Politeness levels in the Korean language

This article examines the category of politeness in the Korean language as a unique linguistic and cultural phenomenon that reflects Confucian traditions, social values, and hierarchical relations characteristic of Korean society. The main focus is on the analysis of the main levels of speech etiquette, such as formal-polite, informal-polite, and informal speech, as well as the grammatical and lexical means that provide their expression. The article describes in detail the use of formal and informal grammatical endings, honorific verbs, polite nouns and pronouns, and special expressions to indicate respect. The features of the use of the suffix (으)시, honorific forms of verbs and nouns, as well as the nuances of choosing speech levels depending on social status, age, and context of communication are revealed.