-는 바람에 — As a result of, Due to

This expression is used when the preceding clause describes the cause or reason for the statement in the following clause.

Usually, the preceding clause describes a situation or circumstance that negatively influences the following clause or that causes an unexpected or unwanted result.

Details

1. Only verbs can precede -는 바람에.

날쓰가 갑자기 추운 바람에 감기에 걸렸어요. ✕

'춥다' cannot be used because it is an adjective. It must be changed into its verb form 추워지다.

2. Because this form is used to describe the reason for something that has already occurred, the following clause must be in the past tense.

비가 많이 오는 바람에 홍수가 날 것 같아요. ✕

3. Because only past tense forms can follow -는 바람에, imperative or propositive clauses cannot be used,

신용카드를 잃어버리는 바람에 은행에 가십시오. / 갈까요? ✕

4. This expression is mostly used in a negative sense, so it sounds unnatural to use it to describe positive situations.

남자 친구가 선물을 사 주는 바람에 기분이 좋아졌습니다, ✕

However, in some cases, this form can be used to describe positive situations, but they are limited to cases in which something completely unexpected or unintended has occurred.

가: 윤주 씨, 기분이 좋아 보이네요.

Yunju, you seem to be in a good mood.

나: 언니가 갑자기 부산으로 이사를 가는 바람에 방을 혼자

쓰게 되었거든요.

My sister suddenly moved to Busan, and I've got a room alf to myself (as a result).

While both -아/어서 and -는 바람에 are used to express reasons, they are different in the following respects.

Kimchi Reader

Used to indicate that something happened as an unintended consequence or result of a particular action or situation, often with a negative or unexpected outcome.