Korean -게 되다 and -아/어지다: how things turn out

-게 되다: came to, ended up

-게 되다 (-ge doeda) after a verb stem says that a situation came about, through circumstances, other people's decisions or gradual change, rather than simply by your own choice. The tense goes on : (Hanguk hoesaeseo ilhage dwaesseoyo), I ended up working for a Korean company.

It is also the modest, usual way to announce news about yourself, especially in formal speech: (daeum dare gyeolhonhage dwaetseumnida), I'm getting married next month. And it describes a change in habits or feelings: (Hanguk eumsigeul joahage dwaesseoyo), I've come to like Korean food.

회사 일 때문에 부산으로 이사하게 됐어요.Hoesa il ttaemune Busaneuro isahage dwaesseoyo.I had to move to Busan because of work.
다음 달부터 제가 이 일을 맡게 됐어요.Daeum dalbuteo jega i ireul matge dwaesseoyo.I'll be taking over this work from next month.
친구 덕분에 등산을 좋아하게 됐어요.Chingu deokbune deungsaneul joahage dwaesseoyo.Thanks to a friend, I've come to love hiking.
이 기술로 전기를 더 싸게 쓸 수 있게 됐습니다.I gisullo jeongireul deo ssage sseul su itge dwaetseumnida.This technology has made it possible to use electricity more cheaply.

Useful combinations

Some combinations are very common. (alge doeda) means “to find out” or “to get to know”: (geu sarameul hoesaeseo alge dwaesseoyo), I got to know him at work. With -(으)ㄹ 수 있다 it means “to become able to”: (ije hangugeoro jeonhwahal su itge dwaesseoyo), now I can make phone calls in Korean.

For something you no longer do, put (an) before the verb: (yojeumeun keopireul an masige dwaesseoyo), I don't drink coffee any more these days. When a plan falls through, use (mot): (mot gage dwaesseoyo), it turns out I can't go.

그 소식은 어제 알게 됐어요.Geu sosigeun eoje alge dwaesseoyo.I only found out about the news yesterday.
이제 한국어로 전화할 수 있게 됐어요.Ije hangugeoro jeonhwahal su itge dwaesseoyo.Now I can make phone calls in Korean.
죄송해요, 일이 생겨서 못 가게 됐어요.Joesonghaeyo, iri saenggyeoseo mot gage dwaesseoyo.Sorry, something has come up and I won't be able to come.

-게 되다 or -기로 하다?

-기로 하다 (-giro hada) means decided to: the decision is yours, or one you made together with someone. -게 되다 presents the same result as something that happened to you. Choosing one or the other changes how the news sounds.

(naenyeone yuhageul gagiro haesseoyo), I've decided to study abroad next year, stresses your choice. (hoesaeseo bonae jwoseo Miguge gage dwaesseoyo), the company is sending me, so I'm going to the US, stresses the circumstances.

Pattern	Meaning	Example
-기로 하다	decided to	(geumandugiro haesseoyo), I decided to quit
-게 되다	it came about that	(geumanduge dwaesseoyo), I ended up leaving
-기로 했어요 (together)	we agreed to	(toyoire mannagiro haesseoyo), we agreed to meet on Saturday

-아/어지다 with descriptive verbs: getting, becoming

-아/어지다 after a descriptive verb means “to become, to get”: (chupda), to be cold → (chuwojida), to get cold. It follows the vowel rule of the present and the usual irregular changes, and then it conjugates like a normal verb: (chuwojyeosseoyo), it's got cold; (chuwojigo isseoyo), it's getting colder.

With nouns, use instead: (uisaga doeda), to become a doctor; (bomi dwaesseoyo), spring has come. On action verbs, -아/어지다 makes a passive; see the page on passive and causative verbs.

Descriptive verb	Becoming	Meaning
(chupda)	(chuwojida)	to get cold
(ttatteutada)	(ttatteutaejida)	to get warm
(jota)	(joajida)	to get better
(manta)	(manajida)	to increase
(yeppeuda)	(yeppeojida)	to get prettier
(bappeuda)	(bappajida)	to get busy
(dareuda)	(dallajida)	to change, become different

날씨가 점점 추워지고 있어요.Nalssiga jeomjeom chuwojigo isseoyo.The weather is getting colder and colder.
운동을 시작한 후에 건강이 많이 좋아졌어요.Undongeul sijakhan hue geongangi mani joajyeosseoyo.My health has got a lot better since I started exercising.
요즘 서울에 외국인 관광객이 많아졌어요.Yojeum Seoure oegugin gwangwanggaegi manajyeosseoyo.There are more foreign tourists in Seoul these days.
고향이 옛날하고 많이 달라졌어요.Gohyangi yennalhago mani dallajyeosseoyo.My hometown has changed a lot since the old days.