-는 통에 — Due to, As a result of, Amidst the commotion of

This expression is used when stating the situation or cause behind a negative result. In most cases, it is used when the following clause occurs in difficult or stressful situations or circumstances. It only attaches to verbs.

Details

1. Imperative and propositive forms cannot be used in the following clause.

아이가 자꾸 움직이는 통에 사진을 찍지 마세요. ✕

아이가 자꾸 움직이는 통에 사진을 찍지 맙시다. ✕

2. Because this expression is used when expressing the causes of negative results, it is awkward to use it to describe positive situations.

아침마다 운동하는 통에 건강해졌어요. ✕

3. This expression is sometimes used directly after nouns, but such cases are limited to only a few nouns, such as 전쟁, 장마 and 난리.

전쟁 통에 가족을 잃어버렸어요.

장마 통에 집이 물에 잠겼어요.

4. While this expression is mainly used to describe things that happen during very distressing situations, it is also used to describe general situations behind negative results.

환율이 오르는 통에 여행을 취소했어요.

버스를 잘못 타는 통에 반대 방향으로 한참을 갔어요.

In Addition to -는 통에, there are other expressions, such as -는 탓에 and -는 바람에 which also express causes or reasons behind negative results. The differences between these three expressions are summarized below.

가: 태민 씨, 왜 이렇게 피곤해 보여요? 나: 아이가 밤새 우는 통에 한숨도 못 잤거든요. 가: 그랬군요, 저는 남편이 밤새 코를 골아 대는 통에 잠을 못잤는데요. 나: 어디나 같이 사는 사람들이 문제군요, 하하.

A: Taemin, why do you look so tired? B: I couldn’t sleep at all because my baby was crying the whole night. A: I see. I couldn’t sleep because of my husband’s snoring all night long. B: It’s always the people you live with, right? Ha-ha.