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Financial glossary

One hundred plain-language terms link definitions to assumptions, limits and related calculators.

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glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Principal

The starting amount borrowed, saved or invested before interest and fees.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Principal is the starting money in the calculation. Distinguish an original loan principal from the outstanding principal after repayments, and distinguish either from interest added later.

Worked learning example

Borrow ₩1,000,000 and repay ₩200,000 of principal: the outstanding principal is ₩800,000, even if separate interest has also been paid.

Check your understanding

Is interest already paid part of outstanding principal?

Show answer and explanation

Not in this simple example; only the unpaid borrowed amount remains principal.

Common mistake: Using the original borrowing amount after repayments exaggerates the remaining balance.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Principal
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

Borrow ₩1,000,000 and repay ₩200,000 of principal: the outstanding principal is ₩800,000, even if separate interest has also been paid.

Risks and limits

  • Using the original borrowing amount after repayments exaggerates the remaining balance.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

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glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Annual rate

A yearly percentage assumption; the calculation must state how it is converted for shorter periods.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

A yearly percentage needs a convention: nominal annual rates and effective annual growth are not interchangeable when periods compound. Read the calculator’s conversion rule before entering a quoted number.

Worked learning example

A nominal annual 12% divided into twelve monthly periods gives 1% per month. Compounding those periods produces about 12.68% over the year before costs.

Check your understanding

Does a 12% nominal annual rate always mean exactly 12% effective growth?

Show answer and explanation

No; compounding frequency changes effective growth under the stated convention.

Common mistake: Do not silently substitute an APR or effective rate for a nominal-rate input.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Annual rate
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

A nominal annual 12% divided into twelve monthly periods gives 1% per month. Compounding those periods produces about 12.68% over the year before costs.

Risks and limits

  • Do not silently substitute an APR or effective rate for a nominal-rate input.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

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glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Monthly rate

The periodic rate used for one month; it is not always the annual rate divided by twelve.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

The monthly rate applies to one monthly period. Dividing a nominal annual rate by twelve is one convention; converting an effective annual rate requires a root calculation instead.

Worked learning example

An effective annual 12% corresponds to approximately (1.12 raised to 1/12) minus 1, or 0.9489% per month, not 1%.

Check your understanding

Which annual-rate type can be divided by twelve under a nominal monthly convention?

Show answer and explanation

A nominal annual rate stated with monthly periods, not an effective annual rate.

Common mistake: A daily-accrual contract may not follow either simplified monthly convention.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Monthly rate
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

An effective annual 12% corresponds to approximately (1.12 raised to 1/12) minus 1, or 0.9489% per month, not 1%.

Risks and limits

  • A daily-accrual contract may not follow either simplified monthly convention.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

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glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Simple interest

Interest calculated on the starting principal rather than on accumulated interest.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Simple interest uses the same principal as its base throughout the selected duration. Interest earned in one period does not itself earn interest in the next period.

Worked learning example

₩1,000 at 10% simple annual interest for two years earns ₩200, leaving ₩1,200 before costs. The second year’s interest is still ₩100.

Check your understanding

Does the second year earn interest on the first year’s ₩100?

Show answer and explanation

No. That would be compounding, not simple interest.

Common mistake: A stated annual rate is not enough to tell whether a product uses simple or compound interest.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Simple interest
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

₩1,000 at 10% simple annual interest for two years earns ₩200, leaving ₩1,200 before costs. The second year’s interest is still ₩100.

Risks and limits

  • A stated annual rate is not enough to tell whether a product uses simple or compound interest.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Compound interest

Interest calculated on principal and previously accumulated interest.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Compounding includes accumulated interest in later interest calculations. The number of periods, timing of additions and any deductions affect the path, so equal headline rates need not yield equal balances.

Worked learning example

₩1,000 at 10% annually compounded becomes ₩1,100 after year one and ₩1,210 after year two, before fees or tax.

Check your understanding

Where does the extra ₩10 over simple interest come from?

Show answer and explanation

It is 10% interest on the ₩100 earned in the first year.

Common mistake: The arithmetic assumes the entered rate persists and earned interest remains in the balance.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Compound interest
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

₩1,000 at 10% annually compounded becomes ₩1,100 after year one and ₩1,210 after year two, before fees or tax.

Risks and limits

  • The arithmetic assumes the entered rate persists and earned interest remains in the balance.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

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glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Amortization

A schedule that allocates payments between interest and principal over time.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

An amortization schedule separates interest charged for a period from principal repaid. As principal declines, the interest portion normally declines under a fixed-rate, fixed-payment illustration.

Worked learning example

With an invented ₩1,000 balance, 1% monthly interest and a ₩110 payment, ₩10 pays interest and ₩100 reduces principal to ₩900.

Check your understanding

How much of the first ₩110 payment reduces principal?

Show answer and explanation

₩100 in this example, after the ₩10 interest charge.

Common mistake: Do not subtract the whole payment from principal while also ignoring interest.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Amortization
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

With an invented ₩1,000 balance, 1% monthly interest and a ₩110 payment, ₩10 pays interest and ₩100 reduces principal to ₩900.

Risks and limits

  • Do not subtract the whole payment from principal while also ignoring interest.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Monthly payment

The regular amount illustrated for each month under fixed assumptions.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

A payment is a periodic cash outflow, not necessarily the whole cost of borrowing. Identify whether it includes fees and whether the schedule is fixed, variable or interest-only.

Worked learning example

Twelve invented payments of ₩90,000 total ₩1,080,000. For ₩1,000,000 received and no other fees, the included borrowing cost is ₩80,000.

Check your understanding

Can two loans with equal monthly payments have different total costs?

Show answer and explanation

Yes. The number of payments, final amount and additional fees can differ.

Common mistake: A smaller payment obtained by adding months can hide a larger overall outflow.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Monthly payment
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

Twelve invented payments of ₩90,000 total ₩1,080,000. For ₩1,000,000 received and no other fees, the included borrowing cost is ₩80,000.

Risks and limits

  • A smaller payment obtained by adding months can hide a larger overall outflow.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Adjusted final payment

A final amount changed to reconcile integer rounding across earlier payments.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

The final row pays the remaining balance and applicable last-period interest. Whole-currency rounding in earlier rows can make that amount slightly different from the advertised regular payment.

Worked learning example

A zero-interest ₩100 split into three payments can be ₩33, ₩33 and ₩34; stopping after three ₩33 payments would leave ₩1.

Check your understanding

Which number settles the schedule: regular payment or remaining balance?

Show answer and explanation

The remaining balance with any applicable final interest determines the last payment.

Common mistake: Never ignore the last row merely because the first rows look identical.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Adjusted final payment
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

A zero-interest ₩100 split into three payments can be ₩33, ₩33 and ₩34; stopping after three ₩33 payments would leave ₩1.

Risks and limits

  • Never ignore the last row merely because the first rows look identical.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Total borrowing cost

All illustrated repayments and included fees minus the principal received.

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Safe next action: Open the related guide or calculator and inspect its assumptions. Open related page

Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Separate money received from money returned. Total included borrowing cost subtracts the principal received from all included repayments and charges; disclose any fees not represented.

Worked learning example

If ₩5,000,000 is received and repayments plus separate included fees total ₩5,400,000, the illustrated borrowing cost is ₩400,000.

Check your understanding

Is the full ₩5,400,000 an interest charge?

Show answer and explanation

No. Most repays principal; the difference includes interest and any included fees.

Common mistake: Fees withheld before disbursement change the actual amount received and need explicit treatment.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Total borrowing cost
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

If ₩5,000,000 is received and repayments plus separate included fees total ₩5,400,000, the illustrated borrowing cost is ₩400,000.

Risks and limits

  • Fees withheld before disbursement change the actual amount received and need explicit treatment.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Switching fee

A cost entered for ending, moving or starting an arrangement.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Switching can create several separate charges: ending the old arrangement, opening the new one and transferring related services. Record them once each to avoid omission or double counting.

Worked learning example

Invented exit, setup and transfer charges of ₩30,000, ₩20,000 and ₩10,000 sum to ₩60,000 of switching costs.

Check your understanding

Should a fee already inside the replacement total be added again?

Show answer and explanation

No. Reconcile what each total includes before adding separate charges.

Common mistake: A zero-fee headline may exclude another charge that matters to the comparison.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Switching fee
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

Invented exit, setup and transfer charges of ₩30,000, ₩20,000 and ₩10,000 sum to ₩60,000 of switching costs.

Risks and limits

  • A zero-fee headline may exclude another charge that matters to the comparison.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Refinance

Replacing an existing borrowing arrangement with another one.

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Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Refinancing replaces an existing obligation; it does not erase it for free. Compare the cost of staying with the full cost of replacement, including any change in time or risk.

Worked learning example

A borrower replaces an invented remaining ₩3,000,000 loan with another ₩3,000,000 loan. The principal is still owed even if the new rate is lower.

Check your understanding

Does replacement itself reduce the principal that must be repaid?

Show answer and explanation

No. A lower rate changes interest under assumptions, not the amount borrowed automatically.

Common mistake: Extending the term changes the comparison and must be disclosed separately.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Refinance
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

A borrower replaces an invented remaining ₩3,000,000 loan with another ₩3,000,000 loan. The principal is still owed even if the new rate is lower.

Risks and limits

  • Extending the term changes the comparison and must be disclosed separately.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

glossary · human review pending

Individual teaching draft; financial and language review remains pending. Content edit: 2026-09-04. This does not renew the source-check date.

Break-even

The point at which illustrated savings equal included switching costs.

My saved work

Safe next action: Open the related guide or calculator and inspect its assumptions. Open related page

Audience, steps, example, risks and evidence

Understand the reasoning

Break-even is where included benefits equal included costs. State whether the result describes total cost equality or a time-to-recovery shortcut; these answer different questions.

Worked learning example

A fictional ₩90,000 switching cost and ₩90,000 total reduction produce ₩0 net benefit: equality, not a positive saving.

Check your understanding

Is a zero net result a profitable switch in the illustration?

Show answer and explanation

No. It is equality of included amounts before omitted effects.

Common mistake: A break-even point is not a recommendation, guarantee or eligibility decision.

Examples are invented educational scenarios, not provider quotes, forecasts or tax rates.

Who this is for

People using the KR educational release who want to understand a money decision before contacting a provider.

Not for

This is not a personal recommendation, provider quote, eligibility decision, tax opinion or legal opinion.

Key concepts

  • Break-even
  • assumptions
  • limits

Steps

  1. Write down the values you know.
  2. Run the matching local calculator.
  3. Read the assumptions, limits and next action before deciding.

Worked example

A fictional ₩90,000 switching cost and ₩90,000 total reduction produce ₩0 net benefit: equality, not a positive saving.

Risks and limits

  • A break-even point is not a recommendation, guarantee or eligibility decision.
  • Actual provider terms and future outcomes can differ.
  • A missing fee, tax or timing assumption can materially change the result.

Scope: Initial educational scope: Republic of Korea (KR), KRW and English interface. Provider, tax and legal rules are not inferred.

Author: FinanceScanner educational content
Review: Automated structure checks only. Human financial and language review not completed. Listed sources are background references, not claim-by-claim approval.
Next review: 2027-02-28

Background sources — not claim-by-claim verification

Report a stale source or content error

Content scope and review status

246 catalog items. Automated checks cover structure and selected arithmetic, not expert approval, originality or comprehension. A prior audit found repeated lesson templates requiring editorial improvement.

Human financial review: pending. Korean translation and review: pending. Actual Android and real-user understanding are separate release checks. No overall completion percentage is claimed.