank: 회의 전(오후 3시 전)까지 _____.hoeui jeon(ohu 3si jeon)kkaji _____.

Answers:

1. 확인 부탁드립니다hwagin butakdeuripnida
2. 답변 부탁드립니다dapbyeon butakdeuripnida
3. 가능하실 때ganeunghasil ttae / 편하실 때pyeonhasil ttae / 시간 되실 때sigan doesil ttae
4. 답변 부탁드립니다dapbyeon butakdeuripnida

Notes:

• Q1: 확인 부탁드립니다hwagin butakdeuripnida fits because the requested action is to check/read the materials, not to decide or respond.
• Q2: 답변 부탁드립니다dapbyeon butakdeuripnida is the natural workplace-safe way to ask for a response about feasibility (yes/no).
• Q3: 가능하실 때ganeunghasil ttae / 편하실 때pyeonhasil ttae / 시간 되실 때sigan doesil ttae all soften the request to “when you can”; they differ slightly in nuance but are all acceptable in this sentence.
• Q4: 답변 부탁드립니다dapbyeon butakdeuripnida matches a deadline for a response; using 확인 부탁드립니다hwagin butakdeuripnida would shift the action to “check” rather than “reply.”