-고서

Sequence

Explanation

This expression is used to indicate that first action completed before the subsequent action started.

Moreover, there is a before-and-after relationship between the actions in the preceding and following clauses.

This expression can only be used with verbs.

Details

1. This expression cannot be used with the tense-indicating expressions -았/었- or -겠.

인사만 했고서 헤어졌어요.
인사만 하겠고서 헤어지려고 해요.

2. Both the phrases -고 and -고 나서 can be used to indicate the order of events.

책을 읽고서 감상문을 썼어요.

Kimchi Reader

When the first action get completed before the subsequent action started and there is a relationship between the two actions.