sugohaesseoyo

Also written: sugo haesseoyo; sugohaesoyo; you worked hard; good work

A polite Korean expression acknowledging that someone worked hard, made an effort, or completed something demanding.

Literal meaning

you went through effort or hardship

Cultural context

The phrase recognizes labor and endurance rather than merely saying thank you. Variants such as 수고하셨어요, 수고했습니다, and 수고해 appear according to formality and relationship.

How dramas use it

Coworkers, teammates, family members, and friends use it after a shift, project, performance, difficult day, investigation, surgery, or shared effort.

Usage & formality

Hierarchy matters. Some speakers avoid saying 수고했어요 directly to a much higher-ranking senior because it can sound as though the speaker is evaluating the senior’s labor; context and workplace norms vary.